Custom House Studios are pleased to host an exhibition of paintings - Terrain - by Marian McHale, Eileen Ferguson and Fiona Cawley, which runs until Sunday, September 13.
Reminiscences, recognition and rediscovery form the basis for Marian McHale’s exploration of her local landscape and the rugged bogland near Turlough. Striving to maintain the recognisable essence of the environment, by using personal concentration of composition, form, light and colour, the objective of her artistic endeavour is to expose Turlough landscapes through abstract depictions revealing their multiplicity of colour, shade and the light.
Marian describes the essence of the finished works as: "The synthesis of seasonal floral forms and shapes, which flourish and dissipate in the creation of the paintings.The fusion of form and content may deter precise description or interpretation, as the battered surfaces of these paintings suggest the relentless making and unmasking of images, when they emerge as an apparition."
Eileen Ferguson, speaking about her work, said: "I am currently working on a new series of work. They are based on a research visit to the Occupied Territories last year. I was based in Bethlehem and worked as part of the Olive Tree Campaign. I am interested in the social/political landscape and opening a dialogue with my art practise and images developed."
Eileen Ferguson was born in Edinburgh. She studied Fine Art at The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Dundee 1982-1986 and an MA in Fine Art at the University of Ulster at Belfast 1988-1989. She has exhibited in the 2017/2019 Royal Ulster Academy, the RHA Dublin Annual Exhibition in 2018 and has exhibited widely in Ireland with a most recent solo exhibition in the Alley Art Centre Strabane 2017 and Solas Art Gallery Ballinamore Leitrim. Past solo shows have been in Temple Bar Gallery Dublin, The Arts Council Gallery Belfast. Sligo Art Gallery.
Fiona Cawley paints landscape and figurative scenes. The work is loosely painted using gestural brushstrokes, thick and thin paint and evocative colours which are an emotional response to her surroundings and personal life experiences. Though mostly representational, some paintings often evolve into abstracted depictions spontaneously painted from memory and imagination. The paint dictates the beginning of each painting and the artist uses her imagination when it comes to the subject matter.
The paintings in this show are recent work either started or finished during the pandemic lockdown, some of which portray a lone figure within nature, which is a repeated theme in the artist’s work and represents the artist herself finding solace in nature. More than ever this body of work was inspired by how the surrounding landscape nurtured its inhabitants and proved to be an escape from the experience of lockdown.
Fiona Cawley was born in Sligo in 1970, she grew up in Ballina and now lives and works as a professional artist in Kinvara. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 1pm to 4.30pm.
