Visual Art Programme

The Crossing | Gabhann Dunne

Friday 20th January - Friday 9th March | viewing during centre opening hours | access to the gallery is free

"Things separate from their stories have no meaning. They are only shapes.” (Taken from “The Crossing” by Cormac MacCarthy, Picador, 1994).

 “The Crossing” illustrates Gabhann Dunne’s capacity to tell a captivating story through the medium of paint. Cerulean tones enchant, bidding the viewer to explore the underlying tale that this artist delicately treads through his work.  Exploring the tradition of the romantic landscape Dunne considers marginalisation as it occurs in the animal world and it’s reflection on humanity.   

Gabhann Dunne studied fine art in the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and recently completed a Master of Fine Art at The National College of Art and Design (NCAD).  He is the 2011 RDS Taylor Art Award winner and has in the past won the Craig Hennessey Scholarship award and the Whytes Award for his entry to the 2009 Royal Hibernian Academy’s Annual Show.  

This is a touring exhibition curated by VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow.

Illustrations to "The Stories of Red Hanrahan"

Friday 16th March - Thursday 26th April | viewing during centre opening hours | access to the gallery is free

This small exhibition of McGuinness’ illustrations to William Butler Yeats’ “The Stories of Red Hanrahan and the Secret Rose” (1905) will mark just the second time that these works have been exhibited publicly in many years. Born in Derry in 1903, Norah McGuinness studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, and later in Paris under the Cubist, André Lhote (1885 – 1962). A student when she first met W.B. Yeats in 1920s Dublin, she was just 22 when she designed a production of his play “The Only Jealousy of Emer”. Yeats was so impressed with Norah’s work that he later invited her to illustrate his version of “The Stories of Red Hanrahan and the Secret Rose” (1905).

Overall, McGuinness’ collaboration with Yeats was a success, showing us how image and text relationships, particularly during the Irish Cultural Revival, became transformed into one mode of Irish modernism. By obtaining this commission, McGuinness had not only proven that her modernist drawing style was suitable for Ireland’s most esteemed poet, but she was also guaranteed that the publication would be widely distributed. The suite of drawings has recently undergone some moderate conservation work, a project which was made possible under the Heritage Council Grants Programme.

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with The Model, Sligo.

for schools and visual arts interest groups Visual Art Tour and Workshop Programme

throughout the spring season | Workshops must be pre-booked through the arts centre box office | Free

The very popular series of gallery tours and workshops continue in spring with Boyle-based artist Linda Shevlin. Open to all visual art interest groups, school groups, active retirement groups, groups of friends and just about anyone else young or old, who are interested in learning more about the work on show in our gallery. The free informal tours of the exhibitions aim to create opportunities for people to learn and engage with the work in an informal, relaxed and fun setting.

Tours are followed by a free workshop, where you have a chance to get creative and form your very own artwork, using some of the methods and inspirations similar to those used by the artist in the exhibition. Experiment, engage and explore using easily accessible materials to develop your own individual/group artwork.  The free tour and workshop programme is suitable for all ages and experiences. Each tour and workshop runs for approximately 1½ hours. Limited spaces are available and groups must pre-book through the box office. Early booking is strongly advised. 

Thursday 2nd February  |  11am & 1pm               

Thursday 23rd February  |  11am & 1pm

Tour and workshop focuses on the work of artist Gabhann Dunne  

Thursday 22nd March  | 11am & 1pm                

Image: Alice Maher, Beautiful Mouth, 2006, Cast Bronze Sculpture