An Exhibition of Photographs by Deirdre O’Mahony curated by Gregory McCartney for Abridged 0 – 20 + Wise Ways Kilnaboy – Book Launch, the book of the full collection of fired red clay artworks and stories

Launch Sunday 27 November 12 – 2pm

Deirdre O’Mahony was invited by curator Gregory McCartney to work on Abridged 0 – 20: Abandoned Clare. This is part of an ongoing project to document and record abandoned commercial properties in Ireland. The Clare project is on contemporary rural abandonment; a visual exploration of the economic and social changes that have taken place in the county during the past few years.

One of the more powerful aspects of abandoned buildings is the subject missing in the photographs; that is, the people who once worked and lived in these spaces. Their presence can still be felt in the architecture and discarded objects. This project addresses vital clues to the social, economic and architectural life of twentieth and indeed twenty-first century Clare.

Abridged 0 – 20: Abandoned Clare will be shown in X-PO, in Kilnaboy, Clare and acompanied a free magazine, an issue of Abridged; Abridged 0 – 20: Abandoned Clare, which will further explore the issues raised by the exhibition.

Deirdre O’Mahony is an artist living in Kilnaboy. She reopened the former post office in Kilnaboy, Co Clare as X-PO in 2007. This space has enabled new relations and connections between the various communities in the locality and allowed the collective articulation of community history(ies) both within and beyond the locality. X-PO is a participative project. Clubs and groups use the space on a weekly basis and social and cultural events are programmed by participants – all are welcome to contribute ideas or enjoy events in the space. The door is kept open through fundraisers, contributions from those using the space and awards for specific cultural events.

Deirdre O’Mahony is a full-time Lecturer in Painting at GMIT Galway, Ireland and is completing her PhD in the University of Brighton.

This project has received project funding from the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

Wise Ways Book Launch

The original “Wise Ways” project comprised of small reflective works in clay accompanied by stories and was made by visitors to the Raheen Community Hospital day centre. The collection was exhibited at X-PO in 2009 and some of the groups who meet at X-PO, along with students at Kilnaboy National School made further works in response to the same theme.

The Wise Ways book contains colour photographs of the full collection of red clay artworks and related stories collected during the workshops with artist Terry O’Farrell. It forms a wonderful and illuminating document of the wisdom of the past, and the abilities of people from rural County Clare made manifest during the workshops.

The book will be on sale at X-PO at €15 per copy.