23/5/2003
Journey
St Caimins Church of Ireland, Mountshannon
An exhibition of works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art's Collection opens to the public as part of the Iniscealtra Festival of the Arts. The works in the exhibition represent many diverse interpretations of the central theme in a wide variety of media.
An exhibition of works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art's Collection opens to
the public on Saturday 24 May 2003 at St Caimins Church of Ireland,
Mountshannon, Co Clare, as part of the Iniscealtra Festival of the Arts.
Journey takes its theme from the Festival, which this year focuses on journeys,
and includes works by well-known Irish and international artists, such as
Georges Braque and Anne Madden, shown alongside younger contemporary artists,
such as Elizabeth Magill and Nick Miller. A selection of individual works from
the collection will also be placed in four venues in Scariff, Co Clare. The
exhibition is accompanied by a full and engaging series of workshops and talks
presented as part of the Branching Out programme supported by National Irish
Bank.
The works in the exhibition, selected by the Iniscealtra Festival, represent
many diverse interpretations of the central theme in a wide variety of media.
The renowned Kilkenny artist, Tony O'Malley, whose paintings were inspired by
his travels to the Caribbean, reflects a new-found discovery of colour, light
and warmth, celebrating the sea and sun and the exotic birds and foliage of his
tropical paradise. In Isla de Graciosa - Light - Caleta del Sebo, O'Malley
draws on his memory of a place so that the totality of his experience is
expressed - the seeing plus the feeling - reaching beyond the surface to find a
more complete and personal expression of a place.
A journey through the inner realm of the mind is the inspiration for the strange
magic of Colin Middleton's surrealist and symbolic paintings. In Bon Voyage a
female figure is suspended by her head from a geometric kite as she flies over a
vast landscape with the setting sun visible below. British artist Colin
Harrison's work reveals a private world filled with cryptic clues and private
references culled from the artist's own memory. His sculpture, Portable History
of the World, is a wooden structure in the shape of a suitcase, which is opened
as if it where a cabinet. Within the box a grid like arrangement of small
artefacts can be found which are drawn from the memories of the artists many
travels.
In tandem with the exhibition, artist Terry O'Farrell, a member of IMMA's
Education team, has been facilitating workshops over a two-month period with ten
community groups at Raheen Day Care Centre and Residential Hospital as part of
the Branching Out project. Up to 200 older members of the East Clare community
have been exploring the theme of memories throughout life's journey. The
resulting drawings, paintings and works in clay are exhibited at the
newly-opened Aistear Centre, Mountshannon, throughout the Festival. Commenting
on the project Terry O'Farrell said: "I came to a centre, which has the feel of
home and met staff who respect and support the lives that these older members of
the community have lived. There is a huge wealth here in the memories of the
full lives lived and courage still in starting something new, in wanting to know
more, willing to be open - continuing to explore". Branching Out is a programme
designed by IMMA and National Irish Bank to be national, inclusive and
participative, bringing the visual arts to the community and providing
opportunities for the community to get involved.
Catherine Marshall, Head of Collection, IMMA, who will be speaking at the launch
of the Festival, said "IMMA has been proud to be associated with the Iniscealtra
Festival each year since its commencement in 1996. I am amazed at what a small
but dedicated and imaginative team can do with such limited material resources.
The Iniscealtra Festival is a model of excellence in terms of its artistic goals
and its outreach activities."
The National Programme's involvement with the Iniscealtra Festival of the Arts
is considered to be one of its most successful collaborations. The National
Programme is designed to create access opportunities to the visual arts in a
variety of situations and locations in Ireland. Using the collection of the
Irish Museum of Modern Art and exhibitions generated by the Museum, the National
Programme facilitates the creation of exhibitions and other projects for display
in a range of locations around the country.
Catherine Marshall will give a lecture on the exhibition on Saturday 24 May at
2.00pm.
Journey continues until 2 June 2003 at St Caminins Church, Mountshannon, Co
Clare and at four venues in Scariff, Co Clare - the Medical Centre, the Bank of
Ireland, the Credit Union and Loughnane & Co. The work produced by the older
people with Terry O'Farrell will be exhibited at the Aistear Centre,
Mountshannon, Co Clare, until 24 June.
Credit for Image: Colin Middleton, Bon Voyage, 1976, oil on panel, 62 x 62 cm,
Gordon Lambert Collection, Collection Irish Museum of Modern Art
For further information and colour images please contact Monica Cullinane at Tel
: +353 1 612 9900, Fax : +353 1 612 9999