Heritage Events Archive

The Blossom Art Exhibition takes place in Athy Heritage Centre, Co. Kildare for the month of July. The Heritage centre is open at week-ends for the month.

The official opening by Lesley Fennell – (local Athy artist from Burtown House), is on Wednesday 4th July at 1.15pm, with a cheese and wine reception and live music.  All are welcome. 

There are 45 paintings on display by 20 different artists.  All the paintings are professionally framed and range in price from €70 – €100. 

All of the artists are clients with physical disabilities who attend Firhouse Day Activity Centre (CRC) which is near Tallaght.
 
The day centre caters for adults who live in the south west Dublin region and it provides a wide range of activities such as craft work, music and movement, jewellery making, quizzes, board games – scrabble and cards being the favourites, social evenings, pool, skittles, bingo, beauty room activities – hairdressing and nail care, angel card reading, outings and of course ART therapy, all in a bright, warm, friendly and relaxed environment.

Attendance at the centre helps combat social isolation and maintains motivation and a sense of worth among its clients.  Some clients have an acquired physical disability as a result of a stroke, brain injury or road traffic accident while for others it’s due to multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and for some clients it’s a congenital disability such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy.   Most clients attend for two days per week and would find a huge gap in their lives without the centre.

The Blossom Art Group was established in September 2006.   The group work in a self-directed manner, facilitated by the centre staff and with the support of professional Art Tutors.  The tutors are funded by the VEC while course materials, outings to museums and art galleries and any other activities associated with the class are funded by the day activity centre. Some clients have successfully been awarded a FETAC Level 4 Painting certificate.  Through the medium of Art many clients have discovered a new skill and source of pleasure which has greatly enhanced their self-confidence and enjoyment of life in otherwise difficult and trying personal circumstances.

The clients’ art work has previously been exhibited in the South Dublin County Council Offices, the Athy Heritage Centre in  2010/2011 and in Tallaght Library as part of the Aontas Adult Education week.

Although all the artists are people with a disability, through the medium of art they have demonstrated their ability.

All are welcome and the artists hope you enjoy viewing the paintings on display as much as they enjoyed creating them. 

 

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