Rianta – Traces of the Past at Oughterard Courthouse
Rianta – Traces of our Past is the first exhibition of Summer 2020 from the Oughterard Courthouse Arts Programme (OCAP) and features work from the members of uachtarARTS Community Art Group.
This exhibition was originally planned as part of the Set in Stone project which was part of the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture Small Towns Big Ideas programme. This project is based on research by local archaeologist and historian Bill Daly, who traced the history of Oughterard back to Neolithic times. The group had planned that all of its exhibitions for Summer 2020 would be in response his research.
Covid-19 means the project has to be deferred until next year but the uachtarARTS group still plans to host these exhibitions online from this Friday, June 26.
The opening show, Rianta – Traces of our Past, features the work of Catherine O'Leanachain, Clare Hansen, Deirdre Stephens, Gil Cusack, Grainne MacManus, Jess Walsh, Kathleen Hinde, Lelia Ní Chathmhaoil, Mary Byrne, Maureen Mooney, Maria Hutton, Molly McHenry, Olga Magliocco, Philippa Maguire, Shona Butler, Simon Haskell and Suzanne Keane, all members of uachtarARTS Community Arts Group.
The aim of that group is to raise the profile of the arts in the Oughterard area, to support artists and craftspeople and develop innovative and inclusive ways of engaging with the arts. Members meet on Tuesday mornings in Oughterard Courthouse to share skills, run workshops and provide a social resource for artists and other people locally who are interested in the arts.
Rianta will be followed by Cuimhní – Memories, a joint show from Kathleen Furey and Leah Beggs on July 10, and Aimsithe – Discovered from the Akin Artists Collective on July 24.
For further information on exhibitions and events, go to www.ocap.ie or email [email protected].
■ For further information on uachtarARTS, email [email protected].