Cultural Reflections from the Water’s Edge

Cultural Reflections from the Water’s Edge
Artists & their expressions in the Boyne Valley

Curated by Brendan Matthews and Aoife Ruane
September 22 2023 – January 27 2024

Robert Armstrong, John Cassidy, Simon Coleman, Roper Curzon, Laurence Fagan, Fiona Kerbey, L.S. Lowry, Thomas Markey, Rose-Marie Martin-Banchet, Jason McCarthy, Bea Orpen, Anderson Paisley, Nano Reid, Gary Reilly, Gabrielle Ricciardelli, Isaiah Rowland, James Sherlock

This exhibition presented locally based artists and the work of other artists who visited Drogheda & Boyne valley area over the centuries.

Exhibited work includes a number of Nano Reid’s paintings including Légende and Farm Hand, Lawrence Fagan`s St. Mary`s Bridge and his exquisite depiction of the viaduct, John Cassidy`s street scene which captures Drogheda and its inhabitants on the street in the early days of the Gaelic Revival in 1880, Thomas Markey’s sketches of the port area and industrial Drogheda, and Simon Coleman’s portrait painting Man of the West.

These works are presented with some contrasting works of visiting artists over the years such as the Neapolitan painter, Gabrielle Ricciardelli`s views of Drogheda, at a hugely important period in the changing face of Drogheda (C.1750), its streetscape and its architectural buildings, Armstrong`s Wooden House, Roper Curzon`s view of Industrial Drogheda and the viaduct and his depiction of the Old Abbey, the Collection’s founder, painter, Bea Orpen’s Backyard Bettystown and L.S. Lowry`s, Drogheda 1970,, which is particularly apt for the period, at the death-knell that had sounded for industrial Drogheda on the eve of Ireland joining the EEC (EU), which brought about the demise of many former industries along the Boyne river`s edge in Drogheda. A recent acquisition by artist Fiona Kerbey To Valparaiso reflects on a 500-ton iron barque, the Belle Hill, which foundered on 26 February 1875, on the craggy rocks, 800 yards off Balrothery, en route from Liverpool to Valparaiso, is presented with the work of three invited contemporary emerging artists – photographer, Jason McCarthy and painter, James Sherlock, and with Gary Reilly, whose installation work The Story of the Story of the Story is a collaboration with Brendan Matthews, and commissioned by Highlanes Gallery as part of the decade of centenaries 1921 – 2021.