‘Timescape’ Art Exhibition by Maura Fahy

Venue: Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Date: Friday, April 17^th 2015

There was a large turnout of support for the launch of Maura Fahy’s latest exhibition ‘Timescape’ in Áras an Chontae, Tullamore on Friday evening, April 17^th 2015. This was the first time the Tullamore artist held a solo exhibition at Offaly County Council’s offices and she was delighted to be accepted by the Arts Department.

Author Geraldine O’Neil was Guest Speaker on the night and started her speech by soaking in the ambience of the occasion, “We’ve unusually good weather this evening, and with wine and great art, what more could we want?”

Maura Fahy with Author Geraldine O’Neill, guest speaker at ‘Timescape’ exhibition

Geraldine continued, “We also have a great space here in Áras an Chontae. I called up here the other afternoon to have a preview of the exhibition and I thought how perfect the light was in this lovely building. We’re lucky to have the use of it while we’re busy waiting for our own Arts Centre in Offaly which hopefully won’t be too long.”

Geraldine, who herself is the author of eleven books, went on to describe Maura’s career in art.

“Having taught in the CBS (Colaiste Choilm) for over twenty years, Maura decided to change her career and become a full-time artist in 2001. Since then, she’s developed her own Art Studio, Papillon, in Durrow, Co. Offaly, and has exhibited widely since. She’s forged an impressive career as a professional artist in the intervening thirteen years with 32 shows in total which is absolutely amazing.”

“Maura’s work draws on the love of her own countryside, the extraordinary landscapes and an Irish culture which she feels has a thread of mysticism. Her work is abstract in nature and is inspired by her natural surroundings and spiritual influences. She uses oil paints and sand in many of her pieces to create unusual images with rough textures.”

“She explained to me that this latest exhibition ‘Timescape’ stems from a childhood fascination with the dandelion flower, its shape, its softness and its magical ability to disappear on its own. She described as a child as many of us did, she used it as a clock to tell the time. She felt that by blowing the clocks and spreading their life for miles around, she was actively creating nature.”

“For the pieces of her work that we see here tonight, Maura has created a more three dimensional aspect to her work using plaster of paris and thicker layers of paint. She feels this makes the observer curious and invites them to look deeper into the paintings.”

Gerldine concluded by saying, “I’d like to wish Maura all the best for this latest show ‘Timescape’ and enjoy the rest of the evening.”

Maura Fahy thanked Geraldine for speaking at the event and presented her with a bouquet of flowers and one of the paintings from Papillon Art Studio. Maura also thanked and presented a bouquet of flowers to Sinéad O’Reilly, Claire Dunne and all in Offaly Arts Office for helping to facilitate the exhibition. She also wished to  thank all those who helped prepare for the successful event and everyone in attendance for their continued support.

‘Timescape’ continues until May 1^st 2015 at Áras an Chontae, 9am-4pm weekdays. All are welcome to come and view the work.

You can contact Maura by calling (086) 3166891 or email maura@papillonartstudio.com.