Opening tonight Friday April 3 is In-between Lines and Circles, an exhibition of recent landscape paintings by Longford-based artist Gary Robinson. In Gary’s own words, “These new paintings are an attempt to simplify our already overflowing visual memory. I would like to involve the viewer in looking at landscapes, streetscapes, and inscapes through portals and openings that can easily go unnoticed.”
In-between Lines and Circles will be officially opened by local Castlebar poet and supporter of the arts Iarla Mongey tonight at 7.30pm, when there will be an opportunity to preview the exhibition, meet the artist, and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine. All welcome. The exhibition runs until Saturday April 25.
Visual arts and reading
Special Moments at the Linenhall is an evening of readings and visual art taking place at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Tuesday April 7 at 6pm. Throughout March, regular attendees at the Linenhall Arts Centre have been taking part in creative writing and mixed media visual art workshops on the theme Special Moments at the Linenhall. This is an informal celebratory evening of readings and visual art exhibits resulting from these workshops. The event will take place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the general enjoyment and bonhomie. These two workshop series are made possible through a Per-Cent-for-Art allocation which formed part of Department of the Arts capital funding for works including the recent refurbishment at the Linenhall.
Film club flickers on to the screen
The next screening at Linenhall Film Club is the acclaimed Chinese film Still Life. Set in the real-life city of Fengjie, half-submerged and due for demolition as part of the Three Gorges Dam project, the inhabitants given final notice to quit, director Zhang Ke Jia spellbindingly captures the human cost of rapid industrialisation in modern China through the story of two visitors, both desperate to recover something of the past before it disappears into the water. Still Life is a meditation on mortality, a contemporary drama-documentary about an entire city preparing to be drowned in the service of China's progress, and a portrait of a vast nation preparing for capitalist superpower status while retaining the autocratic habits of communism.
Full details about the Linenhall Film Club and its forthcoming programme from the Linenhall Arts Centre. Tel: 094 9023733.
Visual workshop for young people
How did cavemen, Egyptians, Aborigines, and Renaissance artists paint in times gone by? Here’s a fascinating and fun series of art workshops for seven- to nine-year-olds and 10-12 year-olds with artist and experienced arts facilitator Katy Newman at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar. Get ready for a real hands-on art experience as Katy takes you through painting techniques used in ancient times, including making your own paints from natural materials. Paint like the ancients visual art workshops for children take place over four Saturdays commencing Saturday April 25 (continuing May 2, 9, and 16 ): 7-9 year-olds from 11.30pm to 1pm; 10-12 year-olds from 2pm to 3.30pm. Cost per head is €30. All materials provided. Places are limited and booking is essential. Booking and further information from the Linenhall. Tel: 094 9023733
