The Mullingart 2011 project was launched in style last Monday at the studio of the Free Arts Society in Mullingar. The project caught the imagination of the Midlands’ town last year and intends to be bigger and better for 2011.
“What I thought would be an interesting little side project in 2010 gained incredible momentum in a very short space of time,” said committee member Don Mortell.
This year’s project is sponsored by Westmeath County Council. “With new members on the committee this year the whole project has a new impetus and excitement about it,” said Don. “We have people like Noel O’Callaghan, Ruth Illingworth, Tomas Nally, and Corina Thornton involved. This is my dream team for this event. Their collective commitment to the arts and the town of Mullingar is unparalleled They have a passion for our town and if you want to see Is feidir linn in action you need look no further than this group of fantastic people.”
“The theory behind this project is, on first view a simple one. Put out a call to local artists, novices to professionals, everyone is welcome, and for a few weeks in the summer, create a spectacle of colour in the streets of Mullingar turning the town into Ireland’s only 24/7 people’s art gallery.
“Mullingart is totally inclusive. I want to see all kinds of art this year. I want oils, watercolour, ceramic, photography, sculpture, traditional art, surreal, graffiti, anything! There is no theme and the only limitation is the imagination of the artist. I would love to see work from the Traveller, African, Eastern European, and English communities of Mullingar.”
In order to build on the success of last year’s project it is vital that the businesses of Mullingar step forward and offer a bit of window or wall space. “If you can provide a bit of room in your window, we can dress it with something beautiful. We also found that last year, the shop owners who took part said that not only were people stopping to look at the pictures in the windows but they were looking at the window displays themselves. Its the perfect opportunity to put special offers on in the windows at the same time as Mullingart is running. It’s a win-win situation!”
The central collection point (Rochforts, Dominick Street ) is open from Monday July 4 through to the Sunday July 25.
For more information log on to www.wix.com/mullingart/august13 or email [email protected].
