CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF PRINT
NEWTOWNBARRY House Art Gallery in Bunclody is hosting an exciting exhibition by a group of leading Irish print makers which is well worth a visit.
The Print Show was officially opened last weekend by Cllr. Barbara Anne Murphy who said she was amazed by how beautiful the exhibits are.
Barbara Anne urged people to make a point of viewing the prints. ‘ It will really open their eyes. We’re very lucky to have an exhibition of this calibre in a small town like Bunclody,’ she said.
‘People have a mistaken idea about prints. They are seen as the poor relation of paintings but this exhibition will change people’s minds. The artists involved are all very talented people.’
Wicklow-based print makers Bob Lynn and Sarah Rogers helped to put the show together by each asking four artists of their acquaintance to join them in submitting work.
The other exhibitors are Stephen Vaughan, Vincent Sheridan, Dermot Ryan, Robert Russell, Nicola Lynch Morrin, Stephen Lawlor, Martin Gale and Camilla Fanning, all of whom have impressive artistic pedigree.
Their prints were hung by Anya von Gosseln.
Sarah Rogers and upand-coming artist Camilla Fanning who is based in Dublin, both had prints accepted by the Royal Academy this year which is a major achievement considering the RA receives 30,000 submissions. Both artists were also invited to take part in an important exhibition in Yorkshire.
Camilla’s Academy piece entitled ‘Petrol Pump’ sold on the opening night in Newtownbarry and there are now no more copies left from a limited edition of 100.
Stephen Lawlor has just won a major award in Barcelona where his work has been on show recently while renowned contemporary artist Martin Gale, based in Kildare needs no introduction. His Newtownbarry pieces include ‘Nearly There’, ‘ The Onlooker’ and ‘Down to the City’.
Many of the other artists all know each other through the Graphic Studio in Dublin where Dun Laoghaire art school graduate Robert Russell is the director.
The award-winning Nicola Lynch Morrin who lives in Kildare is known for her interest in botanical subjects. Stephen Vaughan studied at the Crawford School of Art and is based in Thomastown, County Kilkenny. He is influenced by a rich culture of arts, crafts, music and design.
Vincent Sheridan is a well-regarded Dublin-based artist known for his paintings and prints of birds especially crows which seem to mirror human group dynamics.
Limerick-based artist Robert Ryan has travelled exensively to find inspiration for his prints and paintings depicting how animals interact in their environments.
Their prints were hung by Anya von Gosseln.The exhibition will continue until August 28.