East Galway Art Trail is now in its second year and we are delighted to say last year was a huge success. All of the venues were well attended and the response was very positive. East Galway Art Trail is an innovative idea that is concerned with art awareness and library awareness. Its objective is to bring art and artists into the community by using the space available in rural libraries. These artists are working and living within communities.
The collaboration of artists and libraries can be of great benefit to the public for the enjoyment of art and library’s facilities. It is also of benefit to local schools for leaving cert and junior cert students and teachers. It is an opportunity to engage with contemporary art, artists and literature.
The art trail aims to make art accessible to everyone in the community; that is the intention that Galway County Library staff, who are based in the East Galway area, and Joyce Little, a local Ballinasloe artist, had when they worked together to bring this project to realization. The six artists involved in this years art trail are Brendan Grealy, Una Devine, Geraldine O Brien, Una Spain, Ciaran Óg Arnold and Áine Flanagan.
Brendan Grealy, is a native of Ballinasloe. He is an art graduate of G.M.I.T. and Crawford Academy Cork. His work is a radical departure from his previous collections. He is concerning himself not only with landscape but rather with the concept of introspection. Grealy’s expressionistic style, exploes the relationship of the artist with his surroundings and thoughts, redefining one’s self and mindscape through the act of redefining the process and expectations of creating art. His paintings are rich in colour, concept and explore a multitude of sensations evoked in the viewer. The work is a playful dialogue between tone and tactility, and bounces from the canvas commanding the space it inhabits.
Brendan Grealy, solo exhibition
Eyrecourt library,
11th March, 7 p.m. and will run for two weeks. Eyrecourt librarian: Ms Laura Flynn
Una Devine is a graduate from Cluin Mhuire art collage in Galway. She lives and works in Galway. Her exhibition is called
'Woodford a Place of Parts'. The inspiration for this collection was a
"walk around" visit to Woodford where she was moved by the luminosity and beauty of the town, even on a dull day. The pieces were drawn from impressions she gathered with the camera from this walk. She uses the photographic image as a starting point and then works on stretched canvas. The mediums she uses are acrylic paint, oil paint and shellac. She is inspired by the work of Hughie O' Donoghue.
Una Devine, solo exhibition,
Woodford Library,
18th March, 8pm. and will run for two weeks Woodford librarian : Eleanor Farrell.
Geraldine O Brien, is a Galway artist. She graduated from Limerick College of Art and Design, She has a textile degree from G.M.I.T. and is currently undertaking an MA in Design History and Material Culture at N.C.A.D. Her exhibition is called
`Encroachment`. The playful images belie the insidious aspect of being encroached upon. The role of hand stitch is a comment on the invasive prevalence of machinery and technology. The installation, which comprises of dresses in varying stages of decomposition, reflects the feeling of being violated
Geraldine O Brien, solo exhibition,
Kilimor Library,
25th March, 7pm. and will run for two weeks Kilimor librarian: Marie Mullins
In a link up with the Academy of American Poets, Galway City Library is participating in a month long April-is-Poetry-Month project. The lines “Do I dare disturb the universe” from the famous Prufrock poem by TS Eliot has been chosen by the Academy as a theme.
