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December 1/2
2005, Thursday/Friday, 9.30am-9pm (ends December 3 2005, Saturday,
9.30am-4pm)
It is all in
the title, and at the top of the page, so there is little need to repeat
what has been said! But it might never have been said – as it was just
by chance, last Monday evening that we walked passed the Air Gallery in
Mayfair’s Dover Street. We noticed a poster, in the front window,
announcing Kate Hennessy’s art exhibition, as well as the fact that the
artist was from Limerick. Next day, a phone call got us through to the
husband of the artist, who informed us that the opening reception was to
take place later, that very same day. Well, we made our plans and got
there – but, late as usual. Missed everything! Or had we? The Irish
Ambassador, H.E. Daithi O'Ceallaigh, had already spoken and officially
opened the exhibition. Prominent Irish politician and one-time Party
Leader, Dessie O'Malley – a Limerick man and a collector of Hennessey’s
art, also had made a speech. Even the Deputy Mayor of Limerick had
spoken, as had the artist herself. Well, it seemed we had missed the best
four consecutive speeches of the last so many years. We heard later,
from several of the guests (who must have either not come on the bus, or
must have had more of a headstart than we did), that they had all been
first-rate. Which nicely leads us on to the art... about sixty artworks,
predominantly acrylics and oils, with a couple of watercolours and ink
on paper and even a mono print. The energetic and colourful paintings
include figures, landscapes, still-lifes - be sure to see her
Matisse-inspired “Flowers on Blue” - and even animals (e.g. giraffes) from, literally,
all over – from Africa, from Asia, from mainland Europe and, naturally,
from Ireland and several of its beautiful south-west counties. Have a
look at the official website for Limerick, to get an idea of the setting
Hennessy’s Studio is based in (see website address below). When we
return to Dover Street, in the next few days, we will have to have a
closer look at the setting Hennessy used for that acrylic on canvas,
“Bellydancer Visits Limerick” (31cm x 41cm, £1,000).
Prices for her other
artworks (which range in size from 25cm x 36cm, up to 101cm x 76cm) start from
£500 each (4) and go up to £3,000 (5). And, after talking of sizes and numbers,
no amount of words could do any of Kate’s paintings any justice. They are simply
wonderful. We enjoyed what we saw, and you will too. The advice is to simply go
along and see them. After you observe them, you are bound to come away with the
feeling of having learnt something, if not about distant countries then, at
least, something about Ireland. After all, Kate was a full-time art teacher
between 1967 and 1995. A lot of her knowledge, over the years, has gone into her
art, to inspire others today. And, like the best schools, her exhibition in
London is open from early morning to late at night, both Thursday and Friday.
Note that on the Saturday, her exhibition closes mid-afternoon. After that you
are too late! No, no, no… unlike us, the other day - with these new extra-long
London buses - you cannot be too late. Kate has a very comprehensive website,
which you can always check out, twenty-four seven. On the website you will be
able to find links to her:
News; Art Gallery; Edition Prints; Catalogue; Biography and Contact details.
MENU A: Free
B: 8, 9, 14, 19, 22 or 38
E: (see katehennessystudio website)
L: The Air Gallery, 32 Dover Street, London, W1
M: Kate Hennessy Studio, 8 Naughton’s Place, Henry Street, Limerick, Co.
Limerick
N: 020 7409 1544 (gallery)
T: Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly & Victoria lines)
W:
http://www.airgallery.co.uk/
http://www.katehennessystudio.com/
http://www.limerick.ie/
X:
http://www.howtoenjoy.co.uk/counties_ireland/limerick.htm
http://www.howtoenjoy.info/interests/artists.htm
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