Summer showcase brightens Bailieborough

Only in its fourth year of its existence the Bailieborough Summer Showcase has swiftly established itself as a highlight in the local arts calendar.

The exhibition is run by Bailieborough Creative Hub and hosted at the town’s former courthouse.

The standard of work is improving each year say organisers, and the Celt can confirm it’s worth a visit.

Showcasing work by 25 artists, the popular local event opened to the public last weekend.

The successful works are selected by co-curators and artists Caroline Clarke and Sally Ann Duffy from those submitted in response to an earlier open call.

“The net is spreading wider,” Caroline told the Celt ahead of Saturday’s launch. “It started off as a local art exhibition as part of the summer festival. But now it’s Donegal, Cork, it’s coming in from everywhere.”

Sally Ann adds: “The quality was good from the start, but the quality has certainly got better as well.”

The former courthouse has its limitations. Well used by numerous community groups - (the seats were laid out for a slimming meeting when the Celt visited) - the exhibition can not include sculptural works.

Wall space is limited too so they exhibit approximately 25 pieces annually. Those spaces are occupied by artists at a range of stages in their careers from those who are new to exhibiting work right up to award winning artists.

“There are several artists here who have just left college, and there’s people that have been exhibiting for years, and would class themselves as professional artists, so it’s a real mix,” says Sally Ann.

Caroline adds: “With a lot of the younger people, I think they’re learning from us how to exhibit and the standard your work should be at.”

Talent

Among the established artists whose work is exhibited are Elena Duff, Suella Wynne, Suzane O’Reilly and Marie Smith.

The latter is best known as a sculptor, but to get around the lack of floor space she created a framed sculpture of a bird.

“I love her stuff,” admires Caroline.

Asked for a stand-out work, Caroline opts for a gloriously colourful picture of a cockatiel by Hannah Halpin.

“She was in our first exhibition. you can see the development in her art, she’s refined it. These are oil pastels which are very difficult to work with. She has done an amazing job.

“She has taken her work onto the next stage and I can’t wait to see what happens next with her. I think she’s on the right track to being a really, really good artist,” praises Caroline.

Sally Ann Duffy opts for a whimsical work created by Aurélie S Dinny called ‘Cherry-Mice Girl’.

“I like the fine detail on it, and the colours. The gaze of the girl in the picture, it’s very sweet,despite the fact I can’t stand mice! It’s very cute, it’s like an illustration for a book, that’s probably why I like it.

“It’s simple, but it’s really framed well.”

Observing the cherry tree to match the cherry earrings the girl is wearing, Caroline approvingly adds: “It’s quirky.”

Bailieborough Creative Hub's Summer Showcase is currently available to see at the town's courthouse and runs until Saturday, August 2.