Three artists, all living locally, will exhibit their work collectively in the upstairs gallery at Jack O’Patsy Pottery, Friar St. At different stages over the past five years all three natives have returned to work and live in Youghal. Andrea Cashell (Ceramic Artist) Martha Cashman (Sculptor) Diane Magee (Painter)

Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com  Email: news@youghalonline.com

On finishing her degree in 2000, Andrea was awarded the N.C.E.A. Purchase Prize. Her  Public Commissions include an installation in the National College of Ireland, The I.F.S.C.  Dublin and The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal. She is currently working on a series of slab built sculptures based on plant forms. She uses soft slabs of clay to allow each piece assume it’s natural form during the drying process, giving each a unique quality. The hard edges of the cubed forms contrast with the soft unfurling petals inside.  She uses white stone clay and fires her pieces to 1000 degrees. This body of work is currently selling in various galleries throughout Ireland.

Martha recently received the Essence of Ireland Award presented to her by President Mary Mc Aleese. She has exhibited extensively both in Ireland and abroad.  Her work can be seen as part of the permanent art collection in U.C.C. Martha works with mixed media such as porcelain, paper clay wire and carved wood.  Her collection includes a series of non functional sculptural tools such as spoons, ladles, stirrers, spreaders, spades forks and shovels. Martha says ‘These forms evoke memories of my rural upbringing and pay homage to the elders of my past’.

Having studied, worked and lived in Limerick for 13 years, it’s comes as no surprise then that Diane’s first solo show was in Limerick in 2007, it sold out on the night of the opening. This lead directly to a series of commissioned pieces for a Limerick based art collector.  Her second solo show, also in Limerick in 2009, again sold out.  A contemporary realist in style, her work explores and records the landscape and views which surround her daily; she works in oil on canvas.  To date, Diane’s work is mainly commission lead and is part of public and private collections in Ireland, Switzerland, the U.K, and the U.S.A.

All three artists are delighted to be showing their work together in their home town of Youghal. The exhibition will be open to the public on Tuesday November 24th and will run until Christmas.