Stradbally Exhibition Puts Focus On Creativity Of Young Laois Artists
The artistic talents of the young people of Co. Laois, and the contribution they have made towards the success of the Texaco Children’s Art Competition, now in its 63rd year, are matters that will be celebrated in a week-long art exhibition entitled ‘Time and Space’ – A Celebration of Texaco Children’s Art Success in Laois’ which takes place at the Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally opening on Thursday 21st September next.
The exhibition continues until the following Thursday, 28th September, opening from 1pm to 5pm and from 5.30pm to 8pm(Tuesday & Thursday), 10am to 1pm (Saturday) and 1pm to 4pm (Wednesday and Friday).
Lucy Deegan (17), from Luggacurren, pictured with her prize-winning work entitled ‘Tom – Summer’ which won her top prize in this year’s 63rd Texaco Children’s Art Competition. With her is her family (back left to right) father Jim, mother Fionnula, sisters Juliet and Annie Rose (front left) and brother Tom.
Curated by Lucy Deegan, the 2017 Laois Culture Night Ambassador, the exhibits on display will include her colourful portrait study of her brother Tom, carefully executed with colouring pencils and white gel pen, which won her top prize in the 63rd Texaco Children’s Art Competition held just months ago.
Also amongst the exhibits at Stradbally will be works by three other Laois students all of whom featured highly in the competition this year. They are a portrait study entitled ‘Weathered Wisdom’ by 13-years old Ciarán Leonard, a pupil at St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise, which took second prize in the 12-13 years age category. Other young Laois winners whose winning works feature in the exhibition are Asma Zulfiqas (age 14), from Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise and Abdul Ahad Zulfiqar (age 6), from Holy Family Junior School, Portlaoise.
A pupil of Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach in Carlow Town, Lucy Deegan is no stranger to the Competition and has featured amongst the prizewinners on five occasions to date. Her three siblings, brother Tom and sisters Annie Rose and Juliet, have also won prizes in previous years.
As part of her prizewinning package, 17-years old Lucy from Luggacurran received a top prize of €1,500 plus an invitation to visit Tokyo awarded by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture where she was an honoured guest at a ceremony held in conjunction with the 18th International High School Arts Festival in which her winning artwork was exhibited.
Underlining the support that exists for the Texaco Children’s Art Competition is the fact that, over the past five years alone, some 2,799 entries were received from young Laois artists – a figure that confirms the view that the number of entries submitted by Laois students since the competition first began in 1955 amounts to some tens of thousands.