Mark opens first solo exhibition
ON Wednesday night I headed for the Basement Gallery in the Town Hall for the official launch of an exhibition of paintings from Mark Bourke from Dromiskin. With 25 pieces on show the eclectic mix is his debut exhibition under the Emerging Artist banner and is an outstanding body of work.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with fellow artist Donal Costello who said it is an excellent collection and the surroundings really help to show it off to its best and wanted to wish Mark all the best.
After this I then headed over for a word with Fiona and Denis Mooney from Mullaharlin Road who said they’ve known Mark for years and he definitely is a gifted artist and the exhibition is a true insight to his work.
Not too far away I met up with Larry Quinn from Little Road and Ann White from Strokeshill who said she is his neighbour and his work is fabulous and really different. They both agreed that he is exceptionally talented and were thoroughly enjoying his opening night.
Making my way through the crowds I then managed a few words with Ambrose Doyle and Ann O’Neill both from Dromiskin who agreed that Mark is hugely talented, has great potential and hopefully this is the start of bigger and better things for him.
I then headed over for a word with Michael and Roisin Byrne from Castlebellingham who said they have known him for ages and wanted to congratulate him on an excellent exhibition and he is a real hidden talent.
After this I got talking to one of Mark’s friends Jason Mulligan from Dromiskin who thought the pieces on show are fantastic and not bad for a first effort, needless to say he is really proud of him and wanted to wish him all the best too.
Not too long later I then got a word with Barry Dowd and Emma Berrill both from Dromiskin who told me Mark is a lovely person and it’s great to see him getting the adulation he truly deserved.
Looking very well on the night was Anthony Eccles from Mullaharlin Road who is a friend of Mark’s who said he didn’t realise exactly how good he is, it’s only in the basement gallery setting that the entire eclectic collection really shines and it really is a credit to him.
A man who was taken aback by his work was Gerard McShane from Dromiskin who just said the whole lot was unbelievable and was looking for his phone to take a few photos!
Next I had the pleasure of meeting up with Tabatha Bourke- Cooney from Dublin who told me she had had a preview of her uncle’s work, it is just amazing, but now it looked even better in the gallery and she’s very proud of him.
After the speeches were over I got talking to Noel Kennedy from Dromiskin who said the work was absolutely fantastic, he is a very talented artist and a fantastic guy.
Not too long later I met up with Angela Carolan from Dromiskin and Jan Van Dessel from Mount Avenue who were thoroughly enjoying the exhibition and Angela said that it was great to see the hidden talent of her neighbour.
Next I managed a word with Pat Carolan from Dromiskin who is a friend of Mark’s and said that he was shocked, but not surprised, that he is a talented guy from a talented family and a true gentleman.
Making my way through the huge crowds there I then caught up with Fergal Nesbitt and Louise Gilsenan both from Dromiskin who know Mark very well, but had no idea he’s that talented on such a huge scale too. The only problem they were having was that every one of the painting they liked, had already been sold!
I then headed over for a word with Eoghan Herity from Herity’s Bar in Dromiskin who told me he grew up along with Mark in the village had seen some of his work, but it was the gallery surrounding that really gave it exhibition it needed to show it off to t its best.
Finally, before I departed I caught up with Mark’s brother and wife Frank and Irene Bourke from Mill Street who pointed out the three or four different styles that he had progressed through over the years and were very impressed with his ability to stray away from the norm in his subject matter and wanted to congratulate him on his exhibition.
Mark Bourke’s exhibition runs from now until February 3rd in the basement gallery of the Town Hall from 10.00am until 4.00 pm and is definitely worth checking out.