Lower & Upper Galleries: Wexford Lions Club Open Exhibition
D'Lush Cafe: I want to be - Youth Project Exhibition
4th - 30th March 2013
Artwork (from right to left): Shem Byrne, Jeanne Ffrench and Deborah Stedmond
Artworks (from right to left): Caitlin Hunt - 7 years, Emily Dempsey - 11 years, and Sarah O'Leary - 12 years
Award Presentation: Friday 15th March at 8pm
Guest Speaker: Jim Maguire - Wexford Lions Club
All welcome to attend.
Guest Speaker: Jim Maguire - Wexford Lions Club
All welcome to attend.
Lower & Upper Gallery
Wexford Arts Centre in partnership with the Wexford Lions Club, are delighted to present the twenty third annual open submission exhibition. This exhibition which began as a means to foster a sense of community spirit while displaying local artistic talent has since become a long standing tradition, bringing artists and art lovers together from all corners of the county.
As a result of the success of last year’s exhibition and the remarkably high quality work received, the theme for the 2013 was left entirely open. We have had an overwhelming response, receiving close to 150 artworks which are currently on view in both galleries. Participants submitted work on a wide variety of subjects ranging from land to sea, rural beauty, urban narratives, pure imagination, and total abstraction. However, as there was an option to focus on Wexford’s natural environment to highlight initiatives of the Tidy Town Scheme that have been developed to protect the biodiversity in the locality, a number of works reflect this subject matter. An award, sponsored by Wexford Borough Council, will be presented for a work that depicts our native flora, fauna and their habitats. Children were encouraged to participate again this year and the upper gallery is dedicated specifically to the work of budding artists or 'young lions'.
The aim, as always, was to create an exhibition which truly encompasses the diverse nature of art practice, display the array of talent to be found in Wexford and the surrounding areas and provide a platform for artists at various stages of their careers to produce work and see it realised within a formal gallery context. Moreover, the 'open show' is just that, open to all, and strives to encourage a sense of support and community. For all these reasons, it is an incredibly important show within the Wexford Arts Centre programme.
Wexford Arts Centre and Wexford Lions Club would like to thank Spectrum Art Supply Shop for their ongoing and generous support of this exhibition.
Wexford Arts Centre in partnership with the Wexford Lions Club, are delighted to present the twenty third annual open submission exhibition. This exhibition which began as a means to foster a sense of community spirit while displaying local artistic talent has since become a long standing tradition, bringing artists and art lovers together from all corners of the county.
As a result of the success of last year’s exhibition and the remarkably high quality work received, the theme for the 2013 was left entirely open. We have had an overwhelming response, receiving close to 150 artworks which are currently on view in both galleries. Participants submitted work on a wide variety of subjects ranging from land to sea, rural beauty, urban narratives, pure imagination, and total abstraction. However, as there was an option to focus on Wexford’s natural environment to highlight initiatives of the Tidy Town Scheme that have been developed to protect the biodiversity in the locality, a number of works reflect this subject matter. An award, sponsored by Wexford Borough Council, will be presented for a work that depicts our native flora, fauna and their habitats. Children were encouraged to participate again this year and the upper gallery is dedicated specifically to the work of budding artists or 'young lions'.
The aim, as always, was to create an exhibition which truly encompasses the diverse nature of art practice, display the array of talent to be found in Wexford and the surrounding areas and provide a platform for artists at various stages of their careers to produce work and see it realised within a formal gallery context. Moreover, the 'open show' is just that, open to all, and strives to encourage a sense of support and community. For all these reasons, it is an incredibly important show within the Wexford Arts Centre programme.
Wexford Arts Centre and Wexford Lions Club would like to thank Spectrum Art Supply Shop for their ongoing and generous support of this exhibition.
Artworks (from left to right): Lucy McLoughlin, Michelle Colfer and Rosie Conran
D'Lush Café
I want to be...... is the result of a collaboration between The Arts Department of Wexford County Council, Wexford Arts Centre, artists Oonagh Latchford and Lara Doménech Sánchez, and ten local teenagers: Jamie Barrett, Leanne Brennan, Michelle Colfer, Teresa Colfer, Rosie Conran, Olivia Gangus, Garry Kavanagh, Lucy McLoughlin, Caoimhe Power and Megan Whitty.
Working alongside the artists, the group explored the area of self protraiture through a variety of media. Taking inspiration from US artist Candy Chang's project entitled Before I die, the group chose to share with the viewer one of their innermost hopes. They chose to use the phrase I want to be.... and to fill in the blanks with their own aspiration. These public displays of very private wishes, shown alongside their self portraits not only give a picture of the individual, but as a group serves to reflect a snapshot of teen life.
The group have also asked that you join in and complete your own I want to be...... aspiration card. You will find blank cards and pens in D'lush Café and we would be delighted if you would take one, write the words I want to be followed by your own wish, which you can then hang on one of the many pegs in the cafe. Your response can be one word or many. It can be funny, serious, happy, sad, or anything else you can think of, but you can only write one, so please take a little time to consider your response. There is no incorrect answer. You don’t need to sign your card, as by contributing anonymously, our hope is that people will honestly share their wishes.
The project was funded and supported by the Arts Department of Wexford County Council as part of the Artist in Community Scheme. The exhibition will run in D’Lush Café from Monday 4th to Saturday 30th March.
Gallery hours: Monday – Saturday: 10.00am – 5.30pm.
I want to be...... is the result of a collaboration between The Arts Department of Wexford County Council, Wexford Arts Centre, artists Oonagh Latchford and Lara Doménech Sánchez, and ten local teenagers: Jamie Barrett, Leanne Brennan, Michelle Colfer, Teresa Colfer, Rosie Conran, Olivia Gangus, Garry Kavanagh, Lucy McLoughlin, Caoimhe Power and Megan Whitty.
Working alongside the artists, the group explored the area of self protraiture through a variety of media. Taking inspiration from US artist Candy Chang's project entitled Before I die, the group chose to share with the viewer one of their innermost hopes. They chose to use the phrase I want to be.... and to fill in the blanks with their own aspiration. These public displays of very private wishes, shown alongside their self portraits not only give a picture of the individual, but as a group serves to reflect a snapshot of teen life.
The group have also asked that you join in and complete your own I want to be...... aspiration card. You will find blank cards and pens in D'lush Café and we would be delighted if you would take one, write the words I want to be followed by your own wish, which you can then hang on one of the many pegs in the cafe. Your response can be one word or many. It can be funny, serious, happy, sad, or anything else you can think of, but you can only write one, so please take a little time to consider your response. There is no incorrect answer. You don’t need to sign your card, as by contributing anonymously, our hope is that people will honestly share their wishes.
The project was funded and supported by the Arts Department of Wexford County Council as part of the Artist in Community Scheme. The exhibition will run in D’Lush Café from Monday 4th to Saturday 30th March.
Gallery hours: Monday – Saturday: 10.00am – 5.30pm.
Join our Mailing List
Read our RSS feed
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
