ARTS Islanders show their art

SEASCAPE ‘Beetlehead’, oil on canvas, by Kathleen Winters, one of the artists who attended Clare Island Art.

Islanders show their art


Áine Ryan

IT PROVIDES a natural canvas, with its spectacular land and seascapes, and now its many artists, some of whom also hail from Inishturk, are exhibiting their work in the Community Centre, Clare Island, until mid September.
The group exhibition has been coordinated by Clare Island artist, Kathleen Barnes, who has a master’s degree in Fine Art from the University of California. Ms Barnes, whose forebears were from Clare Island, has lived on the outpost since 2007, when she also opened a studio. Later, with the help of the VEC and Leader, she ran a series of classes on both Clare Island and Inishturk. 
Speaking to The Mayo News, Kathleen Barnes said: “When I came to Clare Island, it seemed to be a natural progression to want to start an art group dedicated to these islands with their unique, bleak and lovely landscapes and the people of the islands also. People who have spent most of their lives seeing west of Ireland scenery seem to have a head-start in depicting the look and spirit of the local environment.”
Ms Barnes has already attracted an eclectic group to her classes. Some are novices, and others, like mother and daughter, Kathleen and Patsy Winters, have already been acclaimed for their artistic works for many years.
“It has been a refreshing and life-enriching experience to lead the classes at Clare Island Art. When [islander] Bridget O’Leary was painting here at the studio, I observed that ‘she was going to pass me up’. After polite disagreement, Bridget said: “Wouldn’t that make you proud?” Yes, I feel very proud of the people who have taken my classes.
“Again, I think their success has been due to living in this beautiful environment. I find I am constantly learning during the classes and in doing research on artists of history. Art history is an important aspect of the classes. I have gained dear friends during the classes and we have a very good time at them,” Kathleen Barnes continued.
She added that the island primary-school children were also exhibiting their work, entitled ‘What I Like Most about Clare Island.’

The Clare Island and Inishturk Art Exhibition continues at the Community Centre until mid-September. For more on Clare Island Art, visit www.kathleenbarnesfineart.com