EXHIBITIONS IN THE CASTLE CAFÉ GALLERY
15 September - 25 October during Castle Opening Hours
Our visual arts programme at Portumna Castle includes work in the Castle Gallery above the café and in the grounds of Portumna Castle.
The main exhibition will focus on the basketwork and sculpture of the great Joe Hogan and some impressive rushwork pieces from local artist Gerardine Wisdom.
In addition, there will be an exhibition of curated work by students of Portumna Community School.
New writing from Portumna Pen Pushers, in response to images from photographer, Brendan Lawlor, will be displayed in the Castle grounds.
The main exhibition will focus on the basketwork and sculpture of the great Joe Hogan and some impressive rushwork pieces from local artist Gerardine Wisdom.
In addition, there will be an exhibition of curated work by students of Portumna Community School.
New writing from Portumna Pen Pushers, in response to images from photographer, Brendan Lawlor, will be displayed in the Castle grounds.
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Joe Hogan
Joe Hogan has been working at Lough na Fooey since 1978 and in that time his reputation as one of Ireland’s most important artist-craftspeople has been growing both at home and internationally.
Last year, President Michael D Higgins presented Joe with a Lifetime Achievement Award and we are very proud to present a selection of Joe’s work as part of our Shorelines visual arts programme. There will be some of his traditional baskets, wonders of skill and judgement, some of his artistic baskets, which are collector’s pieces, and some of his latest interaction with nature – his nests. Of these, he writes: ‘I wanted to make objects that might, in some vague way, rekindle our connection with the world of twigs and stones and remind us of the joyful surprise we might feel when we encounter nature’s abundance. Rachel Carson remarked that the greatest gift we can give a child is a sense of wonder…In the essay Mossbawn, Seamus Heaney remarks, ‘All children want to crouch into their secret nests… ‘ The project also seeks to highlight the shocking collapse in bird numbers over the last 20 years and the general loss of biodiversity…’ For more, see www.joehoganbaskets.com |
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Gerardine Wisdom
Gerardine Wisdom is an artist who works in rushwork basketry. Uniquely in Ireland, she has taken this ancient craft of rushwork and turned it into a new Irish art form in sculpture.
Her passion for rushes is inspired by the natural beauty and cultural heritage she sees around her on the shores of Lough Derg and the Shannon. With woven and bundled rush, she creates organic forms and sculptures using rushes she sustainably harvests by hand, often up to her chest, in the cool waters of Lough Derg. |
In Focus Exhibition
Members of Portumna Pen Pushers and photographer, Brendan Lawlor, collaborated on this photo/writing project. Brendan, born in Portumna, and an observer of the world at large through the lens of his camera, shares his images with the local writing group.
A selection of the words created in response to his stunning photographs stand side by side at this outdoor In Focus Exhibition at Portumna Castle.
Pen Pushers are a local peer-led writing group who share a passion for words.
There will be a live reading on Thursday, Sept 15th at 11am.
View and download the In Focus booklet below.
A selection of the words created in response to his stunning photographs stand side by side at this outdoor In Focus Exhibition at Portumna Castle.
Pen Pushers are a local peer-led writing group who share a passion for words.
There will be a live reading on Thursday, Sept 15th at 11am.
View and download the In Focus booklet below.
School Art
Portumna Castle Gallery will feature a selection of art work from students created while attending Portumna Community School. Curated by current students under the direction of art teacher, Hayley Aldous, the pieces will reflect the talent and creativity of our young people.