Artist Eamon O’Kane will transform the entire Mc Kenna Gallery into an interactive installation inspired by the educational play objects devised by educator and inventor of Kindergarten Friedrich Fröbel. For the artist, parenthood sparked this interest in merging real life with his art practice, looking at the interplay of art, architecture, design and education. The
Step inside our Children’s Gallery this autumn and find yourself transported into a series of miniature, imagined worlds. Welcome to The Box of Make Believe - an exhibition for young people and curious adults that celebrates the creativity, ingenuity and magic of set design. Before the set you see in a play ever gets built,
The enchanting Kildare Notebook Project is a regular 'must see' event in the Riverbank Arts Centre Visual Arts programme. The collection now extends to 200 notebooks made by writers, film makers and visual artists from all over the world. Each notebook is a standard A5 Moleskine notebook, but that's where the similarity ends. Artists have
Riverbank Arts Centre presents Inside Outside, a new exhibition of work by ceramic sculptor Isobel Egan. Isobel has developed this series of wall mounted ceramic sculptures evoking themes of space, stillness and containment. Her aim through the sculptures is to pique the curiosity of the viewer and invite them to explore initially hidden aspects of
Doireann Ni Groighair holds an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art in London. Solo exhibitions include After the Excess, Basement Gallery, Dundalk 2009. Her work is included in the special collection of Chelsea College of Art Library and The University of Ulster’s Permanent Collection; as well as private collections worldwide. Doireann's work
Artist Talk with Isobel Egan, Frances McDonald and Alice Casey and Cian Deegan Join us for an evening of artist talk, inspired by Isobel Egan’s Inside Out Exhibition and the Year of Design 2015. Inside Out: Isobel Egan will discuss how her work draws parallels between the physical and the emotional aspects of life. Material
An exhibition celebrating festive traditions from around the globe. This intimate exhibition comprises beautifully hand crafted Nativity scenes made from wood, precious metals, felt and even bread dough, alongside other seasonal artefacts. Now in its eight year, the collection includes items donated from consulates and embassies in Ireland and abroad alongside pieces specifically sourced for
Join us for mince pies and other tasty treats for the official launch of Joy to the World on Saturday 5th December at 1pm. This intimate exhibition, curated by Susan Boyle, comprises beautifully hand crafted Nativity scenes made from wood, precious metals, felt and even bread dough, alongside other seasonal artefacts. Now in its eight
'Uchronia refers’ to a hypothetical or fictional time-period of our world, in contrast to altogether fictional lands or worlds. A concept similar to alternate history but different in the manner that uchronic times are not easily defined' – Wikipedia. These images form a series of real and alternate self-portraits, investigating how decisions, accidents, and circumstances
This fantastical exhibition by artist Shona Shirley Macdonald combines two atmospheric and richly detailed visual stories. The first is ‘Juniper’, which is a series of illustrations, depicting the protagonist Juniper and her companions searching through peculiar and threatening landscapes, trying to make sense of their world. First exhibited in Limavady, Northern Ireland in the Roe
Uchronia and the Tachyonic Antitelephone both draw from Sinead's experience of grief and shame following the death of her son in 2000. She often uses her practice to explore this and other difficult and personal events, and has contributed to the First Fortnight mental health arts festival in the past, making two large scale pieces
Join us for a launch on Saturday 23rd December at 2pm – there will be a guided tour, illustration activities and treats. This fantastical exhibition by artist Shona Shirley Macdonald combines two atmospheric and richly detailed visual stories. The first is ‘Juniper’, which is a series of illustrations, depicting the protagonist Juniper and her companions
With Deirdre Kelleghan The Deadly Moons and Marvellous Mars exhibition is a celebration of the wonder of the celestial bodies that lie beyond our skies! Deidre Kelleghan is an Astronomer, Artist and Educator. She invents and enacts creative workshops to help children understand our solar system and space exploration. Over the course of two of
Kildare County Council Decade of Commemorations presents: Road to Rebellion - Éamonn O’Modhráin, Kildare and the 1916 Rising The O’Modhráin Private Collection Revealed Exhibition Launch and lecture on Éamonn O’Modhráin on Sunday 28th February Launch 7pm Lecture 8pm by Robert Doyle. Discovered by chance by family member Robert Doyle, Athgarvan in 2010 while clearing out
Little Stories Little Prints is a 1916 Commemorative Visual Arts Project through the medium of Printmaking. The project was devised and coordinated by Pamela de Brí in collaboration with the Leinster Printmaking Studio in Clane. She was assisted by Margaret Becker, Director and Manager of the studio. Fifty Printmakers from eight Printmaking Studios around Ireland
Two projects by Ciaran Burke, oneTree365 and Scoodoos celebrate the beauty and importance of trees. oneTree365 documents one year in the life of a tree, 365 photographs of a grey willow growing on a quiet country lane in Mayo. On that same lane the first Scoodoo appeared. Twig and branch sculptures are representations of individual
Curated by Bairbe Sámh, Mary Crowe Trueman and Petrina Hanlon as part of the Creative Well Curation Project 2016. This Exhibition is free and open to the public. McKenna gallery is an art gallery situated down stairs at the Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge. It is free admission and open to the public. All welcome to
Free three-day drawing workshop for adults: 10am to 1pm on 5th- 6th and 7th May 2016 People will all levels of ability are welcomed as the workshop is aimed at beginners and at those who have experience! Over three days’ artist Dominic Thorpe will bring participants through many fun exercises that introduce and explore various
Free three-day printmaking workshop for adults: 10am to 1pm on 12th - 13th and 14th May People will all levels of ability are welcomed as the workshop is aimed at beginners and at those who have experience! Over three days’ artist Emma Finucane will bring participants through the monoprint, and drypoint printmaking process. Drypoint is
The Creative Well presents: Artists Emma Finucane, Louise Peat and Chloe Brennan in discussion on practice and printmaking in contemporary art, Ireland. 10am – 1pm. Monday 16th May, Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge County Kildare. Artists Emma Finucane, Louise Peat and Chloe Brennan will talk about their practice and open up questions about contemporary printmaking in
Orla is a painter whose work embraces the beauty of the natural world expressing its atmosphere of magic and enchantment. Inspiration for this exhibition has come from her most recent residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. The fairytale aspect of the centre’s building and interiors and surrounding scenery appealed to Orla’s style of work and
In an attempt to approach the un-approachable and go where the faint-hearted don’t go, Brabazon opened a pot of Quink ink, took a deep breath and dipped into James Joyce’s famous novel. 18 small images emerged and like a scattering of wedding pence, they invite you to take what you can catch and perhaps use
The essence of Eoin O’Malley’s work as a painter is the energy he transmits in all of his images. Eoin’s source material is often found in the mountainous landscape around his home in Baltinglass Co. Wicklow but also in looking at astronomical phenomena and images of the world as seen from above. The title work
The work in Eoin O’Malley's exhibition Borderland illustrates how much he has achieved in the past eight years since starting to paint with in 2008. In this behind the scenes presentation Eoin will show a short film about himself and his journey as an artist, demonstrating how he paints holding his brushes in his mouth.
The Ark presents The Beautiful Beasts Visit a weird and wonderful collection of animal sculptures curated by The Ark especially for children. Amongst these quirky, loveable animals, you will find a flying horse, a tortoise with a secret story and a toucan in disguise! Created by leading Irish and international artists from materials ranging from bronze,
Claiming Space Red Bird Youth Collective A Galway Arts Centre National Tour, supported by The Arts Council. Claiming Space is a touring exhibition by Red Bird Youth Collective, a youth arts group based in Galway. Since its inception, Red Bird has been supporting creativity and claiming artistic space for young people in Galway, and now,
The enchanting Kildare Notebook Project is a regular 'must see' event in the Riverbank Arts Centre Visual Arts programme. The collection now extends to 200 notebooks made by writers, film makers and visual artists from all over the world. Each notebook is a standard A5 Moleskine notebook, but that's where the similarity ends. Artists have
How the magic happens - the making of Strange Feathers, an aerial dance show by Fidget Feet and Bird and Bat. An exhibition. Inspiration for this exhibition comes from the making of Strange Feathers by the Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre and The Bird and the Bat Theatre Company from Iceland. Jym Daly is the
STRUCTURE/VOID is an exhibition of new works by artist Denis Kelly. The exhibition incorporates a site specific wall painting and a series of abstract paintings characterised by hard edge colour motifs, predominantly painted flat on wooden surfaces. The work explores light, form and space in a playful response to the built environment and the wider
As part of Riverbank Art Centre's First Fortnight programme The Creative Well will be in conversation with artists and participants who work with and deliver arts and wellbeing projects in Co. Kildare. We will look at the work of three specific projects that promote mental and physical wellbeing in the county. These projects are ongoing
Throughout 2017 "This Must Be The Place" will present artist talks free of charge and open to the public in McKenna Gallery at Riverbank Arts Centre. Our artist talks will be tailored to people who are new to contemporary art as well as those who have experience with contemporary art. So treat yourself! It is
Inspirational Colours is an exhibition of artworks by artists from the KCAT studio, selected and curated by artists from the art group, KARE. It represents the first collaboration between the two groups. The exhibition came about as part of a curatorial project of the Creative Well This Must Be the Place Residency at Riverbank Arts Centre.
The Imagination Playground is a breakthrough play space concept designed to encourage child directed free play - allowing children to build, dream, and create endless possibilities. The Playground was conceived and designed by award-winning architect David Rockwell. The play system consist of a 105 large block set, the children can let their imagination run
