The original idea for Imprints came from Lola Donoghue (art teacher at St Colman’s ). When her submission for a creative engagement project with Leaving Cert Applied students for their visual art class was accepted, she got Pat Keane (deputy principal ) on board to guide the project through his native Claremorris from an historical and cultural perspective. Fotissima Photography, which comprises Lola Donoghue and Majella Kelly, were the collaborating artists involved. All equipment was supplied by them and students were taught the basic principles of photography, from the creative to the technical. They followed through the project from the shooting stage to the digital processing on computers and the eventual framing and presentation of the work.
Imprints is a series of over 30 photographs in both colour and black and white, framed and unframed. The concept behind this student project is summed up in the Irish language proverb “Maireann an chraobh ar an bhfál ach ní mhaireann an lámh do chuir”. Each generation shapes the environment and leaves its imprint.
The aim of Imprints is to engage the public in a celebration of the local environment, recognising its inherent aesthetic qualities, as well as the important role it plays within our cultural habitat. Commonplace, overlooked and often forgotten objects and spaces within the town have been elevated to a level of high art.
The exhibition reflects the imprints of a varied past, from the megalithic arrangement of ancient stones of a souterrain to the contemporary spray paint of a graffiti artist. We recall the industrial past of Donnellan’s Mill and Gray’s Brewery; the technologies and implements of times gone by; the niches and textures of the town. Students attempt to show the beauty of the natural stone walls on derelict buildings and how surprising and fascinating some of the old alleyways are. The exhibition will be officially opened by Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors on May 23 at 8pm at Chapel Lane Square. It will run from Monday 25 to Friday 29 from 12pm to 4pm.
