Bealtaine is the Irish national arts festival celebrating creativity as we age. It takes place each May countrywide and involves thousands of participants in events in every art form. Taking its name from the ancient Celtic festival celebrating springtime, Bealtaine celebrates renewal, creativity and growth in ageing. Bealtaine is coordinated by Age & Opportunity – the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society.
Throughout the month of May, Butler Gallery celebrated the Bealtaine Festival with a diverse programme of events celebrating creativity as we age. These events were attended by people with a long-held interest in the arts and people who were curious to develop a new interest.
Tour, Talk and Tea – 17 May
Artist Fiona Larkin invited people to join her for a walk through her exhibition Yellow, running at Butler Gallery from April 28th to June 10th. Discussing randomness, connection-making, the obsession of a collector, the group very much enjoyed their insight into Fiona’s work and process. The tour was followed by some refreshments and further chat in the Castle Tea Rooms.
Thanks to artist Fiona Larkin and all who attended.
Silhouette
The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle was a hive of activity on National Drawing Day, as grandchildren brought their grandparents and grand-friends to the Silhouette workshop, where silhouettes were drawn and stories exchanged and everyone left with a wonderful piece of art to remember the day!
A Portrait of Imogen
Artist and photographer Gypsy Ray gave a fascinating insight into the work of groundbreaking photographer Imogen Cunningham. whose career spanned seven decades until her death in 1976. Gypsy gave a demonstration of one of the cameras Imogen often used, then spoke about After 90, a series of portraits taken when Imogen was 92 years of age, of people over 90 who were independent spirits and still fully involved in their profession or a new profession they had chosen. This was followed by a screening of Portrait of Imogen, a short documentary film narrated by Imogen Cunningham herself. A truly insightful and inspirational event!
Have Your Say!
Butler Gallery, in collaboration with Barnstorm Theatre Company, is forming a critics group for adults, who will work with trained facilitators and artists to explore how they can make informed opinions about art and theatre. The group will have their say throughout the Kilkenny Arts Festival, attending exhibitions and theatre events and collaborating with Butler Gallery’s teen critics group.
The first Have Your Say information morning took place as part of Bealtaine on 24 May in the Parade Tower, where potential group members got a chance to stretch their critical muscles, examining works of contemporary photography.
If you would like to become part of this group, please contact Bairbre-Ann Harkin at 056 7761106 or bairbre.ann@butlergallery.com for more information.
Click here to download a Have Your Say application form.