Title: Roots & Wings: A Celebration of Mother Nature
A Group Exhibition by Artists: Colleen Fitzpatrick, Maria Laffey & Linda Proudfoot
“Nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
We are all rooted in Mother Nature but look to the sky where we dream of flying on the wild
wind. This exhibition is a celebration of the vastness, beauty and vulnerability of nature in
these uncertain times. If we slow down and tune into nature we learn so much. We live in an
age of soundbites and instant gratification. Art can point us to the world and help us to see
things we don’t usually notice, such as the pace and beauty of the natural environment. Art
provides a space where we can pause and contemplate our world; it provides a place of
possibilities and new ways of being. We are busy trying to avert the environmental crisis when
actually, we need to do less, not more: slow down, take less, use less; pay attention and learn
from our own source: nature, of which we are an integral part. This exhibition is food for the
soul and a feast for the eyes, it presents work by 3 Irish, female artists with very different styles,
united and inspired by a passion for our natural world, the result is the subjective experience
of nature made visible from 3 unique perspectives. This exhibition provides a pause and place
of reflection on the spirit of the natural world.
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Artist: Colleen Fitzpatrick
Bio:
Colleen graduated from the Atlantic Technical University with a BA in Fine Art and also
completed a PhD in the Philosophy of Art & Culture from the University of Galway, as well
as an MA in Psychology from UCD. Predominantly a painter, Colleen’s work has been selected
for a number of curated shows abroad and at home, including Hambly & Hambly Christmas
Show, D31 Art Gallery, Doncaster, Aberdeen Summer Exhibition, the Linenhall Mayo Artists
Show, Westival, Clifden Arts Festival, the Signal Arts Centre, Bray, Solas Gallery, Leitrim
and the Stir Project, TULCA. Colleen’s work is stocked in Kilkenny Design Centre Ireland and
the Quayside Gallery, Westport.
Statement
My work is inspired by awe and awareness of nature, although it addresses the serious subject
of the environment, it is a celebration rather than a lament. I draw inspiration from where I live
along the Wild Atlantic Way in Mayo, however I aim to create otherworldly spaces that are
ubiquitous, evoking an atmosphere rather than an actual place. My work celebrates the magic
and mystique of nature and is imbued with a mystical sense achieved through fluidity, gold
leaf, mixed media and symbols of nature, it is a blend of abstract & figurative.
I studied Psychology because the world and people fascinate me, and I make art for the same
reason. I work from a phenomenological framework: art expresses a mode of being-in-the
world and allows us to dwell in the lives of others because art is an amalgam of all our
experiences. My Doctoral research in Aesthetics focused on mindfulness and the
phenomenology of painting because I believe art provides a place of contemplation which
allows us to focus on things we do not normally notice until we witness them in art. Through
art, I hope to foster awe of the natural environment.
www.colleenfitzpatickart.com
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Artist: Maria Laffey
Bio:
Maria Laffey is a visual artist living and working on the west coast of Ireland in Connemara, Co. Galway. Her studio overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, its rugged coastline and neighbouring islands which provide a constant source of inspiration for her nature-focused work. She obtained a B.A. in Fine Art and Design from the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in 2011.
Maria’s work has been selected for many exhibitions including Clifden Art Festival, Westival, Mayo Artists Biennial Show, Connemara Bog Week, Newport Arts Exhibition, Small Works Exhibition Connemara Sea Week, Kylemore Abbey (Fordham Law Hall).
“My current work centres on creating close-up portraits of wildlife, capturing their unique personalities and expressions. I primarily use acrylic and oils in my work, sometimes placing the animal in its natural habitat and sometimes leaving the background bare to focus only on the animal itself peering out from the canvas.
The gaze of these animals, direct and engaging, invites the audience to connect on a deeper level. The focus is on the expressions and emotions that defines each creature, providing the viewer with a moment of intimacy and understanding, to consider these creatures that journey through the planet with us.
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Artist: Linda Proudfoot
Bio
Linda graduated from NCAD with an BA in Art Design, Textiles and Embroidery and is a
regular exhibitor where she enjoys meeting and talking to the public. Linda showcases her
work in Dublin’s outdoor exhibitions including Stephens Green and Dun Laoghaire along with
Ireland’s Premier Art Exhibition, RDS, Artsource both 2022 and now 2023.
Statement
My name is Linda Proudfoot. I’m an Irish Artist specialising in painting. I’m inspired by nature
and the ever-changing Irish Landscape. I have a passionate eye for detail and for capturing a
moment in time in the landscape around me. I’m attracted to the sun’s light and the way it
affects and transforms the landscape, I want my paintings to come alive with the moment of
the wind and shifting light. I hope they bring to the viewer a sense of mystery and inspiration.
As a child with dsylexia, art has always been a wonderful place for me where I feel
totally comfortable and free. After leaving Collage I worked in graphics, interior design and
window display. I worked as an artist creating paintings & murals for interiors in hotels, pubs
& restaurants. I enjoy working to private commissions, bringing an idea to life. I went back to
my textile roots when I was asked to create a large Wall Hanging depicting St. Colmcille to
hang in the Secondary School which bears his name.
I have a huge draw to the wild coast and out in the West of Ireland, especially to the beauty of
Achill Island. I have spent time on the island and I have an extensive collection of work based
on my time in Co. Mayo and on Achill and have work in galleries on the island.
My passion is to make art, to be able to continue to work on what inspires me.
www.lindaproudfootartist.ie
