The faces, lives, and stories of people in Mervue’s Loughnane Terrace, St James Road, and Quinn Place, have been captured in paint and the printed word in Mervue Portraits, a new exhibition commissioned by the Galway City Council.
Mervue Portraits, a new public art commission by artist Christopher Banahan and writer Michael O’Loughlin, will be launched - along with an accompanying publication - by the Mayor of Galway councillor Pádraig Conneely in the Ballybane library on Saturday at 3pm.
It was commissioned by the Arts Office of the Galway City Council through funding made available under the Per Cent for Art Scheme. Christopher approached the residents of Loughnane Terrace, St James Road, and Quinn Place, Mervue, offering to paint anyone who would like their portraits painted, and for the finished portrait to be subsequently given to the residents to maintain in their own home. Michael then began to interview the people Christopher had painted. The publication is designed by Tony O’Hanlon of Propellor Designs.
The exhibition runs until the end of April, at which point the portraits will be gifted to back to the participants. The publication will be available at the Cúirt Bookshop (Town Hall ), and the Galway City Council Arts Office.
