The French artist Eugene Delacroix once described painting as "only a bridge linking the painter's mind with that of the viewer". A group of west of Ireland artists aims to provide such a bridge with its current exhibition in Westport, Co Mayo.
"The Elemental Spirit" is the title of the display in McLoughlin's Gallery, Westport. Sinead Aldridge, Veronica Bolay, Bill Freeland, Virginia Gibbons, Elaine Griffin, John Mayock, Gerald Muller and Anthony Pilbro hail from different cultural, national and artistic disciplines. Their search for "an elemental clarification of a new spirituality" is how they describe their shared pictorial vision.
Supported by Mayo County Council, the exhibition opened during Westport's arts festival last month. According to the programme notes by Virginia Gibbons, artist and lecturer, the group approaches art "intuitively, rather than by direct observation alone".
The group is associated with the Custom House Studios on Westport quay, due for opening next year. The studios will provide exhibition space and an international networking facility.
The development is part-funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, by Mayo County Council and by Wesport UDC.
A local contribution has also been raised by the Westport Artists Studios Group, which has been running a sponsorship and fund-raising campaign for the past two years. "The Elemental Spirit" continues at McLoughlin's Gallery in Westport until October 9th, and will be shown on the Internet thereafter.
"LIFE on the Wild Side" is the title of this year's Connemara Sea Week, which takes place in the Quaker village of Letterfrack, Co Galway, from October 15th to 29th.
Described by its organiser, school principal Leo Hallissey, as a "laid-back festival", the annual gathering will involve "a motley crew of adventurers", including Galway hooker sailor Paddy Barry; cetacean expert Simon Berrow who worked with the British Antarctic Survey; Frank Nugent of the Irish Everest and South Aris Shackleton/ Crean expeditions; and Padraig Whooley, described as a man with a passion for whales who will talk about his quest for orcas in Patagonia. Field trips will be hosted by ecologist Mike Miller.
A workshop for children and adults will be provided in Letterfrack National School by Frank Custy, who has taught Mary Custy, Sharon Shannon and many others.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin group will meet in Letterfrack on October 25th, the final day of the Sea Week '99. For further information, contact Leo Hallissey at (095) 41034 or 43443 or fax (095) 41112.