Kinvara exhibition honours women who survived the patriarchy to leave valuable legacy
‘Unseen Scaffold’, a new exhibition exploring inheritance, identity and resilience will open this Friday evening at 7pm in Kinvara’s Courthouse Gallery.
Julia O’Keeffe, Bríd Kivneen and Pam Fleming have worked across painting, installation, photography and sculpture to trace the influence of women whose lives shaped their identities – often quietly, sometimes almost invisibly.
The three are from different backgrounds and their art practices are different, but their work in 'Unseen Scaffold' has common themes.
This show honours women who lived in patriarchal systems that restricted their choices. But they were resilient and left an enduring legacy.
Born in England, Pam Fleming has lived in Kinvara for 47 years and is a longtime member of the visual artists' collective, KAVA. For many years, her art involved using enamels on copper and she gave workshops in that discipline.
An Art and Design graduate of ATU, she now focuses on painting and mostly uses acrylics in her representational art.
Also a longtime and active KAVA member, Julia O'Keeffe’s art has been shaped by travel, teaching and a lifelong interest in colour. After graduating as a teacher, Cork-born Julia volunteered in Sudan, later going on to study photography and calligraphy at City College of San Francisco. Here in Galway, she worked as a screen-printer and an arts and crafts tutor with GRETB, before studying painting at ATU, when she was shortlisted for the RDS Student Arts Awards.
Experienced in spinning, dyeing and weaving, Brid worked as a silk painter for years, participating in community arts projects in Galway, Clare and Mayo, Reared in England with Irish roots, her interests include Irish craft, music and dance.
'Unseen Scaffold' is at the Courthouse until October 25, 11am-5pm daily. All are welcome to this Friday's opening at 7pm when Annie Rozario of Gort Resource Centre will be the guest speaker.