Gorse Wine (After John Oliver) - Phillip McCrilly

TITLE
Gorse Wine (After John Oliver)

ARTIST
Phillip McCrilly

ABOUT THE WORK
As part of the exhibition ‘Irish Modernisms: legacies of modernism in the North,’ at Derry~Londonderry, McCrilly displayed a number of new works, which further developed his continued research around collective acts of land and property reclamation. Considering foraging and cruising as like-minded deviant practices, and borne out of a desire to preserve the spaces which have helped facilitate intimacy, he has been collecting flavours in and around areas with a noted cruising history. One such area is Shaw’s Bridge.

Up until 1965, if you were refused planning permission you were entitled to compensation to the value of the land for its proposed use. For example, you might have had a field that was worth a thousand pounds an acre for farming, but if you were refused planning permission to use that for housing, you were eligible for remuneration for its potential housing value.

This all came to a head at Shaw’s Bridge. Down County Council, which were the planning authority at the time, got a massive application for a major housing development. The council understandably wanted to refuse the application, but couldn't afford to pay the compensation. John Oliver stepped in at that time having spoken to Robert Matthew about it, and he persuaded the then minister, Willie Moore, to pay the compensation and liabilities of all the planning authorities. Shortly after this, the compensation liabilities of all planning authorities were taken over by the government, which meant that for the first time they could openly refuse planning permission without the worry of having to pay compensation for it, and so they refused the planning permission for Shaw’s Bridge. If John Oliver (1914-2006) can be remembered for anything, it would be for saving Shaw’s Bridge, and the Lagan Valley Regional Park for the people and cruisers of Belfast.

DATE
2021

DIMENSIONS
750ml

MEDIUM
Glass, Found Bottle Top, Shaw’s Bridge Gorse Flowers, Yeast, Sugar, Filtered Water

ORIGINAL WORK / EDITION
Edition of 10. All 10 Bottles are for sale

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Phillip McCrilly is a Belfast-based artist and chef. Previously a co-director at Catalyst Arts, he is currently a participant within the Freelands Artist Programme at PS² (2021-2022), as well as a member of FRUIT SHOP; a collective of Belfast-based artists operating within a suburban residential café that merge food production and grassroots growing initiatives with local food histories.

DELIVERY AND POSTAGE
Shipping cost will be quoted and confirmed via email. When your order has been placed we will be in touch with you to discuss the best options for shipping your purchase.

FURTHER INFOMATION
Please note, this bottle comes sealed with a bottle cap, and comes packaged with a separate found bottle cap or pourer. This object is sold as an artwork. The moment the bottle is opened, it ceases to be an artwork.

Special thanks to Jane Peaker, Alex Synge, CCA Derry~Londonderry, Catherine Hemelryk, Matt Retallick, Phil Harrison, UPHOLD, Mitch & FRUITSHOP, Emily, Grace, & Mona in the realisation of this project.

10% of the sales of this edition will be donated to the Welcome Organisation