‘EPICENE LILY’ EXHIBITS AT FERMOY MAKERS’ CENTRE

Artist Kira O’Brien was recently welcomed to The Blackwater Valley Maker’s centre in Fermoy as she opened her exhibition titled ‘Epicene Lily’ which will be on display until April 28.

Clay works, drawings and mixed media artworks from the Dublin native and Crosshaven local’s collection are currently on display.

Speaking at the opening in early March, Kira said that her family and her daughters and how people grow through time have always inspired her works.

“Epicene means androgynous, it means sexless, and when I came across it in a book I was reading, the line was ‘ he was aghast at the Epicene Lily’ and I just wondered what that meant.

“I took it in relation to what my work is, so it has a female and a feminine attached to it, but it isn’t. They stand still and they’re ceramic, but they’re about the world that we are living in, in relation to the people who are around me and who inspire me,” Kira said.

Sculptures on display portray faces with closed eyes, and according to Kira this represents how, for the past two years, we have been ‘asleep’ and ‘still’.

“The drawings I find I do a lot of mountains and I feel like we’re climbing a mountain at the moment because there is so much happening in the world and there is so much we have to get over,” she added.

‘INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY’

Local artist and Maker, Leon Neligan, explained that he was drawn to Kira’s work due to its 3D nature and intriguing style.

“When I saw her work straight away I thought it was really interesting. When I was younger I would have focused on 3D work myself, so it was kind of nostalgic that way. I think it’s really great for the community and wider area to have visiting artists. We’re getting people into the shop, but also we’re showcasing other talents,” he said.

Chairman of the Blackwater Valley Makers, Pat Murphy noted that the Makers are geared towards having visiting artists exhibit their work in the designated exhibition space at their town centre location.

“It’s part of what the Blackwater Valley Maker’s brand is. It’s involving the community, fellow artists and fellow makers. We get a bit of help from Cork County Council, from the Art Department and from Creative Ireland. We feel they’re giving to us so we give back to the community as well. It’s a very integral part of what we do here, doing exhibitions on a bi-monthly basis.

“We also had one last month for the kids and that proved a great success. This is a core element of what we’re doing in the Blackwater Valley Makers, promoting the arts, promoting creativity and promoting makers, so it’s very important. It’s a small space but it gives a big impact here,” Pat said.

VISITING ARTISTS

Artists can apply to exhibit in the space by contacting the Blackwater Valley Makers through their website or e-mail and sharing an expression of interest.

According to artist and Maker Suzanne O’Sullivan, the space is open to ‘ anybody from anywhere’ who wishes to display their work.

“It is open to any artist, and that’s the beauty of the exhibition space, it’s open to visiting artists and anybody from anywhere, whereas the shop space is for professional artists and makers in the local area of Fermoy and surrounds.

“It brings a different artist and maker into the town and our space for the duration of their exhibition. It adds a bit more texture and variety to what we have and it’s giving Fermoy the opportunity to see an exhibition they may not otherwise get to see,” Suzanne said.

Those in attendance at the opening evening were also treated to original music performed by musician and producer Carlos Paz and artist Kira O’Brien, who are currently working on a project regarding the correlation between Celtic and Cuban music.