College of FET Kilkenny proudly opened it’s doors for the annual End of Year Exhibition of the art department at the Gaol Road campus in Kilkenny on Wednesday 13th of May.
There was a huge turnout and a celebratory atmosphere as everyone was treated to a feast of printmaking, 3D combined media and digital art, photography, sculpture and portraiture studies. There was a diverse range of work completed by students of the Fine Art (Portfolio Preparation), Art with Animation, and Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Fine Art courses. The exhibition featured a wide range of disciplines which is not just a testament to the artists, but to the expertise and passion of the team of tutors Vincent Andrews, Mary Ann Gelly, Fiona Power, Colin Rossiter and Anna Perpic.
Also attending this important milestone event was Principal Una Hayes, Deputy Principal Jennifer Collins, Dr Lindsay Malone CEO of KCETB.
Kilkenny has a proud and rich heritage, a unique and diverse arts environment and is a hub of crafts, design, culture and creativity. The up-and-coming artists of tomorrow have had a great initiation in the supportive thriving FET campus, embedded in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Kilkenny City.
Dreamscapes, portraits, animation and whimsical sculptures all showcased the individuality and imagination of all of the exhibiting artists. Tia Vellani commented how proud she was of everyone. “We worked hard this year, and it really showed. Something about the way the pieces hung together brought them alive. There was a great buzz, and what a turnout!” Lorraine Murphy’s Dooleys figurative pieces stood proud, overseeing the proceedings. The faces were made from delicately moulded handmade paper, initially they gave a sense of nostalgia, yet on closer inspection, carried a weight of a bygone era.
Alice O’ Neill’s endearing vibrant sculptural pieces were reminiscent of fairy tales, and seemed to intrigue the crowds. Alice commented that she enjoyed the creative journey, “I love that you have great freedom, and also there’s great camaraderie. It’s a lovely course to do.” Alice is looking forward to continuing her studies in art having secured a place in the renowned Grennan Mill Craft School, Thomastown.
Raine Tunstead’s beautiful memory box depicted a memory of a day shopping with her ‘mam’ in Dublin. Raine loved the course, she felt that she has made lifelong friends. “I got to try out so many different materials, overall it was a great learning experience and I’m looking forward to taking it forward, onwards and upwards!”
Róise O’ Shea also spoke of her enjoyment of her course, “My favourite part of the course was looking at natural dyes. I collected oak leaves and dyed them. They’re all from my garden. It’s very sustainable art, and very personal to me.”
Many congratulations to all who exhibited and showcased their work.
