Beth O'Halloran at the Children's Gallery, Riverbank Arts Centre
Riverbank Arts Centre is delighted to present Let’s go home, little bear by Beth O’Halloran, an interactive exhibition for children which highlights some of Ireland’s endangered or extinct animals in an unusual way.
In this child-centered exhibition Beth O’Halloran is exploring new techniques and approaches through for example the creation of the interactive blackboard animal silhouettes. The work highlights ideas and themes that reoccur in Beth practice such as the state of flux, wildlife studies, quantum physics and ‘wabi sabi’ a Japanese aesthetic paradigm, which praises the value of the incomplete and rough-hewn. Looking at Irish wildlife she is highlighting some endangered or recently extinct native species.
The interactive pieces and other accompanying work emphasises in a playful way these concerns. For the exhibition the gallery is taken over by blackboard animal silhouettes of endangered or recently extinct Irish species. Each animal will have a box of chalk hung beside them, inviting children to take part in the artwork. Come and give the bear his furry coat or the wolf his sharp teeth!
An educational booklet is available in the gallery space with information and fun exercises to do in the space or at home.
The exhibition will launch with “Let the Wild In” a tea party and artist talk hosted by Beth O’Halloran at 3 pm on Saturday the 9th July in the gallery space. This is a free family event for anyone with a sweet tooth who enjoys a good cuppa, coffee or juice! Sit back on our cosy Budda bags and savour this informal child-centered talk set in the gallery, which is followed by the tea party. Let the children interact with Beth’s work, drawing with chalk on the wall, while enjoying a coffee and cake. Unfortunately this event is now fully booked but the exhibition will be open daily, admission is free and all visitors are welcome.
Beth O’Halloran lives and works in Dublin. She is a multi-disciplinary artist working predominantly with painting and 3-D constructions. She has exhibited widely throughout Ireland, the U.K., USA and Japan. Recent exhibitions include ‘House Blend’ in Monster Truck, Temple Bar, ‘Group’ in Gallery 126, New York and ‘Green Horizons’, Bates Museum of Art, Maine.
