Creatives from Gort Arts will host their third annual member exhibition, opening this Sunday, September 19, in the Michael Kennedy Pottery Studio.
While the old market town is known for its ties to the 19th century Irish Literary Revival at Coole, Thoor Ballylee and Kilmacduagh, there are layers to the contemporary life of Gort, which boasts one of the most diverse populations on the island of Ireland.
The exhibition will celebrate the past and present life of Gort, and its surrounding area, in all its facets. Through paint, sculpture, print-making, ceramics and textiles, local artists will explore Gort as a place of memory, imagination, nature, belonging, and change. They aim to foster a sense of community and pride of place; celebrating everyday life, the ordinary and the extraordinary.
Expect to find artworks depicting the Gort River Walk and WB Yeats’s Thoor Ballylee Tower, but also be surprised by what other unusual views and forgotten stories artists might share about the town.
Shopkeeper and wool merchant Colman Keane, of Keane’s shop - a Gort establishment since 1812 - will open the exhibition over the Culture Night weekend. Keane will tell some rich and textured tales from his life and times behind the counter.
The exhibition will also feature "Lovin' Gort" an interactive installation curated by Esther Blodau. From inside a booth, artists will draw tiny portraits of visitors, who will share what they love about the town. A typist will create an on-the-spot poem, based on visitors' responses. The portraits and poems will be added to the installation over the course of the opening evening.
Further celebrating the south County Galway town, the Gort Arts group is also launching its first series of Gort Greeting Cards with artwork by five members. The sets will be available to purchase on the night.
Delving deeper into how we perceive the town, and understanding what makes Gort the place that it is, the group will be hosting local Art Historian Robert Kilroy in conversation with three artists and makers. Open to the public on Saturday, September 26, at 11 am.
For the Love of Gort launches on Saturday, September 19 at 7pm and runs for two weekends starting on Culture Night.
Saturday's launch will feature refreshments and entertainment from Siroco Duo. The exhibition is on at the gardens and studio of the late ceramicist, Michael Kennedy at Boland’s Lane, Gort. H91 CP23.
Check Gort Arts Facebook and Instagram pages for dates and time. Funded in part by the Galway County Council.
