Luan Gallery, in collaboration with Westmeath Arts Office, presents the Westmeath Artists’ Awards, a group exhibition featuring works by 30 Westmeath artists selected by guest Curator, Sarah Searson.
The exhibition will be officially opened by An Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Councillor Aengus O’ Rourke on Thursday, December 1, at 6pm with guest speakers, Selector, Sarah Searson and the Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council, Pat Gallagher.
The Westmeath Artists’ Award, is a partnership between Luan Gallery and Westmeath Arts Office aiming to celebrate, showcase and support the development of Westmeath visual artists’ practices and careers with funding support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Luan Gallery invited submissions from artists living in or from Westmeath for consideration of this Award and inclusion in a group exhibition.
Over 50 works by 30 artists will be showcased in the exhibition, with many of the artists exhibiting for the first time in Luan Gallery. The works are predominantly painting based, but also include printmaking, photography, film, mixed media and sculptural works.
“There are a variety of themes that have naturally occurred in the selection. People and portraiture, images of home and house, the body and identity. Our relationship with nature, our concern for its care and future, and its importance to our wellbeing.
“The selection I made is largely focused on art practices that may not have the potential for regular commercial income. The combined nature of this project; an exhibition with a small stipend, suggested that it was opportune to represent practices which might be less known and to bring them into dialogue with those who might be better known locally. Sincere thanks are due to all those who put their work forward for consideration. It was a challenge to select thirty. It’s important for me to emphasise there is some outstanding talent not presented in this particular iteration,” Guest selector, Sarah Searson, stated.
As part of the Westmeath Artists’ Support Awards Scheme exhibiting artists will receive a bursary and are being considered for a professional development award which will be announced at the opening of the group exhibition. The awardee will receive €1,500, an exhibition slot in Luan Gallery’s exhibition programme, a residency in Abbey Road Artists’ Studios, a studio visit and mentorship session with a curator during the studio residency and an opportunity to feature in a video clip/podcast highlighting their artwork and practice published on Luan Gallery’s website and social channels.
The launch of the exhibition commences Luan Gallery’s 10-year anniversary programme of activities. The gallery was opened by Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on Thursday, November 29 2012, and was the first purpose-built, municipal visual art gallery located in the Midlands. The Westmeath Artists’ Awards marks the 76th exhibition to be presented by the gallery, which promotes a dynamic contemporary visual art programme of both established and emerging artists and to date the gallery has exhibited the works of 690 artists.
“I am so pleased that this show is punctuating the 10-year milestone of the Luan opening its doors. It is appropriate that the show is a celebration of Westmeath artists, who have been so supportive of the Gallery, and the Luan team. It was striking how many applications we had for this show, almost 100 I believe, and the curator’s role was not an enviable one in having to distil this number downwards to match the space available at the gallery. Westmeath is lucky to have such fantastic infrastructure for the visual arts in Athlone, including the Gallery, Abbey Road Artists’ Studio and not forgetting the many other improvised spaces utilised in municipal buildings and in other cultural venues. We look forward to continuing to showcase local, regional and international works over the next 10 years,” Westmeath County Arts Officer, Miriam Mulrennan, added.
All are welcome to attend the launch, the exhibition continuing until Sunday, February 5 2023 with seasonal closures from December 21-27 inclusive.
Admittance to Luan Gallery is free and guided tours are available to all at no cost. More information on the exhibition and upcoming events can be found at www.luangallery.ie and on Luan Gallery’s social channels.
