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Launch of Aughty Public Art Project exhibitions


Details of a number of innovative and challenging art projects, which will be exhibited in South Galway over the coming months, will be revealed in Gort on Monday night.
The art events are part of the Aughty Public Art Project, a series of public art projects taking place in Galway during the late summer and autumn.
The project focusing on the Aughty region, stretching from Gort to Woodford and Loughrea, was commissioned by Galway County Council Arts Office.
Artists from the Ground Up Artists Collective (GUAC) Marie Connole, Emma Houlihan and Jim Ricks, will be creating temporary art works that engage creatively with the communities of the area.
Marie Connole’s Weed or Knotweed? is a series of drawings and paper sculpture installation based on the proliferating Japanese Knotweed plant.
She will examine the knotweed as a metaphor for being ‘transplanted’ or a ‘blow-in’ to or from the region.
Emma Houlihan’s Border Walk is a community engaged project involving a ‘slow’ public walk over seven days with her camping gear, defining the boundaries of the Aughty region, inviting all those she meets along the way and via the internet to join her.
She will also invite guest speakers to give talks along the route.
Jim Ricks’ Poulnabrone Bouncy Dolmen is an interactive bouncy inflatable soft-sculpture for children and adults to enjoy and play on and will tour four towns and villages of the Aughty region during August and September.
A final exhibition in Woodford Library and Woodford Heritage Centre running from December 2 to 17 will showcase the work and a small publication will be ­produced for free distribution.
The project is curated and managed by Áine Phillips, head of sculpture at the Burren College of Art.
The three artists are former students of the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan.
Marie Connole and Emma Houlihan are from Clare and Jim Ricks is from California, now based in Galway city.
All have been exhibiting contemporary visual art nationally and internationally since graduating in 2007.
Aughty Public Art Projects is also supported by Slogadh Eachtai, the steering group of communities in the Aughty region.
The launch is open to the public and takes place at Hennelly’s Pub, Gort on Monday at 7pm.

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