Halloween!!! My eyes on Christmas!

Hi Friends,
So here we are its already the end of October and I'm up to my eyes preparing works for all the fabulous and various shows throughout the country in time for Christmas.

Every year since I decided to throw my hat into the art ring I've had the privilege of showing works in my hometown in the Arts Office Gallery Space here in Co Monaghan. Initially, I started to show works in the wonderful "Designer Crafts At Christmas" pop up gallery and craft sales space on the lower ground floor. Curated each year by wonderful artists and friends, Louise Loughman & Liz Christy (yes she of the sheep). The annual pop-up showcases the very best of locally produced arts and crafts created to an amazing standard... it's literally a pic and mix of the great and the good and a brilliant one stop shop for all your Christmas needs. Below in the slideshow are a few pics from last years event, I'd urge you to visit as there is something for every budget and it supports the Craft Trail of workers and makers here in the county.

Over time through my association with the designer pop up I was invited to participate in the fine art gallery winter show on the upper floor by our Arts Officer. An annual Christmas exhibition of new works from the Monaghan Arts Partnership members, its line up includes Neil Greg, Eileen Ferguson, Joanne Behan, Joanne Mallon, and various others and invitees. It is my privilege to participate again this year, bringing my "shape of life" prints series of one-off monoprints created using heat, pigment, and wax. These images are produced on fine Japanese Kozo papers and are mounted and framed ready to show.

For me, this new work represents a recognizing of our adaptability as humans, our infinite ability to recreate ourselves and, and in, the situations around us. Its the rebirth of the mind and soul as we travel along our journey pausing hopefully to recognise the abundance about us!

Symbolically the Golden/Yellow, for me represents - joy, happiness, enlightenment, and hope, whilst the gold carries the promise of positivity and wealth. The diamond symbolizes ascension, clarity, and wisdom - the ultimate truth, in Futhark symbology this shape is known as the "Ingwuz rune" and IS the symbol of all creation.

I keep being drawn back to this repeatable element in both shape and colour in my print works, and have produced a number of original pieces where it features. Some 17 "Shape of Life" original works will be exhibited this Christmas between exhibitions and shows of smalls works. If you would like to see these works in the flesh (as it were) they are on exhibition in the following locations.

​Monaghan Arts Partnership Fine Art Winter Exhibition. The Market House, County Arts Office/Gallery, Market Street, Co. Monaghan.
6th - 23rd December 2018.

*Solas Art Gallery, Members Winter Open.
Solas Art Gallery, Ballinamore, Leitrim.
23rd Nov - 2nd Jan 2019.

*10th Annual 1ft SQ, Group Exhibition.
Strule Arts Centre, Omagh.
14th Dec - 12 Jan 2019.

*Trasna IV.
The Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare.
29th Nov - 02nd Jan 2019.

*RUN.
Hyde Bridges Gallery, Sligo.
4th Dec - 20th Jan 2019.


I hope your Christmas and New year is filled with Golden Yellow Radiance and all it symbolises. xx N.