McKee exhibition at the Russell Gallery

EMPTY Pockets, an exhibition of paintings by Jim McKee, opens this year’s season of exhibitions at the Russell Gallery in New Quay.
Jim McKee is a renaissance man, a singer, a songwriter, a musician, a bit of a philosopher and very much a visual artist. He is self-taught and is fearless with paint and has developed, in a short space of time, a personal and recognisable style, imbued with life and energy and colour.
This is a one-off show reflecting the current climate change that is affecting everyone, a new body of work that will give an ironic and mindful look at the Irish society and its landscape in the era of recession.
Inspired very much by the spirit and nature of the west of Ireland, Jim’s work is humorous and honest, his subjects are impressionistic renderings and reflections of Ireland today, its passing traditions, its people and its places; his images are an emotional and enthusiastic response to his surroundings. He has a story for every painting and each one is important to him.
Jim was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone in 1970 at the height of the troubles. Some of the violence and incidents he witnessed in those days haunt him still and memories and evocations of those dark and troubled times are occasionally recorded in his songs and paintings. For some 10 years now, he has lived in the Burren, which has become his spiritual home, a major factor in his life.
The exhibition will start this Saturday at 6pm with special Guest Brendan Murphy entertaining with Slam Poetry and Seán Tyrrell with Johnny Mullins providing music. The show will run until May 30.