THERE was a slightly eerie feeling of deja vu going round artist James Hanley's opening in the Hallward Gallery. Not because the pieces themselves were anything other than original, but because so many of the subjects were wandering around sipping wine. Actor Michael McElhatton, whose portrait features a large hunk of meat, came along with his co-star in John Carney's film November Afternoon, Jayne Snow, who had to dash off to the Abbey for Tarry Flynn. Helen Norton, another leading light in the Abbey and an old friend of Hanley's, also had to fly off but not before purchasing one of the artist's works.
Other friends and associates appearing in oil as well as the flesh were artist Remco de Fouw; James's brother-in-law, Daragh Dukes whose Limerick band Fat Buck is shortly to be signed, and Joe McCloskey, the barber from below Hanley's studio in Trinity Street.
Paul Durcan opened the proceedings with a great flourish and a poem composed especially for Hanley's benefit. Bright young thing of the London art scene, Ollie Comerford flew in to join the gathering; artist Janet Pierce who is currently show ing in London arrived; and artist Gary Coyle was also there.
Other people wandering among the bright paintings were Ian Fox and Jim Harkin; Carey Clarke of the RHA; the National Gallery's Brian Kennedy who is shortly moving Down Under to take up his new post as the director of the National Gallery of Australia; James O'Nolan, director of the Graphics Studio; and artist and NCAD teacher, Theo McNabb.