Hi there pals,,

So this is an exciting week for me as I prepare to head off to Gstaad Switzerland to participate in ARTSFEMINs inaugural exhibition $€XY (Secure, Enthusiastic,  Exponential and Young at heart) at the luxurious Huss_Gstaad, a stunning location in this rich and famous ski resort. 

This is an all female, curated show highlighting the issues concerning equality within the arts world globally, supporting female artists and global charity: Women for Women International.   I am attending the show to exhibit a huge new work (1 meter x 1 meter) a mixed media/acrylic art work called SAFEHOUSE, I created especially for this exhibit, as I usually work in wax this really is a large scale work for me, and I've got to be honest I loved working this way, working large suits me, its so physical and expressive, I really dived in! 

I have the great pleasure to travel with, and show alongside of Irish visual artists and colleagues, Miriam Fitzgerald Juskova and Fran Halpin and 52 other curated artists from 35 countries. 

As we in 'Team Ireland', as we call ourselves, prepares to depart for what is no doubt going to be a remarkable experience it hasn't escaped my notice that today is a landmark date for the #metoo movement, Harvey W was convicted today in the US...

Between the #MarriageEquality referendum and the #Repeal the 8th referendum here in Ireland a lot of feeling was dragged up for all genders everywhere, followed quickly by the revelations from Hollywood and of course our own appalling history of clerical and state controlled abuse against women and children, #metoo started to unfurl here on our own green soil...and indeed from my studio. 

My feminist principles often flood into my work and SAFEHOUSE is no different.

I hope in some small way to offer a respite of hope through this work, a piffle really when you consider the scale of abuses against women and girls, but a gesture none the less...and a warning to antagonists everywhere...we wont take it anymore, we are strong, we are one, we talk, we are on to you! 

SAFEHOUSE is not an 'angry' work, nor is it anti men, as is often argued when feminist talk comes to the surface.  It is, in fact, a work of art full of hope, one that offers support to all! and after the exhibition launch this weekend when it is premiered, as promised, to the vip vernissage in the wonderful supportive and inclusive hands of Artsfemin I promise I will share the full artwork here.

For now all I can offer is a sneak peek, some press coverage and some prior fem-art works form my studio ...wish me well, I do you.  xx N

Ps: If you wish to join us in Gstaad for this amazing event, follow the registration link in the Artsfmin page here.
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Hi folks,

Today sees me writing to tell you about a challenge I have undertaken on Instagram.

Those of you who already follow me on Instagram will have seen quite a few references to #Aprilforartists #Aprilchallenge and #Pheobeganderart, appear in my postings over the last number of weeks.  These tags directly relate to this challenge and currently day 16 is asking me about my largest challenge to date: My Most Courageous Moment !? EEK!
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Firstly the fact that I have managed to do this for 16 consecutive days is, to my mind, quite impressive. Social media is a joy and a chore in equal measure, and having decided to be more mindful in how I use it, this challenge is the first prompted, and group organised activity, of this type that I have participated in.
The prompts that come from Phoebe Gander an Australian based artist who works primarily with fluid acrylic pours, have been at times random, frustrating, and enlightening.   If you had to think about your career to date, could you talk to your peers or audience about your main inspiration? The tools you use how you started? Perhaps you’d care to share how you sell? could you talk about your vulnerable moments? your favourite work so far, or share the inner workings of your spontaneous or planned markings in sketchbooks?  would you dare show your works in progress before you've decided yourself that they are ready to be viewed?????
Well that, my friends is what this challenge is causing me to do!   
It sounds as if I'm complaining I am not, Phoebe Gander and her challenge are causing me to address plenty of things within my creative outlets that serve me and perhaps those that do not…. additionally it is giving me regular content for my Instagram page, and Pinterest account, and on top of that I share these posts to Facebook, and here I am writing about it on my blog….like I said social media can be a joy and a curse, but also a way to reach like-minded people, supporters and much-needed customers….

So for now, amongst other life and studio challenges I am grateful for this one...it is just forcing me to keep lines of communication open, were without these prompts I might not be so prolific in my social media use, especially now the children are on Easter holidays. 

So with that in mind,  I should sign off.

You're most welcome to visit and follow me on my Instagram here, and to pin my posts on my Pinterest account here, to see the answers I have given to these prompts and as always I welcome questions about my process, about my practice, and about my art... so feel free at any time and happy Easter to you all.  I've just realised there is another upcoming challenge that applies to us all ....chocolate!!
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Bye for now.
Niamh. x