Bolay Residency recipient opening new Mayo exhibition

ADORNING the walls and spaces of the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar this summer is an exceptionally varied visual arts programme. It is particularly delighted to host an exhibition by Paul Murnaghan, Bolay Residency recipient 2023, entitled 'Split the Curlew and you’ll find the music', which launches on Friday, July 19, at 5 p.m.

A multidisciplinary artist, Paul Murnaghan works with the substance of belief. His projects explore spiritual, scientific and psychological terrain, with content gathered through experiments, public questions and utopian quests.

While on the Bolay Residency at the Linenhall last year he asked people a question, ‘Where do you go?’. The answers could take any form, memory, place, food, or song. Replies came as video, audio, email and anonymous words. For those not fond of cameras, avatars have taken their place.

The process evolved into a site specific exhibition that uses video, sound, image and installation to consider where we might find comfort in truthless times.

Murnaghan has had numerous national and international exhibitions, including Irish solo shows at The Royal Hibernian Academy, Limerick City Gallery and The Lab (Dublin City Gallery). He has curated over 30 exhibitions in Ireland and contributed to numerous texts and magazines.

Running in the lovely Linenhall gallery until Saturday, August 31, all are welcome to view the exhibition, and/or attend the launch.

EXHIBITIONS AND WORKSHOPS

Continuing in the Community Gallery are two wonderfully colourful exhibitions.

Intentional Selection, curated by Anthony D. Kelly, showcases contemporary collage works from 30 plus artists from across Ireland.

As part of an overarching festival of collage at the Linenhall, there are several upcoming workshops and a panel discussion being held this summer.

Connacht Collage Collective next meets on Saturday, July 27, with Moving Collage, a screening of international short films with collage as their central theme, taking place the same day.

An additional collage highlight includes the Let’s Dance collage workshop with Una Gildea on Saturday, August 31. A fun, expressive workshop at which you create collage inspired by your favourite dance moves: swing, jive, ballet, disco, to name but a few. All materials and music are provided, with no previous experience necessary.

Also exhibiting is emerging Mayo-based artist Siobhán Quigley, in her first solo body of work as a glass artist.

Exploring the happiness that working with ‘gloine glórmhar’, or glorious glass, brings to her day to day life, the sensory aspects of the glass spark joy.

Both community gallery exhibitions continue until Saturday, September 7.