Some of the exhibiting artists attending the opening. Photo courtesy IACI.
By Irish Echo Staff
The Bourn Vincent Gallery at the University of Limerick is playing host to an exhibition celebrating the O’Malley Art Award, offered for the first time in 1989, and now celebrating its twenty first award.
The exhibition was officially launched by the American Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, and the award was presented by Peter Halas, chairman of the board of the Irish American Cultural Institute.
The winner on this occasion was Derry artist Locky Morris, who was chosen for his commitment to community based artwork.
Well-known since the 1980s for his Janus-like figures on Derry’s historic and contested walls, Morris has always worked to make art that is meaningful among the communities in Northern Ireland, irrespective of their political or cultural differences, this according to a release from the IACI.
The exhibition includes work by twenty artists, all winners of the award.
Four of these have sadly died since they were recipients, Tony O’Malley, Charles Brady, Pat Scott, Barrie Cooke but they are represented on the walls with paintings as fresh as the day they were painted, said the release.
The opening event was attended by artists Alice Maher, Oona Hyland, Janet Mullarney, Fergus Martin, Paul Mosse, Carolyn Mulholland, Cecily Brennan, Alanna O’Kelly, Charles Tyrrell and Brian Bourke.
The artworks included conceptual art, a short film, both figurative and abstract paintings, and sculptures and photo works, all testifying to the creativity that this award has done so much to assist, said the release.
The vice-president of the university, Paul McCutcheon thanked the IACI and the O’Malley family, especially Cormac O’Malley, son of Ernie O’Malley, and Helen Hooker O’Malley in whose memory the award is made; also the judges for this year’s award, Donal Maguire of the National Gallery of Ireland, and Dr. Riann Coulter, director of the F.E. MacWilliam Gallery and Studio in Banbridge.
Their careful consideration and their depth of knowledge, like that of previous judges, was deeply appreciated both by the IACI and the university, said the release.
The exhibition was organized by Yvonne Davis and Patricia Moriarity of the University of Limerick.
“Patrons, Prizes and Paradigms; The IACI O’Malley art Award 1989 -2016” runs until June 3 and is curated by Catherine Marshall.
More at www.iaci-usa.org
