Brannockstown exhibition well worth a view
Small but beautifully formed, writes Brian Byrne. That's the way to look at the Village Art exhibition celebrating the creative, photographic and artistic talent in the area, showing in Brannockstown Baptist Hall over the weekend. The exhibition is part of the Branockstown Summer Festival 2011.
Underpinned by work from professional artists in Kildare and Wicklow, local artists and photographers involved include Rita Kelly, Bernie McMahon, David Kearney, Nicky Boyce, Niamh Murray, Peggy Ashmore, Kieran Kearney and Melanie Kearney.
They are joined by innovative and colourful work from two local schools, Brannoxtown NS and the Kildare Steiner School. Well worth looking through to try and spot a few artists of the next generation.
The professional works include paintings from Seamus O'Byrne, Geraldine O'Donohoe and Grainne Dowling; wood sculpture by Norman Styles; and photography by Conor Williams.
"This is our festival's second year, and we are again honoured and amazed at the willingness and interest of such artistic and creative talent to join us to exhibit at this event," says Amanda Horan-Hennessey, coordinator of the exhibition. "We also acknowledge some wonderful emerging talent from among our own local communities."
Among the intriguing elements are photographic landscapes photographed by Niamh Murray with her mobile phone, which show just what can be done with the most basic equipment by somebody with an artistic eye. Niamh is giving the proceeds of sales of her work to 'Operation Maintain Hope'.
Clever mixing of photographs and painting features among some of the works from Brannoxtown NS pupils.
And the photographs by Conor Williams documenting the early days of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage project show strong influences from the photojournalism techniques of publications such as 'Life' magazine in its heyday.
The exhibition runs through the weekend and shouldn't be missed by anyone with an interest in the artistic.
