The Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally, Co Laois welcomes an exhibition by Kildare based artist Cathy Whelan who specialises in ceramic artwork.

Cathy’s work explores evolving ideas about the environment and highlights the intersection between humanity and nature. It serves to question the impact of human activity and the pressures we exert upon the natural world through a modern culture of excess.

“We place huge demands on our environment. As well as celebrating the beauty of Irish wildlife, it is my hope that this exhibition will encourage visitors to consider our relationship with the natural world and seek a more sustainable and natural approach to consumption.”

Cathy is graduate of the National College of Art and Design and is currently in residence at Laois Arthouse. She has exhibited work in Gallery Zosimus Dublin, NCAD Window Gallery and as part of a Group show in Laois Arthouse.

The exhibition will be opened by Wildlife Conservationist, Ricky Whelan. Ricky studied Zoology in NUIG He works with BirdWatch Ireland’s Conservation Team, where he heads up a number of projects relating to species such as Swifts, Lapwings and the study of Waterbird populations within Dublin Bay. In his spare time he helps run the Irish Wildlife Trust – Laois Offaly Branch having formed the branch in November 2013. He has lectured extensively on the topic of crows, country wide.