UNBOUND – Group 8 Exhibition, Culture Night 2021

Bowl - Tommy Campbell

For its eleventh outing, Ballinasloe-based artist collective Group 8 will hold the opening of its annual exhibition, UNBOUND, on Culture Night, Friday the 17^th September, at 7pm, in Artisan Alley at the Town Hall Theatre, Ballinasloe. The exhibition will run Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th, and will feature writing, paintings, wood turning, textiles, ceramics, mixed media and sculpture inspired by pandemic experiences. Covid protocols will be followed and part of the exhibition will be outdoors, to ensure viewer safety.

Textile - Joyce Little

UNBOUND is the result of collaborative work the members of Group 8 undertook, taking inspiration from the experience of living through the Covid 19 pandemic and finding hope despite loss, grief, and uncertainty.

Group 8, was founded in 2009 and is comprised of eight visual artists and two writers: Joyce Little – visual and multimedia artist; Tommy Campbell – sculptor and woodturner; Lily Kelly – visual artist; Grellan Ganly – visual artist; Úna Spain – visual artist; Nuala O’Connor – writer; Zara Little-Campbell – writer; John Soden – painter; Walter Coughlan – ceramicist; and Fiona Ormsby – textile designer.

Textile - Fiona Ormsby

Group 8 is a non-profit, professional arts group whose aim is to foster awareness, imagination and co-operative learning between the artist and the community. The group hosts exhibitions, literary events, artist talks, readings, workshops and book launches.

All are welcome. Free admission. Refreshments will be served.

 

2014 EXHIBITION LAUNCH - AFTER GARBALLY

Batik by Fiona Ormsby

Ballinasloe-based professional artist collective, Group 8, launch their fifth annual exhibition of art and writing, After Garbally, on Friday the 14th March at 7pm in The Regency Room in Hayden’s Hotel, Ballinasloe. The exhibition will take place between the 14^th and the 17^th of March 2014, daily from 11am to 6pm, including Saint Patrick’s Day.

After Garbally is the result of collaborative work the group undertook around the theme of local landmark Garbally, in all its guises. Formerly Garbally Court, home of the Trench family – the Earls of Clancarty – since the 18th Century, Garbally and its grounds are better known now as the home of two secondary school: Saint Joseph’s College for boys and Ard Scoil Mhuire for girls. The Trench family and Garbally itself exerted an important influence on the town of Ballinasloe and its inhabitants.

Garbally by John Soden

Group 8 used Garbally and its landscape, buildings and people as stepping off points for installations, photography, fiction, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, batik and poetry.

After Garbally, and its accompanying catalogue, will be launched by Father Dan O’Donovan. All are welcome to come and see sculpture, photography, installations and paintings; listen to live poetry and fiction readings, and music from Johnny Johnston and Liam Loughrey, and enjoy a glass of wine. Admission is free, all welcome.

Ceramics by Walter Coughlan