Laois Arts Scene
The Laois Arthouse in Stradbally are delighted to host Borders lll. from Kathmandu to Kerry and Beyond, and to welcome Vera Mc Evoy, Curator of the exhibition, Vera was the first recipient of the Laois Arthouse Bursary 2011/2012. Borders lll. can be seen in the Laois Arthouse, Stradbally. It opens on Thursday 11th June at 1.30pm, light refreshments will be served and all are welcome. The official opening will be performed by Debbie Thomas, children’s author and director of Nepal Leprosy Trust Ireland.
While Ireland is surrounded by water Nepal is landlocked between China and India and is a three-day drive to the sea, many Nepalese people never get to make that journey – to see the ocean. Ireland on the other hand is completely surrounded by water.
This is a touring exhibition of 42 national and international artists, some very well established some at the early stages of their creative career. Artworks are unframed, mixed media and small scale. The works are modestly priced from €40 to €450. There are four Laois-based artists featured in the exhibition, Carol Booth, William Hamilton, Karen Hendy and Aisling Conroy.
Curator, Vera McEvoy is a Kildare based artist and a graduate of the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. She is also coordinator of Nepal Leprosy Trust Ireland. McEvoy was the recipient of the inaugural Laois Arthouse NCAD Graduate Award and Bursary in 2011 -2012. She has exhibited extensively in Ireland since 2007. Solo exhibitions; The Laois Arthouse, Stradbally and King House Boyle, Co Roscommon. Group shows include ‘Form’ at Ballymaloe House and Garden, Cross Gallery, Dublin, ‘Impressions’ 2010 at Galway Arts Centre, Monster Truck Gallery, Dublin and ‘Sculpture in Context’ 2012 in the National Botanical Gardens, Dublin; ‘Work From Middle’, Laois Arthouse, 2014; and ‘Saibhreas’, Damer House and Dunamaise Arts Centre.
Debbie Thomas is a children’s writer who trained as a BBC radio journalist. She worked for ten years in Bangladesh and South Africa for aid agencies and newspapers. Her jobs included tea drinking with pygmies, interviewing prawn farmers and reporting on working conditions in garment factories. Since 2006 she has been a director of Nepal Leprosy Trust Ireland. She has written a trilogy for 9-12 year-olds and her latest book, Class Act, is just out.
Borders l: opened in Kathmandu on 1st April 2015 and was exhibited for one week, Borders ll: opened in Cill Rialaig on 3rd May and was exhibited for one week.
The final exhibition takes place in the Laois Arthouse, Stradbally, Co Laois. Borders lll. can be viewed in the Laois Arthouse from Monday to Friday, 11th to the 26th June, 1-4pm or by special appointment. Sales from the Art Exhibition are in aid of Nepal Leprosy Trust Ireland.
Further information from the Laois Arthouse, Stradbally. T: 057 8664109/ 057 8664033. E: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie