ACRES OF WORK BY 95 ARTISTS
NEARLY 300 PIECES ARE NOW HANGING IN GREEN ACRES FOR ITS OPEN EXHIBITION
ALMOST 300 pieces of artwork created by artists from Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Carlow and Dublin are on view in Green Acres gallery in Wexford, where the 11th annual Open Submission Exhibition is continuing for the month of February.
A total of 95 adult artists of all ages and experience submitted work for the show which was launched at a reception hosted by gallery owner James O’Connor, who selected one award-winning piece as his favourite of the exhibition.
The impressionist painting ‘Hand Hold’ by Martin Zinck instantly caught James’s eye as it was being brought into the gallery. ‘It was one of my favourite pieces and after the exhibition was hung, nothing changed my mind. It was one of three beautiful pieces submitted by the same artist’, said James, who complimented gallery administrator Julie Barlow and Marcin Zukowski, who hung the exhibition.
Marcin who has a keen eye for art and photography had the privilege of picking another winner and his prize went to Dimitri Diamond for his painting ‘ Tango Argentino’.
The Specrum Prize, awarded by art shop owners Tony and Trish Robinson, went to William Grace for ‘Green Wood’. Tony and Trish also gave honourable mentions to Laurence O’Toole, Helen Merrigan Colfer, Ryan Allen, Jane Meyler and Ailbhe Barrett for their work.
Art critic Tom Mooney, who spoke at the launch about his personal experience of art appreciation, awarded a prize to Laurence O’Toole for ‘Away To Dublin’.
James O’Connor said some of the featured artists had submitted work every year for the 11 years that the show has been running, while others had entered the exhibition for the first time including Catherine Byrne who sold a piece on the first day.
He likened hanging a piece of art in an exhibition for the first time to singing in public: you don’t know if you will be invited back, but you’ve been courageous enough to take the plunge.