Images of traditional boating heritage

AN exhibition of contemporary photography by Maurice Gunning, whose family hail from Scariff, has recently been launched in The Hunt Museum, Limerick. The exhibition explores Ireland’s traditional boating heritage and will continue to be showcased at the Hunt until April 27.
The new exhibition draws attention to the skill and beauty of the Irish boat building tradition. The exhibition also emphasizes the Hunt Museum’s links with its riverside heritage on the Shannon.
In 2005 a Heritage Council report on Ireland’s maritime heritage encouraged the documentation of traditional boats and their restoration. Funding from the council allowed the well-known photographer to travel and meet with boat owners and builders throughout the country over a three-year period.
Previously exhibited at the Cultural Centre of Athens this will be the first showing of this body of work in Ireland. The exhibition consists of 34 large archival colour prints. All of the images were shot on an early Hasselblad film camera during 2006-2009 using only available light.
The exhibition was opened officially by well-known filmmaker and writer Bob Quinn. Admission to the exhibition is free, with the museum open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday 2pm to 5pm.
Meanwhile Maurice will launch yet another exhibition of his photographs in Glór this Thursday. An exhibition titled The Lives of Others, featuring photographs taken in Belarus will be launched in Glór. The exhibition features a host of intimate images taken during his residency in Belarus in 2010.
The exhibition has been facilitated by the Burren Chernobyl Project, and will be officially launched by Teresa Flynn at 7pm this Thursday.
This exhibition commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, and will also be exhibited in Minsk in May 2011. Following the launch, acclaimed musicians Juliet Turner and John Spillane will perform in Glór in support of Burren Chernobl Project. Maurice Gunning has worked as photographer in residence at the Irish World Academy and has exhibited recently in Buenos Aires, Athens, Bristol and Dublin.