Special spring art in Tinahely
REPORTER DAVID MEDCALF JOINED THE CROWD AT THE OPENING OF A UNIQUE ART EXHIBITION AT THE COURTHOUSE ARTS CENTRE, WHERE SEVEN PAINTERS PUT ON A SHOW WHICH PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON THEIR ABILITIES, NOT DISABILITIES
THEY ARE ARTISTS WITH A SERIES OF CHALLENGES, YET STILL THEY ARE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR CREATIVITY AND MAKE THESE AMAZING WORKS
ON the face of it, the reception at The Courthouse in Tinahely was just like the opening of any other art exhibition.
The clink of bottles as the staff at the venue put out the wine. The murmurs of appreciation (and occasionally puzzlement or laughter) as the attendance examined the works on show. The artists bursting with pride at having their paintings put up for the world to admire. The half-disguised longing of those same artists for the red stickers which denote ‘SOLD’ beside their efforts.
So far, so very usual – complete with family members, friends and supporters rallying round to show their love and their backing. When guest exhibition opener Paul Bokslag heaped praise on the painters and their output, he was following the well-trodden trail set by exhibition openers everywhere. Yet no one who was there last Saturday came away from The Courthouse feeling that this was in any sense a run-of-the-mill occasion.
Here was a group show, under the title ‘Spring’, produced by a simply extraordinary group. When time came for the super seven to pose for a group photograph, it was notable that four of the seven were in wheelchairs. And these were not the flimsy aluminium wheelchairs issued to people recovering from recent surgery. These were the customised heavyweight chariots required by those facing long-term mobility challenges.
The challenges do not stop at mobility. As tutor Orla Callaghan explained in her brief programme notes, ‘ Spring’ brings together artists with disabilities. They have all been working with her at KARE in Baltinglass and Tinahely, or in the Cheshire Home down the road in Shillelagh. The programme notes continue: ‘ The title Spring is used not only to suggest life and growth but also bounce and resilience.’
The super seven have all had to overcome physical and/or intellectual obstacles to tap into a well of creativity.
Several of them must hold brushes in their mouths into order to put paint or ink on to canvas or paper.
As the early arrivals took a peek, several were heard to say in awed whispers: ‘He paints with his nose, you know.’
Yes, Paddy Burton paints with his nose rather than a brush – and he paints exceedingly well too. The process slows up the creative process but the end result is certainly worth waiting for.
The overall effect of the show was summed up by one of the first visitors through The Courthouse door. ‘ They are very powerful!’ she declared. She was probably talking about the impact which the 48 paintings and drawings had on her senses. Or she may just have been referring to the septet of (in alphabetical order by surname): Paddy Burton, Anthony Delanthy, Ruth Fenton, Fiona Healy, Libby Hendrick, Edward Morrissey and Eoin O’Malley.
Many of them were exposing themselves to such public scrutiny for the first time but Eoin, with his acrylic abstracts, is something of a veteran. His talent has been seen in the past as far away as Newbridge, where he joined forces with exhibition opener Paul Bokslag and tutor Orla Callaghan.
Unfortunately, Orla was laid low, confined to her bed in Carnew with a virus where her ears must have been burning, such was the praise being heaped on her. She is an artist in her own right yet, on the evidence of ‘Spring’, she also has the knack of being able to bring out the best in others without imposing her methods.
Each of the seven had their own piece of wall, and each of the seven selections was as individual as a thumbprint, across the range from sparse line drawing to lavish still life.
Courthouse art administrator Denise McGrath explained how the exhibition came about in cahoots with Orla Callaghan who is due to put on a solo exhibition in Tinahely later this spring. The tutor spoke to the folk at the art centre of how she was working with the various artists in Shillelagh, Tinahely and Baltinglass. One thought led to another and ‘Spring’ was organised, following the Youth Arts Festival on to the centre’s diary.
Though Orla was unfortunate to be marked absent by what sounded like a particularly horrid dose of flu, the Callaghan family was capably represented at the reception. Sister Barbara spoke of how her sibling has been tutoring the super seven, and how she is passionate about promoting their output.
Her enthusiasm was shared by Kilkenny based Paul Bokslag: ‘ They are artists with a series of challenges, yet still they are able to get in touch with their creativity and make these amazing works.’
One of the first of them to arrive was Fiona Healy, who has become a champion of colour since being liberated by the Thursday classes which have put a liberating brush in her hands.
‘ That is the high spot of the week,’ the lively 36-year-old agreed, as parents John and Sadie looked on. ‘I am going to keep on painting.’
A resident of Tinahely, she paints in KARE, and then keeps her hand in at home between sessions with Orla by filling in colouring books.
‘Art is an opportunity for Fiona to express herself,’ mused John, while Sadie pointed out that their daughter also has pieces on display in the local business centre and farm shop, as well as being a prize winner at the Tinahely Show. Her dream is to sell enough to allow her to build her dream mansion, a white house which is a regular subject matter of her work.
Ruth Fenton – a product of the Friday art classes at KARE in Baltinglass – was escorted by father Raymond and sister Emma.
‘We are so proud,’ said John – not that he needed to say it at all. The delight in his daughter’s eight offerings, some of them delivered with a respectful tip of the cap to Picasso, was obvious.
‘She gets therapy and satisfaction out of art. This is a massive achievement for her.’
On the other side of the room, 37-year-old Eoin O’Malley – another of the Baltinglass set – was lapping up the excitement of the occasion with his mother Marianne. One of the wheelchair users, he paints holding a brush in his mouth, a modus operandi which puts a strain on neck and chin.
Though he may suffer for his art, there are rewards.
‘He loves the red dots!’ laughed Marianne, noting that the ‘SOLD’ stickers had already been
affixed to two of his paintings.
Not far away, Shillelagh reside Anthony Delanthy was admiring his own handiwork from his wheelchair. He was accompanied by Ardeen Cheshire Home activity coordinator Linda Quinn, who reckoned that Monday art classes have been an exciting part of the programme at the home for about two years.
Four of the 19 residents of the home are featured in the ‘Spring’ show, with Paddy Burton, Edward Morrissey and Libby Hendrick completing the roll call. Libby was the first to come to public attention when she took first prize in one of the classes at the annual Tinahely Show.
She had a bird theme on the go in her section of the wall at The Courthouse, with portraits of a goldfinch, a bullfinch and a great tit among her pieces.She stressed that all the art class participants help each other out but that they each have their own approach, with Orla Callaghan on hand to advise – though only when they ask her for the advice.
‘Mondays are absolutely fantastic,’ commented carer Mary Stubblefield, who was lapping up Paddy Burton’s six entries for the exhibition, all using acrylic paint on boards. Mary’s favourite was the one entitled ‘Powerscourt on Fire’ which comes with an interesting history.
While most of his semi-abstract subjects are re-workings of book illustrations, this one came from his past.
Paddy’s sister Rozena confirmed that her brother, now aged 65, must have seen the real fire at the real Powerscourt as a boy in the sixties.
Painting by nose cannot be rushed, so the half dozen boards took a good six months of toil to bring to fruition.
‘Paddy had the vision in his head,’ commented Mary. ‘He knows exactly what he wants to do and you do not have to tell him. He has produced some brilliant painting.’ Her verdict was endorsed as he enjoyed immediate commercial success with a rash of red stickers.
‘I enjoy the painting lessons,’ declared Edward Morrissey, a product of New Ross and a dedicated Irish language speaker who has been at Ardeen in Shillelagh for the past 43 years, ‘and I prefer the water colours to the line drawings.’
Edward has taken to art relatively late in life but now makes it part of his daily routine. He deserved a prize for the best title among all the 48 in Spring – an exuberant drawing called ‘Having Fun!’
‘ This exhibition is a real celebration,’ said Paul Bokslag. ‘ There is so much energy in all the paintings – and a bit of humour here and there too.’
Judge for yourself – the super seven exhibition remains on show at The Courthouse until March 29.