ARTISANS STAGE NEW EXHIBITION IN LIBRARY
On Tuesday night I headed for the County Library where the Dundalk Artisans were hosting their annual watercolour exhibition.
The group have been together since 1990 and now have 30 active members who meet up in the Carroll Mead Hall in Pearse Park each and every Friday night. Seventeen of their members were showing 47 pieces and the Library showed yet again why it is easily one of the best places in town to host an exhibition.
I wasn’t too long in when I met up with club chairperson Colleen Hardy from Mount Avenue and treasurer Pat Cooling from Bay Estate who were showcasing some of their work and they were more than enthusiastic about the location and the set up.
Next I headed over for a chat with Anne Whitmarsh from Greenwood Drive who was with Eileen Mathews from Point Road who said the paintings were just lovely and they’d get back to me later to tell me which one they wanted for Christmas!
Next I caught up with Freda and Elizabeth Carville from Mount Avenue who said that Freda had three pieces on show, they were really happy with the set up and the crack was just great on Friday nights with the club.
After this I got a word with Louise and son Richard Coleman from Knockbridge who were there with Mary Keenan from Inniskeen. Louise also had three on show and told me they were delighted to get the Library because of the lovely natural light that flows into the venue.
Not too long later I then had the pleasure of meeting up with Dara and Daisy Carolan from Seafield Road (mustn’t forget to wish Daisy a very happy 5th birthday for last Wednesday) and they were there to support Freda and to support Dara’s mum Ann Mee from Kilcurry who is part of the Artisans but couldn’t make it on the night.
Making my way through a huge crowd I then got talking to Marian Carolan from Cullins- town who was there to support her brother Dermot Gonnelly from Newtownbalregan who also had three pieces on show and she particularly likes his tree.
Another lady with three on show was Marian Larkin from St. Alphonsus Road who was with Lorraine Larking from St. Alphonsus Road and they too were extremely impressed with the lay out and the quality of the work on show.
Next I had the extreme pleasure of meeting up with well known artist Gerry Kelly and his delightful wife Rosemary from Killin. He remarked that the quality of the work from the Artisans just gets better and better. He also agreed about the Library as being an excellent setting but looked at me with a bit of a smile when I tried to compare it to the attributes of the basement gallery in the Town Hall, the natural light and that!
Not too long later I then had the pleasure of meeting Kate Farrell, Leah Roddy and Martina Kelly all from Tallanstown who were there to support Leah’s mum Rita Kelly who was showing two of her pieces and they were extremely impressed with her work and many of the others on show and wanted to wish her all the best with the show.
After this I caught up with Gina Rhatigan from The Rise and Caitriona Duffy from Laurel Brook Gardens who told me they were to support Freda and Colleen and said what they had seen so far was just beautiful.
I then headed over for a quick word with Hugh McKitterick from Redbarns Road who told me he loved the Artisans work and was delighted to be there to support their opening night.
Finally, before I departed I got talking to Pamela O’Hare from Kilcurry and Valerie McFadden from Doylesfort Road who were there to support Freda and were really impressed with everything they had seen so far.
This is an excellent exhibition of 47 paintings and is well work a viewing. It runs until June 16th and can be viewed during library hours.