GMIT Graduate Exhibitions: Castlebar (8 June) Galway (9 June)

Two exciting exhibitions by final year art students in GMIT will open to the public next weekend, in GMIT Castlebar on Friday 8 June, 6.30 pm, and in GMIT Cluain Mhuire, Galway on Saturday 9 June, 3pm.

The Castlebar exhibition of paintings in oil, acrylic, ink, mixed media, prints and photography will be opened by the Director of the Royal Hibernian Academy Patrick T Murphy in St Mary's Hall on campus and will run until Friday 15 June.

The body of art work displays the culmination of skill and artistic development of seven final-year students who have studied the degree programme on a part-time basis over six years. The exhibition marks the launch of their artistic careers.

Dr Deirdre Garvey, Lifelong Learning Coordinator, GMIT Castlebar says the exhibitions showcases the talent and commitment of each student individually but also collectively. "It highlights the importance of visual art and the need to nurture it in our communities."

The Castlebar campus exhibition until Friday 15 June. Admission is free. Click here to see the Castlebar students' work. (PDF)

Seventy-eight art students in Galway are to showcase their work at the annual GMIT Graduate Art Show in Cluain Mhuire from Saturday 9 June (3pm) to 16 June.

The Cluain Mhuire campus will transform into an exciting exhibition space showing Textiles, Painting, Print, Sculpture, Ceramics, Video/Sound work, Photography, Drawing, Performance and Installation. Themes range from personal memories and reflections, the environment and social issues to conceptual ideas around art practices.

The show will be formally opened by Megs Morley, artist and curator, on Saturday 9 June (3pm) and will run until Saturday 16 June.

Gerardine Quinn, Head of Centre, GMIT Centre for the Creative Arts & Media, says this year's show has both a contemporary and traditional feel. "Paintings and prints can be seen alongside works in new media and technologies. The scale and presence of some larger sculptural works sit comfortably with the delicacy of small-scale drawings and constructions in textiles."

"Works range from a suspended traditional wooden currach to cloned terracotta dolls; from video installations in specially constructed dark rooms to live art performances. The standard is again very high, and a visit to the show would not only be a rewarding experience, but would give support and recognition for the students' work."

Final year Sculpture student Ramona Burke says the show is "an exciting and varied exhibition of visual art and a culmination of our time in GMIT Cluain Mhuire".

Click here to see the Cluain Mhuire students' work.(PDF)