Artist Sorche Ni Riain at the Luan Gallery in Athlone. Photos: Ray Ryan.
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Artist Carol Hodder at the Luan Gallery in Athlone
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Cllr Aengus O’ Rourke with Luan Gallery Manager Carmel Duffy and Minister of State Kevin Moran, at the Luan Gallery in Athlone. Photos: Ray Ryan
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Lena Willryd, Tony Strickland and Angela Velazqez at the Luan Gallery in Athlone
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Artist Erin Cummins at the Luan Gallery in Athlone. Photo: Ray Ryan
Art work from two public-owned collections on the island has gone on display in Athlone’s Luan Gallery.
‘Connections’, a touring exhibition from the Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with the Department of Finance (DoF), Northern Ireland, was officially opened in the Athlone location on Friday.
This exhibition is the latest in the cross border series of contemporary art exhibitions, which first opened at Farmleigh Art Gallery in Dublin in November and is touring at Luan Gallery, Athlone, the Down Arts Centre, County Down and the Braid Museum in Ballymena this year.
Since the late 1990s, the OPW and the DoF have worked in partnership organising an annual touring art exhibition which showcases artworks from the two public-owned collections in venues across the island under changing themes.
Welcoming the arrival of the exhibition, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said: “I am delighted to be here to welcome this new and exciting touring exhibition which allows visitors to access artworks from these two public-owned collections on display in local public buildings. The collaboration on this cultural project has been running for over 20 years, strengthening links between our two government departments. This gives local people an opportunity to view artworks, which are normally installed in public buildings in Belfast, Dublin or elsewhere in the country, locally in an exhibition context.”
This year’s exhibition explores the theme of connections – the ways in which artworks relate to each other linking and joining ideas and themes. This exhibition illustrates work in painting, photographs, prints and sculpture. The exhibition features over 60 artworks by a range of artists.
John O’Dowd MLA, Finance Minister, NI Executive said: “Art can be a powerful way to connect people and inspire creativity which is aptly reflected in the theme of this year’s exhibition. My Department has been working with the Office of Public Works since 1997 organising exhibitions which have toured extensively throughout Ireland. These collaborations have celebrated and showcased the talent of local artists and allowed many people, who might otherwise not have had the opportunity, to enjoy their works. I wish this year’s exhibition every success.”
The cultural project gives artists a platform to showcase their creativity. The artworks in each exhibition are a wonderful example of the talent and creativity, alive in the visual arts today.
There is a wide range of artwork media and styles from emerging and established artists.
The Athlone exhibition continues until April 6.
Featured artists include: Neisha Allen, Elisabeth Banim, Alicia Boyle, Sara Brown, Cecilia Bullo, Ursula Burke, Sam Byrne, Maud Cotter, Erin Cummins, Samuel Laurence Cunnane, Gerry Davis, Rita Duffy, Cara Dunne, Esko, Martin Gale, Cara Gribben, Noel Hensey, Diane Henshaw, Carol Hodder, Dee Hurley, Myra Jago, Desmond Kenny, Neil Kerr, Roisin Lambert, Melanie le Brocquy, Cristín Leach, Alison Lowry, Eva Lynch, Alan Magee, Ciaran Magill, Mervyn Marshall, Trevor McElnea, Valerie Giannandrea McKeag, Cian McLoughlin, Josie McMorrin, Grace McMurray, Tadhg McSweeney, Simon McWilliams, Andrew Nally, Peter Neill, Sorche Ní Ríain, Veronica Nicholson, David Otruba, Jack Pakenham, Michael Power, Jane Prendergast, Selena Quilligan, Gail Ritchie, Stuart A. Robinson, Katherine Sankey, Matthew Smyth, Elizabeth Taggart, Lucy Turner, Peter B. Waddell, Samuel Walsh, Minghui Wang, Catherine Ward, Dianne Whyte, Lena Willryd, Alice Wyatt