Waterford Healing Arts Trust presents Body Conscious, a solo exhibition by Dorothy Ann Daly in Waterford Regional Hospital

Body Conscious, an exhibition by artist Dorothy Ann Daly, will be launched in Waterford Regional Hospital and the WHAT Centre for Arts and Health on Friday 29th June.

Dorothy Ann Daly is a Kilkenny born artist who now lives in Berlin. She studied fine art painting in NCAD and textiles in Glasgow School of Art. Since graduating in 1991, she has been making work and exhibiting in Ireland and abroad. She has been a member of the 62 Group of Textile artists since 1993.

Dorothy Ann suffers from multiple sclerosis and has been confined to a wheelchair for the last four years. She has continued making art despite living with a physically debilitating illness. However her work changed when she was diagnosed in 1999.

According to the artist, ‘Much of my past work referred to self image. However I am no longer concerned about my size and body shape in terms of fashion. It is now more important to me to maintain what muscles I have and to strengthen my body.’

Replacing pencils with cotton and stitches, the artist has made a series of pieces for exhibition in Waterford Regional Hospital which explore the limitations of her body. In the words of Arts Director, Mary Grehan, ‘The lightness and elegance of this work belies the long and slow journey taken to make it.’ This exhibition is a celebration of the creative spirit overriding physical limitations which artists over the generations have demonstrated.’

Body Conscious is the first in a series of exhibitions curated by the Waterford Healing Arts Trust for Waterford Regional Hospital which explores artists’ interpretations and responses to the body. It will be opened on Friday 29th June at 1pm by the artist Mary Ruth Walsh and will run until the 3rd August 2012.

The launch will be preceded by a free public talk by the artist on the same day at 12 noon in the WHAT Centre for Arts and Health in the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital

The Waterford Healing Arts Trust acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this exhibition possible.

For further information contact Mary Grehan / Julie Dowling at 051 842664 or e-mail mary.grehan@hse.ie