HARVEST Opening night is Wednesday August 11th.Thursday August 12th it is open to the public and runs daily from 12noon to 6 p.m., August 12th until September 18th at The Grain Store, Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork

Combining the work of three painters – Rebecca Bradley, Diane Magee and Louise McKeown – with that of four ceramic sculptors – Liz Burgess, Andrea Cashell, Martha Cashman and Nedyalka Panova – this is an exhibition that varies in approach, content and theme, but is united by the location in which these artists live, the dedication with which they work, and their instinctive responses to the world around them.

The four ceramic sculptors exhibiting work in an array of different methods, demonstrating mastery of each medium along with flair, imagination and skill.

Based in Kinsale, Liz Burgess creates elegant and contemporary torsos of male and female forms, and garden sculptures inspired by the rock formations found at beaches around Cork, in raku-fired ceramics. Andrea Cashell is an award-winning ceramic artist from Youghal who makes contemporary slab-built sculptures using white stoneware clay, based on the organic forms and repeat patterns found in nature like those of shells, plants and flowers.

Martha Cashman is also from Youghal, now Cork based, and a very well known ceramicist who transforms the most humble of objects, such as tools and spoons, into symbolic pieces using delicate porcelain with bright lustre glazes, woven wire and wood. Nedyalka Panova is Bulgarian but lives and works in Cork, and is an award-winning ceramic artist whose work, inspired by nature, uses using a wide range of materials and techniques, from fine bone china to raku.

Each of the three painters in the exhibition also responds directly and immediately to the individual environment in their work.

Rebecca Bradley was born in London in the 1960s and has lived and worked in Fermoy for the past eighteen years. Ranging from light, open, minimal paintings to more densely worked textural pieces, landscapes and places she has visited provide a starting point for her work.

Diane Magee was born in Youghal, where she lives and works, and her work explores and records the landscape, light and views which surround her daily. Originally from Clonmel, Louise McKeown is based in Kinsale where she runs her own gallery.

Deriving ideas, tastes and styles from various sources, she produces both landscapes and portraits, with her painting primarily influenced by the Irish countryside and its rich colours and people.

The broad range of work on view in this exhibition fully represents the exciting artistic life of Cork and its environs, and is a wonderfully engaging and authentic reflection of a genuinely vibrant cultural scene.

www.rebeccabradleyartist.com            www.andreacashell.com

www.marthacashman.com                   www.dianemagee.com

www.louisemckeon.com                      www.nedyalkapanova.com

Liz Burgess (website in progress) tel: (087)7532956

The Art exhibition by three local artists at Jack O’Patsy Pottery, Friar St, Youghal, was opened last Monday night (Nov. 23rd 2009) by Ms. Bernie Heffernan, deputy principal of Pobailscoil na Tríonoíde and former art teacher to Andrea Cashell (ceramic artist), Martha Cashman (sculptor) and Diane Magee (painter).
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

All three would agree that Ms. Heffernan was a huge influence on them as young teenagers, which ultimately lead to their careers as artists. Ms. Heffernan gave a very concise account of each of the artists work including insight into their techniques.

She also encouraged the crowds to come back another time to appreciate the quietness of both the art works and the space.  But as busy as this event was it still didn’t deter discerning art buyers from making their purchases! It was a really enjoyable night, punctuated with the arrival of delicious food, compliments of Gerald Esposito proprietor of Capri Bay, a local and much celebrated Italian restaurant.

Some of the guests in attendance were Mayor of Youghal Sandra McLellan and Deputy Mayor Michelle Hennessey and local artist Cormac Meegan with his wife Peg and of course Jack O’Patsy owner Patrick Collins.

The exhibition will run until December 18th 2009.  Opening hours 10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday and 12noon – 6pm on Sunday. Jack O’ Patsy Pottery, Friar st, Youghal, Co.Cork.

Click on image to enlarge

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.