DUNAMAISE ARTS CENTRE OPEN EXHIBITION
Spectrum III & VII (2012)Dunamaise Arts Centre is delighted to unveil the winners of its Open Art Exhibition 2013.Having received almost 100 impressive submissions from both established and emerging artists; 21 pieces by 15 artists, including an overall winner were selected by Noel Kelly, President of AICA Ireland and CEO/Director of Visual Artists Ireland . The 21 pieces exhibited are in various media by artists from across the four Midlands Counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.The selected artists are Carol Booth, Carol Breen, Aisling Conroy, Rebecca Deegan, David Fox, Sean Guinan, Bernadette Keating, Tim Mann, Maria O’Brien, Ciara O’Hara, Lawrence O’Neill, Catherine Rock, Mary Slevin, Anne Van Dorpe and Ann Wingfield.Previously, annual Open Shows have varied to include national or local, professional or amateur artists, with varying levels of participation, engagement and success. For this year’s Open Submission Group Show, new Director of Dunamaise, Michelle de Forge, hopes that the exhibition will further promote and strengthen the connectivity and collaboration of the visual arts community in the Midlands.Gaining support from Arts Officers in neighbouring counties has resulted in the presentation of this year Open Show in conjunction with the Local Authority Arts Offices of Counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.Noel Kelly, (President of AICA Ireland and CEO/Director of Visual Artists Ireland) was invited to select work by artists originally from, or living in, these four counties. Dunamaise Gallery now presents his selection, which represents a great breadth and depth of artistic expression by emerging and established midlands based artists.A fantastic prize of a month long residency at The Arthouse, Stradbally, Co. Laois was offered to the overall winner of the competition which will provide a rare opportunity to focus on creating new work in state of the art studio facilities and a supportive environment.“It was intended that through collaboration with Arts Officers, a wide net would be cast and ongoing networking across county borders will be encouraged. This format of exhibition project devised by Dunamaise offers scope for expansion in future years, with potential for rotating the exhibition across counties or forming a touring show”, said Michelle de Forge, Director of Dunamaise Arts Centre.Dunamaise Gallery offers a warm, inviting, designated exhibition space with wonderful natural light. Artists and curators can show work exclusively in this space, or also present their work along the curved staircase, throughout the welcoming foyer and café space.Dunamaise Arts Centre wishes to acknowledge the support and encouragement received from Local Authority Arts Officers and their staff; Muireann Ní Chonaill, Bridie Keenan, Fergus Kennedy, Sinead O'Reilly and Muireann Mulrennan for this project.Dunamaise Open Exhibition will continue until 20 December 2013.http://www.dunamaise.ie/exhibitions/current-exhibitions.html