Bernadette’s works of art go on display
RETIRED Dunleer art teacher Bernadette Morrison Martin is launching a book and art exhibition in the Market House in Dunleer on Thursday May 25, running all day on Friday, May 26.
The book and exhibition entitled ‘Footfall’ is a collection of illustrated poems and paintings.
‘ The subject matter of the poetry is varied and spans the years from my childhood to the present. There are many references in the poetry to growing up as a child in the rural village of Killadoon, near Westport in Co Mayo, in the 1950, and 60s, the face of which is now greatly changed. Poems such as ‘Hobnailed Boots’, ‘ The Tune of A Bell’, ‘Second Coming’ and ‘Lazy Beds’ relate in a very real sense to that former place and time,’ she states.
An honours graduate of National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Bernadette taught art at Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer until retirement two years ago. She also studied Ecology and Theology and holds an Honours Master’s Degree in Theology from Wales University,, Lampeter. Solo art exhibitions of entitled ‘Energies’, ‘Children of Ler’, ‘Stormvista’ and ‘Earthflow’, were exhibited in galleries throughout Ireland and the north in the past and her work is in collections both in Ireland and abroad.
‘ The later poetry in my book ‘Footfall’ concerns my interest in both environmental and political issues down the years and life in Co Louth during the intervening years and also previously in Rhodesia, now Zimbawbe, where I lived with my husband Edward and our two children during the political tension pertaining in that country up to independence in the mid- seventies.
Her piece, ‘Sweet Sounds Orchestral’ depicts the local story where residents through blood, sweat and tears saved the old asbestos site at Boycetown from further devastation and which has now become a special objective status habitat.
‘My poem describes the cacophony of musical sounding flora and fauna during a walk over the site. Other poems relate to events both political, theological and reflective of our life here in Co Louth through the years. ‘
Following the launch on Thursday evening, the exhibition will be on display to the public with the book from 10 am on Friday to 5pm. Admission free.
The paintings in this collection are not for sale and signed copies of the coffee table book, which was not undertaken as a commercial enterprise, is a very attractive hard back 140 page book of colourfully illustrated poems and will be selling at the non- profit cost of €20 during the launch on Thursday evening and Friday.