Artistic strokes in Ballybane Library

On Saturday 4th of July a mixed media exhibition by Mervue artist, Angela McManus, was launched in Ballybane library, by Councillor Terry O`Flaherty.
The exhibition includes different media such as silk, oil, water colour, parchment and crochet. Many of the paintings are already sold and this is a testament to the quality of Angela’s work. In fact, it’s impossible to walk beside the pictures without being amazed by the artist’s great talent.
The visitor will travel through a world made by bright and warm coloured flowers, against autumnal views, and women and Celtic figures. These subjects appear clearly because they are mostly put on the foreground and the contrast is achieved by the use of shaded backgrounds
During this art tour, you will probably be struck by the Pink Lady and her beautiful hat, her paleness contrasted by the dark pink background. Although her profile is imposing, you are transported back to the roaring 1920’s. This is one of the woman figures that the visitor can admire. Other female forms are women working in a potato field or nudes with shoulders and back on the foreground. We have noticed the absence of men; it’s all about the delicate strokes of the female universe.
Few steps forward, you can bump into The Vacant Chair. Now, the scenery is completely different. The roaring time leaves the place to the solitary chair, perhaps representing family and friends who are now departed. The chair is in a cold room.
The artist’s spirit is expressed also in the hand-working of copper, a sign of an eclectic soul. For this part of the exhibition, religion is the foremost topic: the Virgin Mary who holds the child in her arms or Bridget’s Cross. But, Angela doesn’t forget the place where she lives, Galway. The Claddagh Ring and a view from Salthill are represented as well, showing us how various her work is.
The walls of the library are now not only visited for the books on the shelves, but also for an other view: a local woman’s expression of freedom.

The writers of this review Jennifer Bignens and Paola Benassi are both students who are on an internship at Ballybane Librray. Jennifer is from Switzerland and Paola is from Italy.