Images from Dabhach Bhríde by Frances Bermingham on display in Clare Museum from 11th – 24th February, 2023
Clare Arts Office, in conjunction with the Clare Museum, is delighted to present “Dabhach Bhríde” an art exhibition inspired by St. Brigid’s Well in Liscannor by artists Mary Fahy and Frances Bermingham.
Frances Bermingham’s work explores the material language and tacit knowledge of votive offerings left by those who visit at St. Brigid’s Well. This placing and layering of crosses, rosaries, scapulars, rags, found objects, things of the pocket or person on the religious statues and topography of the well’s enclosure mark the processes of ritual, intentions, repetition, the fading traces of colour, form and decay. In her work she uses dried seaweed, hand woven cordage, cardboard, casting materials to make artifacts, wearable forms and objects.
Frances is a researcher, field and shoreworker who works in marine, heritage research and community projects. She completed her heritage training ‘Learning from the Landscape’ with a group exhibition in 2014 and was awarded a grant by the Heritage Council for the completion of Loop head peninsula Heritage and Vernacular audit carried out over two years. In 2018 she was part of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s sailing expedition to Iceland onboard Celtic Mist. Frances completed her Mould Making and Casting Course at LSAD in 2018 and had a joint exhibition of her work at the Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee in November 2018. Frances’s recent research work and exhibition material was ‘Five Stories from the Headland’ for Loop Head Lighthouse in 2022.
Her work, ‘A necklace of Sea days’ is an ongoing material conversation on the study of the materiality of seaweed.
Mary Fahy’s work explores the commonality of grief, through the leaving of tokens of remembrance at Brigid’s Well. The religious statues are weighed down with hair ties, rosaries, bracelets, children’s toys. These ritual deposits charge the offerings with sentiment. A reminder that we are all just passing through.
Mary graduated from LSAD in 2001. She was awarded the Revenue Commissioners Purchase Prize and selected for The Young Contemporaries exhibition, Belltable Arts Centre. Mary has been shortlisted twice for the Markievicz Medal Award for Painting. Completing her H. Dip in Art Education 2003, she won the Larkin Memorial Award and the Irish Times Award. She works as an art teacher in Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon.
Mary’s solo shows include The Clare Museum and Scarriff Library Gallery in 2012 and the Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery in 2015. Mary was awarded the Glór Artist Mentorship Programme with Vera Klute in 2022.
Mary’s recent exhibitions include: 2023: RUA Red Spring Open Exhibition. 2022: The People’s Museum, Limerick, ‘Points of Perspective’ Artlinks Fort Dunree, ‘Equilibrium’ Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar. Pre-selected for the Royal Ulster Academy. Mary is a member of Spilt Milk Gallery, 126 Gallery, Ormston House, VAI and ATAI. Upcoming residency in Cowhouse Studios, Wexford in 2023.
This exhibition is free of charge and will be officially opened on Saturday 11th February at 3pm by Siobhán Mulcahy, County Arts Officer. Fáilte roimh cách.
The exhibition runs from Saturday 11th February to 24th February, 2023 and everyone is welcome!