Masterpieces Of Irish Art To Go On Display In Major Exhibition

The Clare Arts Office has announced that a stunning exhibition of Irish paintings dating from 1919 to the present day will open at the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon on 4th September 2007.

Curated by Fiona Woods of the Clare Arts Office, the selection of exhibited works will represent a broad survey of painting practice in Ireland.

Beginning chronologically with a work by Paul Henry, 'Irish painting 1919 – 2007' will feature works from such legendary painters as Gerard Dillon, Jack B. Yeats, Mainie Jellet, Mary Swanzy and Norah McGuinness.

According to Ms. Fiona Woods, "Many of the featured works have been sourced from the Collection of the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick City Gallery of Art’s permanent collection."

She explained, "The work reaches right up to contemporary times, incorporating a number of genres such as Landscape, Interior/Still-life, Portraiture, Abstract and Narrative approaches."

To coincide with the exhibition, the Arts Office is organising a series of guided gallery tours, public talks and workshops for artists.

Catherine Marshall, Chief Curator with The Irish Museum of Modern Art, currently on secondment as Visual Arts touring and Collections Advisor with the Arts Council, will provide the opening talk on Irish Painting.

On Saturday 15th September Ennis-born artist Mick O'Dea RHA will give a talk about his work, followed by a closed workshop for artists. The former National College of Art and Design tutor has won numerous awards at national and international level, including four Arnotts National Portrait Awards, the K.M.P.G. award at the Annual Oireachtas Exhibition in 1992 and 1998, and a major Arts Council Bursary in 1986.

His work is featured in a number of collections, including The Arts Council of Ireland, The Royal Hibernian Academy, The National Gallery of Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, The National Self-Portrait Collection and The Cesis Museum of Art.

On 22nd September, Micky Donnelly, a leading contemporary Irish artist and member of Aosdana will give a talk about his work, followed by a closed workshop for artists. Donnelly has exhibited in many countries around the world, including solo exhibitions in Germany, Italy, Scotland, England, and New Zealand, and major group exhibitions in USA, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Greece, Norway, Australia, and Japan.

His work is represented in most of the important public art collections in Ireland, including those of The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Ulster Museum, The Arts Council of Ireland, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The Allied Irish Bank, and The Office of Public Works. He also has work in collections abroad, including those of the British Council, the Arts Council of England, and the European Parliament.

Every Wednesday, Marie Connole MFA will give tours for school groups, complete with educational material at 1.30 pm. A guided tour for the public will be available at 3pm each Wednesday, or at another time by appointment.

The Fine Art Graduate of The Burren College of Art received the Spiresart Outstanding Student in Art, an accommodation and studio residency award in 2005 and tuition fees bursary in 2006/07 from The Clare Arts Office, and recently The Burren College of Arts Presidents Award.

She has worked at NCAD, IMMA, and was a teaching assistant for life drawing and multi-media at the Burren College of Art. She has co-curated a number of shows and was one of the principles in the Tulca Fringe Festival in Galway in 2006. She exhibits regularly in Ireland and Europe.

Well-known radio presenter with Clare FM Marian Egan will formally launch 'Irish painting 1919 – 2007' at 7 pm on Tuesday 4th September. The exhibition will run until 23rd September 2007 at The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, County Clare.

For more information or to book a place at an event email arts@clarelibrary.ie or contact the Courthouse Gallery at 065 7071630. Gallery hours are 1–6pm, Tuesday–Saturday.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Fiona Woods of the Clare Arts Office (065 7071630) is available for interview.
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
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