A GROUP of Clare artists have been brushing up on their digital skills, bringing their latest exhibition of artworks on-line.
The Inis Artists as a group have been in existence for more than 20 years and are noted for their extensive touring art exhibitions. In a normal year they would be involved in up to 14 different group exhibitions all over the country. However, this is not a normal year and all of their art exhibition venues are closed due to Covid-19, except Skycourt in Shannon.
In order to bring their artwork to the public, they have come up with the idea of holding a virtual art exhibition. Calling it their ‘Spring Lockdown Exhibition 2020’ it displays the new work of their artists.
Tomás O’Maoldomhnaigh PRO Inis Artists explains that much of the work reflects the artists’ emotions in this time of social distancing and lockdown. The virtual exhibition can be viewed on facebook.com/inis.artists
Inis Artists were founded back in 1999 when a group of artists who were part of the Clare Crafts Association decided to set up their own group. They have been extremely active and have exhibited in three of the four Irish Provinces. Some of the original founding members are still part of the group such as Denise Borge, Rena Lewis and Tomás. They wanted to promote the visual arts in Clare and believed artists should come together and form a sort of co-operative to organise and display their works in as many places as possible. They recognised the difficulty of artists on their own trying to find venues and put enough works together for an exhibition.
The Inis Artists members consist of both professional and highly talented amateur artists based in Clare and Limerick. The Inis Artists represents some of the major representational artists in the region today.
They invite everyone to come and see all the new works online in their ‘Spring Lockdown Exhibition’ and in the Skycourt Shopping Centre. There are up to 30 works on sale which consist of landscapes, townscapes figurative pieces, in many mediums including oils, watercolours and acrylics. There are a wide variety of works produced, representing the diverse techniques and versatility of the group.
Some of the well-known artists include Tom Daly, Margaret Ray, Tomás O‘Maoldomhnaigh, Alan Shoosmith, Gerardine O’Leary, Denise Borge. The artists all accept commissions including portraits.