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Remembering the late Jean Regan through unseen works

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Glór will host a celebration of the work of the late Jean Regan (1940-2012), which will bring together the best of her work along with more recent, unseen pieces.

Jean, who lived in Maghera, Tulla before her death in August this year, also lived and exhibited in Cyprus, Spain, Paris and Ireland. Much of her schooling took place in Egypt and Kenya, followed by Art Schools in High Wycombe, Buckinghampshire, England and the Central School of Art and Design in London.

She is remembered for her great talent for painting people and scenes depicting neighbours, farmers, traditional craftsmen at work and activities such as boxing clubs, skateboarding and card games.

Her study of Shannonbridge Reed Cutters now graces the walls of County Hall and is a poignant depiction of a dying craft. She was also attracted to the buskers, musicians and street performers of the cities. Having worked as a theatre director for many years, Jean was very skilled in staging the subject matter of her paintings, with special attention to movement, colour and drama.

Recently, a mystery came to light concerning six paintings from the 1970s, held in the University of Limerick’s art collection, which were signed Boroú. It was discovered this year that the artist was Jean Regan. This collection will also showcase her prints pastels and drawings.

Speaking about her series of paintings, The Reed Cutters Series, the late Jean had said, “In January 2006, I made a series of studies at Shannonbridge where the reed cutters used to unload their boats by the dualcarriageway near the Limerick Tunnel. One magical crisp, clear January morning, I met Tony and Mike and we walked along the inlet bank at low tide to the Shannon estuary. There they cut and bundled the reeds all day.

“It was another world far from traffic and silent save for the swish of the sickles and the rustle of the reeds. They worked with such a steady rhythm using the sickles with effortless grace, harvesting the reeds at low tide and at just the right time of the year to ensure good resilient thatch.”
The exhibition will be officially opened this Saturday and runs at the Glór gallery until Saturday, December 22. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.

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