Looking back on successful Culture Night 2020
On Friday 18th of September, Laois celebrated in style with a number of live events and online events taking place in the County, throughout the day and night. Highlights included an exhibition at The Gallery Laois Arthouse, Stradbally featuring beautiful work by members of the Laois Arthouse Collective and work by the community from a series of pre-Culture Night workshops. Another amazing highlight was the projected screening of a short animated film, with wonderful sound track at Fitzmaurice Place Plaza, Portlaoise – ‘In celebration of Helen Roe’; the work of artist Caroline Conway, that gave a fascinating insight into the life and work of Mountrath born, Helen Roe. At the Dunamaise Arts Centre, limited visitors enjoyed an exhibition entitled ‘Children of the Free State’ by Annie Holland and Live Portrait Painting with Blaise Smith.
And in Mountmellick an outdoor performance by CCE Mountmellick took place on the steps of the Art Centre, Mountmellick. Online events included an opportunity to view an’ Eco Printing Workshop’ with Artist Angelina Foster and an ‘Earth Art Workshop’, with artist Aishling Hennessy and Rebecca Deegan live streamed a workshop on painting an eye from the Arthouse. Wonderful online workshops from Mount Henry Arts Studios included a Plein Air Workshop with artist Mary Slevin and two childrens’ workshops.
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- Blaise Smith draws Christy Bannon Images by Lorraine Strang and Lisa Doyle
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- Maria Corcoran Social Circus Performer Images by Lorraine Strang and Lisa Doyle
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- Danny Regina and Dylan McGinley Images by Lorraine Strang and Lisa Doyle
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- Photographer Annie Holland at her exhibition. Images by Lorraine Strang and Lisa Doyle
People had the opportunity to view ‘ Laois Series: A Sense Of Place’, a video featuring 26 young people including, Laois Youth Theatre, Laois Youth Dance Ensemble, Laois County Library Service, Music Generation Laois and young people interested in nature and biodiversity. Also online ‘Bringing Bacon Home’ from Heritage House Abbeyleix, a short film exploring the artist Francis Bacon’s time at Farmleigh House, Abbeyleix. Music lovers enjoyed documentation on ‘The Impossible Dream,’ a specially commissioned suite of music inspired by the life of Colonel James Fitzmaurice with musician and songwriter Martin Tourish in collaboration with Music Generation Trad Orchestra and ‘Stepping through Irish Music’ with Emer Dunne with songs and music of old.
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- Culture Night 2020 Images by Michael Scully at Laois Arthouse
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- Culture Night 2020 Images by Michael Scully at Laois Arthouse
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- Culture Night 2020 Images by Michael Scully at Laois Arthouse
Check out www.culturenight.ie for images and info on the full programme. For more info contact: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie or T: 057 8664033.