Prism Artists' Group

Prism Artists' Group is a collection of disparate souls from in and around Co. Leitrim, Ireland. Local and blow-in alike they are all dedicated to presenting shows of variety and quality.

Current members include SEAN BURROWS, BRENDA CLARKE, MARTIN DOYLE, STEVE GOMES, FIONA O’DRISCOLL, MARY O’NEILL, EMMA STANLEY, STEPHEN RENNICKS, CATHY REYNOLDS and PAUL WILLIAMS.

There has been a furher Prism exhibition, a smaller scale version of the ‘Mask & Illusion’ show detailed below, held in the town of Ballinamore in North Leitrim at McGirls pub from Sun 7th August for 1 week.

Prism artists are well represented at the current December 2005 show at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. Some examples below.

THE DOCK

Brenda Clarke and Emma Stanley

Paul Williams and Cathy Reynolds

Stephen Rennicks had a sound piece, Time, information on which can be accessed here.

12/12/05 Watch this space for next show/meeting. Always looking for new members.

Contact: prismartistsgroup@hotmail.com

Originally founded by Cathy, Steve and Brenda in May 2005, it only took a short while before the planning for the debut Prism show was in motion.

Over 5 days during the August 2005 bank holiday weekend, Prism took over a large back room of the increasingly renowned Corn Mill Theatre in the picturesque south Leitrim village of Carrigallen. Genuine and heartfelt thanks go out to the Corn Mill committee and the organisers of the Carrigallen Arts Festival. The artists all got involved during the weekend and raised a glass in many of the bars, paraded themselves along with the local floats as is tradition and even joined the very young headbangers with Lucozade streaming from their noses at the gig in the petrol station forecourt, sadly have no pictures. Many of the artists left feeling a part of themselves will be forever Carrigallen.

For this show the artists were working under the theme of ‘Mask and Illusion’. The majority of the work was painting but there was also sculpture, some installation work and a sound piece.

SEAN BURROWS went digging amongst the debris of theatre props and costumes in an adjacent room and created a rock hewn and camouflaged environment for his Celtic tinged, mystery canvases. EMMA STANLEY kept her presentation simple in comparison for her two studies in oil of light and dark; truth and beauty, strife and descent. CATHY REYNOLDS had five examples of her Synthetic Cubism paintings on display along with a large installation piece based on a Kate Bush song. STEPHEN RENNICKS is a recent arrival and had a self generating sound piece utilising an old reel to reel tape recorder and a wind up clock which could not be ignored as its sound followed you round the room. Embracing the theme to the hilt he also presented ‘Broken Mirror’ and ’2 Pints’, neither was what they first appeared. MARTIN DOYLE presented two equine inspired sculptures which were worthy additions to his collection of work to date. Martin has recently moved to Leitrim and is already an established sculptor with a varied and geographically dispersed clientele. MARY O’NEILL turned her corner of the room into its own mythological realm with studies of nature, Goddesses and demons in a variety of media including pen and ink. BRENDA CLARKE had about 5 pieces on show which displayed what 3 years of practice with an airbrush can produce. Studies of Cat Woman and a ‘Sin City’ inspired portrait were just some of the highlights. PAUL WILLIAMS had about 7 or 8 large to medium sized paintings which managed to effectively expose the masks of illusion to reality. Paul also had a bronze sculpture. One of his other paintings had been earmarked to be reproduced for the cover of the catalogue but due to deadlines it was not possible to do one in time, a simple sheet of prices had to suffice. FIONA O’DRISCOLL only took up a small piece of wall space but had a prime spot by the entrance for her 3 well appointed pieces including some watercolours which showed off her love of nature. STEVE GOMES had 5 medium sized paintings based on photographs of old friends and one self portrait which were book-ended by 2 very distinct and personal fantasy paintings.

Special mention must also go to the following. For her tireless tea making and knowledge of light-switch locations octogenarian MOSSI WHELAN was rewarded with honoury Prism membership and enough wall space to show her own very pleasing work. London based artist AUDREY REYNOLDS was also granted wall space in absentia.

The following images were taken by Stephen Rennicks and is only a small taste of what was on offer.

Both views of Cathy Reynolds installation.

Both by Stephen Rennicks

Cathy Reynolds                                                                               Brenda Clark (Detail)

Martin Doyle                                                          Paul Williams

Both Steve Gomes                                                                                   

Brenda Clarke                                        Williams, O' Neill, Stanley & edge of Burrows.