“Ireland in the Rare Oul Times” November 13 -26th
Will Millar, as the former leader of The Irish Rovers has now returned to his first creative love of painting.
In this he is a voyager into the Ireland of his youth, portraying the country in the 1950’s.
Amelia Alcock-White’s latest collection of aquatic landscapes depicts a lone figure taking refuge in secluded coastal surroundings. By juxtaposing light and dark, fire and water, with nature’s beauty and fragility, the images suggest the interrelation of personal awareness and environmental consciousness.
Greg Pyra’s love of art began at the age of six when he won his first colouring contest. From then on, he continued to take all the training that was available to him in a variety of schools in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
He received a Bachelor of fine Arts in Visual Art from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. After teaching at the University of Waterloo and the University of Victoria he left for Cologne, Germany for two years which was then the centre of art in Europe.
He gained much insight into the art produced in Europe, both contemporary and historical, but the experience was troubling: Berlin was still divided and fears of a Soviet invasion were very real.
Pyra returned to Canada to receive a Bachelor of Education and has since taught in rural schools for almost twenty years, primarily in the area of visual art. Pyra’s exhibition record extends to a number of galleries across Canada as far east as St. John’s and as far west as Vancouver.
Although he is a figurative painter, he is fascinated by the evolution of abstraction in Canada and has come to have personal relationships with the surviving members of the Automatistes and their contemporaries.
The light of the prairies in the dry, barren land around Drumheller fostered a deep love of changing light and seasonal conditions. Travel amongst rural westerners is typical and Pyra frequently makes reference to highway travel in his paintings.
Pyra continues a lifelong search into the traditions of spiritual expression through the visual arts. For this reason, he continues to research how cultures and individual artists express a sense of spiritualism in their artistic expression.
Paddy McCann was born in Cladai, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland and educated at the University of Ulster, Belfast.
He has been working as an artist in various mediums ranging from print to painting and as a lecturer since the early 1990s. His work has been exhibited across Europe as well as internationally to high acclaim.
McCann is co-founder and Director of Paragon Studios, Belfast and co-founder and Associate member of Flaxart Studios, Belfast.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2011 Double Ground John Martin Gallery, London (electronic catalogue)
2010 Double Ground The Dock Carrick – on –Shannon, Co Leitrim
2009 New Paintings Fenderesky Gallery Belfast
2006 New Paintings Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin.
2004 New Paintings Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin.
2004 New Paintings Fenderesky Gallery Belfast.
2002 Crockafeeka New paintings and drypoints, The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
2001 Local New Paintings, The Market Place Gallery, Armagh.
2001 New Drawings Moon Gallery, Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia, USA
2001 From a Gate New drawings and Paintings, Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards.
1999 New Works Paintings and works on paper, Monaghan County Museum and Gallery
1998 The Space Between New Paintings, The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1993 Gather Paintings, sculpture and drawings, The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1991 Cryptbrick Mixed media installation, Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast,
part of Shifting Ground: A collaborative exhibition by 10 Belfast-based Artists. (Catalogue)
Selected Group Exhibitions
1990-Present
2010 Group Exhibition, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2010 Group Exhibition, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2010 The Visual Force 6th Collective Histories of Northern Ireland Art Exhibition, curated by Slavka
Sverakova, the Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast
2010 Group Exhibition Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2009 Group Exhibition Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2009 New Artists London Art Fair
2008 Artists Choice John Martin Gallery London
2008 Group Exhibition, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2008 Wexford Festival Exhibition, Wexford
2008 Art 08, Art Fair, RDS, Dublin (represented by Fenderesky Gallery and Hillsboro Fine Art)
2008 Slice Group exhibition, Fairgreen House, Galway
2008 Group exhibition, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2007 Group exhibition, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2007 Resolutions, New Art from Northern Ireland, American University Museum, Katzen Centre,
Washington DC, USA
2007 Wexford Festival Exhibition, Wexford
2007 Group exhibition, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2007 Art Fair, RDS, Dublin, represented by Fenderesky Gallery Belfast & Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2007 Group exhibition, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2006 New paintings Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2006 Two-Person Exhibition, Fenton Gallery, Cork
2006 Group Exhibition, Fenton Gallery, Cork
2006 Group exhibition Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2006 Summer Exhibition, The Courthouse Gallery, Ballycastle, Co Mayo
2006 Shelf Life PS2 Project Space, Belfast
2005 Wexford Festival Exhibition, Wexford
2005 Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival, invited artist (catalogue),Carlow
2005 Contemporary Irish Art, Boyle Arts Festival,
2005 Peepshow PS2 Project Space, Belfast
2005 Works on Paper, The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2004/5 Hand Held International Exchange Exhibition, PS2 Project Space, Belfast; Berry College
Mount Berry, Georgia, USA; Rome Centre for the Arts, Georgia, USA; and
India House Gallery, Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California, USA
2004 Group exhibition, Fenton Gallery, Cork
2004 Group exhibition, Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2004 Group exhibition, Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
2004 Wexford Festival Exhibition, Wexford
2004 In the Time of Shaking Irish Artists for Amnesty International, IMMA Dublin (Catalogue)
2003 Wexford Festival Exhibition
2003 Group exhibition Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
2003 Group exhibition Taylor Galleries, Dublin.
2003 Perspective 2003 Selector: Enrique Juncosa, Dir. Museum Modern Art, Dublin
Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast.
2003 Tone Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast & St Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick.
2003 Boyle Arts Festival, Co Roscommon. (Catalogue)
2003 A sense of place Print Exhibition, Dyehouse Gallery, Waterford
2003 Belonging Two-person exhibition, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes, California, USA
2003 Small works St Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick, selected by Graham Gingles.
2002 Irish Artists in Aubais La salle Polyvalente, Aubais, France. (Catalogue)
2002 Artists from Ulster Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Co Roscommon (Catalogue)
2002 Part 1 Queen Street Gallery, Belfast.
2002 Group Exhibition Taylor Galleries, Dublin.
2002 Conversations on a Homecoming Lyric Theatre, Belfast
2002 New Works on Paper The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast
2001 Group exhibition Taylor Galleries, Dublin
2001 Lumina Queen’s University, Belfast
2001 Headers Selected group exhibition, Riddell Hall, Belfast.
2001 Side by Side Belfast/Nashville Exchange Exhibition, Waterfront Hall & City Airport, Belfast
(Catalogue)
2001 McSweeney and friends Boyle Arts Festival, Co Roscommon.
2001 Belfast/Nashville USA International Exchange Exhibition, Nashville Airport.
2001 Artwords Touring exhibition to: Cavan County Museum, Flowerfield Arts Centre,
Portstewart, Clotworthy House, Antrim, The Linenhall Library, exhibition space, Belfast.
2001 Shamrocks and Six Guns The Alexandre Hogue Gallery, University of Oklahoma, USA.
2000 Group Show The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
2000 Meeting Morandi The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
2000 Open Water San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, California & Claudia
Chapline Gallery, Stinson Beach, California & Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station,
California, USA
2000 The Repeated Disappearance of Painting The Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast. (Catalogue)
1999 Different Expressions Ossianic Circle, Temple Gallery, Ardee, Co Louth.
1999 Glimpse Works on Paper, Bank of Ireland, Belfast (Touring to Clotworthy Arts Centre, Antrim
& Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart.
1997 Cruelty A thematic exhibition, The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1997 Painting and Household Objects The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1996 Group Show Paragon Studios, Ross’s Court, Belfast.
1996 Invitation Curated by Dr. Slavka Sverakova, Context Gallery, Derry.
1996 New Paintings The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1996 Project for Europe ‘Europe Rediscovered II – Art Resistance and The English Garden: a
donation to Sarajevo by 70 Artists, Galerisa Gabrijel, Sarajevo. & Galerie Nikki Diana
Marquardt, Paris.
1995 Stripping of Appearances New Figurative Work, The Fenderesky Gallery at Queens.
1995 Seven Northern Artists The Model Arts Centre, Sligo.
1994 Determined Material Foundations The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1994 Summer Show The Kerlin Gallery, Dublin.
1994 Contemporary Irish Art The China Club, Hong Kong.
1993 Victor Treacy Award Show The Butler gallery, Kilkenny.
1993 The Monaghan Open County Museum, Monaghan.
1993 In and Out of the Circle (with Philip Napier and Michael Minnis) Kerlin Gallery, Dublin &
The Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.
1992 Paintings/Objects The Fenderesky Gallery at Queens, Belfast.
1992 Documentation Triskel Arts Centre, Cork.
1991 New Artists The Fenderesky Gallery at Queens, Belfast.
1990 Climates of Thought EV+A 90, Limerick City Art Gallery. (Catalogue)
Selected Collections
Ballinglen Arts Foundation Archive Collection, Co Mayo
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Bar Library, Belfast
Office of Public Works, Dublin
Boyle Civic Art Collection, Boyle, Co Roscommon
Dundalk Institute
Armagh College of Further Education
Private Collections in Ireland, Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA & Canada.
Selected Commissions
Public Art Commissions:
2003 The Calling Gateway Feature, Laganside Commission, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
2002 Painting commission, Dundalk Institute of Technology
1998 Large Scale mural, The Linen Green, Dungannon.
1996 Mural and workshop, St Patrick’s High School, Keady, Co Armagh.
Education
1989 M.A. Fine Art, University of Ulster, Belfast.
1988 B.A. (Hons, First class) Fine Art, University of Ulster, Belfast
1985 Foundation Studies in Art & Design, University of Ulster
Awards/Residencies
2007 New York Residency Award, Arts Council of Northern Ireland
2006 General Art Award, Arts Council of Northern Ireland
2005 Fellowship, Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Co Mayo
2003 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award
1999 The George Campbell Travel Award to Spain.
1999 Aer Lingus/Arts Council Artflight to USA.
1997 British Council Travel Award to New York.
1996 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award.
1996 Aer Lingus/Arts Council Artflight to Dusseldorf.
1994 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award.
1993 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award.
1993 Aer Lingus/Arts Council Artflight to Berlin.
1991 Belfast ’91 Art Award.
1991 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award.
1990 Artist in residence, Armagh College of Further Education.
1990 Open Award, EV+A ’90, Limerick.
1990 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award.
1989 Prize Winner, Taylor Awards, R.D.S., Dublin.
1988 Highly Commended, Taylor awards, R.D.S., Dublin.
Reviews and Publications
2010 Double Ground Exhibition review, Amanda croft, Irish Arts review Autumn 2010
2009 The Visual Force -The 6th Collective Histories Exhibition, essay by Slavka Sverakova, The Golden
Thread Gallery, Belfast
2007 Resolutions New art from Northern Ireland exhibition catalogue, American University Museum,
Washington DC, USA ISBN 1-879383-61-1
2005 Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival, Review, Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, 15th June
2004 New Paintings, Hillsboro Fine Art Dublin, Review by Aidan Dunne, Irish Times, October 20th.
2004 Paddy McCann at the Fenderesky Gallery, Review by Dr Slavka Sverakova, www.recirca.com
2004 In The Time of Shaking Art for Amnesty exhibition Catalogue, IMMA Dublin
2003 Perspective 03 Review Aidan Dunne Irish Times.
2001 Artwords’ An Ulster Anthology of Visual and Verbal Art, edited by Amanda Montgomery
& Frank Sewell, Nicholson & Bass
2000 Meeting Morandi Review Aidan Dunne, The Irish Times, 4th October.
2000 The Repeated Disappearance of painting Exhibition Catalogue, essay by Aidan Dunne.
2000 Painting in the Baths The Irish Times, 1st April, review by Aidan Dunne.
1999 Art in Belfast Art Review, March, Marshall Anderson.
1998 Agreed Review, Ian Hill The Belfast Newsletter, September,
1996 Thinking Long Contemporary Art in the North of Ireland, Liam Kelly, Gandon Edition, Kinsale, p.68.
1995 Review of Group Show, Fenderesky Gallery, Irena Stella, Fortnight Magazine, January,
1995 Stripping of Appearances Review, Ian Hill The Irish Times.
1995 Seven Northern Artists Angela Mehegan Review, Circa #4 winter, Model Arts Centre, Sligo.
1994 Review Group Show, Aidan Dunne, The Sunday Tribune, 31st July, Kerlin Gallery.
1993 Gather Fenderesky Gallery, Review, Ian Hill, The Irish Times, 6th April,
1993 Victor Treacy Award Review, Aidan Dunne, The Sunday Tribune, April,
1993 Victor Treacy Award Review, Brian Fallon, The Irish Times, April 22nd.
1993 Victor Treacy Award Review, Aidan Dunne, Circa #65, Autumn.
1993 3 Belfast Artists Review, Brian Fallon, The Irish Times, August.
1992 Documentation Belfast Artists in Cork Review Hilary Pyle, The Cork Examiner
&The Irish Times, July 29th.
1991 Shifting Ground Exhibition catalogue.
1990 Review EV+A, Kate Robinson, The Sunday Independent, March 25th.
1990 Review EV+A. Aidan Dunne, The Sunday Tribune, March 25th.
1990 Review EV+A Brian Fallon, The Irish times, April 5th.
1990 Review, Carmel Robinson, The Ulster gazette, May 17th
Film
1998 Featured artist in Too Late For Names: A documentary film about stillbirth and infant death,
by Double Band Films, commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland, broadcast Nov 11 1998.
Teaching/Lectures/Workshops
2010 Master class Landscape and memory, painting and drawing, The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co Leitrim
2010 Talk on Double Ground exhibition, The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co Leitrim
2009 Part Time Lecturer, Painting, Foundation Studies, University of Ulster, since 2004
2004-08 External Assessor, Fine Art Painting Diploma, Galway & Mayo Institute.
2003 Visiting Lecturer in Painting, Foundation Studies, University of Ulster. (and 1997, 1994
2003/4 Painting and Drawing Master Class, Rostrevor, Co Down.
2003/4 Part-time Lecturer Foundation Studies, Newry Institute.
2003/4 Painting and Drawing tutor, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.
2003 Lecture, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California, USA.
2002 Visiting lecturer, Galway & Mayo Institute.
2002 Part-time Lecturer, Fine Art Foundation Studies, Newry Institute, since 1996.
Part-time Lecturer, Fine Art, Foundation Studies, University of Ulster, 1997 – 2001
2001 Visiting Lecturer, University of Ulster, B.A. Painting
2000 Tutor Drawing and Painting, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast (& 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994).
2000 Facilitator for series of workshops and exhibitions for Wave Trauma Group,
The Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast. (Travelled to Washington USA)
2000 Lecture, Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California, USA. (& 1999)
1999 Visiting Lecturer, University of Ulster, Master of Arts Course
1999 Lecture, Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia, USA.
1999 Lecture, Denison University, Granville, Ohio, USA
1998 Visiting lecturer North West Institute, Derry.
1998 Series of talks to prisoners, Long Kesh/Maze prison, Northern Ireland.
1997 Visiting Lecturer, North West Institute, Derry.
1997 Visiting Lecturer, Limerick Institute.
1996 Visiting Lecturer, Sligo Regional Technical College.
1993 Part-time Lecturer, Armagh College of Further Education and 1992, 1991 & 1990
1990 Talk, Limerick City Gallery of Art
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