News

Kildare Nationalist 19th May 2022

Fantastic Newbridge exhibition marks centenary of British Army withdrawal

People are flocking to see a new art exhibition in Newbridge marking the centenary of the withdrawal of the British army from Kildare.

‘Life Goes On’ opened at Bord na Móna’s headquarters in the town on Monday 16 May, exactly 100 years after the withdrawal of British troops.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Sult Artists (a group of multidisciplinary Kildare-based artists) and Newbridge Local History Group.

‘Fine Giornata’ translates to ‘end of the day’, and ‘Argilla di Fine Giornata’ translates to clay at the end of the day. Apprentices who worked in glass or ceramic studios would often have the opportunity to make their own work with leftover materials at the end of the day and these creations were often called ‘Fine Giornata’...

2020 was strange year, with some exhibitions and residencies cancelled. But it was a year to experiment and try out new ideas and work towards exhibitions that might or might not happen....but some did. The studio was closed to the public for much of the year but thankfully I managed to keep it going.

 I have presented many workshops and art camps, for all ages in various places around the world. We have used a variety materials from clay, textiles to found objects to investigate the environment we live in. Art and accessibility is also an important aspect to my practice and I was very fortunate to work on ceramic projects in Rosmini School in Dublin and on the first tactile exhibition at the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramic Museum in Taipei Taiwan. 

 Bringing affordable art to Newbridge | Kildare Nationalist (kildare-nationalist.ie)

Kildare Nationalist, Friday 31st January 2020

RTÉ presenter and Newbridge man Keith Walsh was recently on hand to help launch the inaugural Art Fair supported by Newbridge Rotary Club that will take place in the Town Hall over the weekend 7-9 February.

The art fair will exhibit a vast and diverse array of high quality work produced by local, national and international artists. It presents an exciting opportunity for both Kildare based art enthusiasts, or those that have always aspired to owning a piece of fine art for their home or their office, but didn’t know where to start.

The Rotary Club of Newbridge is running this exciting new event in the Town Hall with the intention of bringing affordable fine art to the town in Newbridge.

All artists are waiving 30% of any paintings or works sold during the event, of which will be donated to Sightsavers and local Rotary supported charities.

Eleanor Swan, a world renowned ceramicist, who is a proud Newbridge native is delighted to be one of artists leading the charge.

“I am thrilled to be involved in this project. It’s such a worthy cause and it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wonderful, creative artists and artistic talents that we have in Kildare. The poet Thomas Merton once said ‘Art enables us to find ourselves and loose ourselves at the same time’ so we invite as many as possible to come to our exhibition in February and enjoy the inspiring work on view.”

Other artists that will exhibit their work at the event with the aim of raising monies for the chosen charities, include landscape artist, Grainne Dowling, bog oak expert Brian O’Loughlin and abstract landscape artist John Kingerlee, Emmet Kane and many more.

Sightsavers is one of the organisations that will be supported by the monies raised through the sale of the art. Sightsavers is an organisation that is committed to eliminating avoidable blindness, and ensuring that those with disabilities can participate equally in society.

Ciara Smullen Head of Major Giving, is excited at the prospect of working with the Rotary Club in helping bring an event like this to the town:

“The Rotary Club of Newbridge takes a very active role in giving back to both the local community and internationally as well. This event is presenting Kildare locals with the opportunity of purchasing some beautiful art, and in the process raising money to help restore the sight of people living in some of the poorest countries in the world, and we are delighted to be a part of it,” she said.

The opening of the inaugural Art Fair will take place at 6.30pm on Friday 7 February, and entry is free, and everyone is welcome.