Galway Mayo Institute of Technology Exhibition

at the Leitrim Design House

Bringing fresh new talent to the wider community is an integral part of the Leitrim Design House programme, having shown degree collections by students of the National College of Art and Design, Limerick School of Art, The University of Ulster and Sligo IT at the gallery in recent years.
To continue its support of younger artists the Leitrim Design House will host an exhibition of contemporary ceramics from the 28th of June to the 13th of July. This exhibition of new ceramics by the graduates of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology deals with a common theme “The human body”.

Chloe Dowds is one young artist from Derrywillow, Aughamore, Carrick-on-Shannon who recently completed her degree in Fine Art from GMIT. Her degree show collection deals with the themes of
the human body, human emotions and the differences between physical scars and emotional scars.
Chloe works through the medium of photography, drawing and ceramic work. Primary research for her ongoing collection was conducted with the use of macro photography. Chloe began studying
the human body leading to the creation of abstract landscapes.
“It was absorbing to see how abstracted and unrecognisable the human body and flesh
became when photographed under such magnification” says Chloe.
“This fed directly into my work in the ceramics studio, helping me to discover
interesting surface textures on the clay body”.
A collection of twelve ceramic sculptural works - from a series of twenty pieces by Chloe will be on display at the Leitrim Design House for the duration of the exhibition.

Raku fired sculptural work by Chloe Dowds, Aughamore, Carrick-on-Shannon

Caryl Tyson from County Galway also has local connections with Carrick-on-Shannon. Caryl is a niece of Josephine and John Mc Dwyer. Her delicate sculptural works are based on the fragility of the human body. Caryl’s pieces are almost thread like similar to the skeletal forms of organic matter. Her pieces convey a sense of the frailty of human life. Though her work she wishes to focus the viewers attention, to take time and reflect on the fact that
“We should embrace and cherish every moment and never forget there my not be another tomorrow”.

Earthenware paper pulp slip works by Caryl Tyson

Sinead O’Toole from Tullamore County Offaly exhibits her collection “Inner Organics”-The Organ. Through her work Sinead observes the organic world. The notion of transformation and metamorphic activity of organic matter has been the source of inspiration throughout her research. Little states of change within the living objects bearing a life-force that, presents surprising results for the artist. Sinead hopes that these new objects will produce a curiosity and tactility that is not always affiliated with organs and in doing so safely invite the viewer to consider issues surrounding their own lives and stresses that can shape our inner make-up.

Sinead O’Toole’s pieces from her degree show collection

Joe Westcott from Ballinrobe is interested in the human psyche. His ceramic pieces are inspired by research into different forms of depression present in today’s society, from S.A.D (seasonal affect disorder) through to Bi-polar disorder and people’s experience of them. His work combines both classical and contemporary styles reflecting historical and modern views on what was known as Melancholia.The torsos depict mental turmoils suppressed, but present in society today. His angel-like figures were initially inspired by the winged figure in Albrecht Durer’s “Melancholia 1″. By sending out questionnaires to people who have lived with various types of depression, Joe let their answers shape each figure in a slightly different way, thus creating a series of individually unique pieces. He named this series Pariah and numbered each piece accordingly. Each piece represents the voice of the people.