New Art exhibition launching in Tuam

CELEBRATING community and nature through artwork will be the major theme of a new exhibition opening at Tuam Library this Friday September 4.

Local artist Jennifer Cunningham has been hosting a series of workshops that invited the wider Tuam community to ditch their phones and meet others in person by working on art together.

The group met at several local landmarks, focusing their attention on showcasing the wonderful natural beauty found all around us, such as the River Nanny.

Their work will go on display in Tuam Library on Friday and will remain on view until Wednesday September 30. Some artwork will also be showcased in Connaughton’s window on Shop Street, as part of Creative Places Tuam's Artist Spotlight.

“The exhibition celebrates community, nature, and the joy of making art together, while the wider project explores the gap between digital connectivity and real human connection,” explained Jennifer Cunningham.

“After a conversation with Padraig Stevens, I initiated a physical sketchbook exchange within the Tuam community. This organically grew into a series of workshops held at local landmarks, including the River Nanny and Knockma.

“The project encouraged people to slow down and pay attention. Ultimately, this journey fostered a deeper relationship with our local environment and highlighted the power of collective action in protecting our natural world.”

Participants engaged in diverse mediums, from traditional drawing, printmaking, and cyanotypes to stop-motion animation and augmented reality. They also created a larger collaborative piece, which saw several participants putting their mark on the one painting.

The exhibition will be launched this Friday September 4 at 4pm and includes a talk from guest speaker Josephine Vahey.

“I want to give a special thanks to Valerie Kelly, Creative Communities Engagement Officer at Creative Places Tuam, Bru Bhride, Tuam Library, Helen Gillard, Tim Acheson and all the participants of the project,” added Jennifer.

“This project was made possible with the kind support of Creative Ireland Creative Communities funding and Galway County Council. All are welcome to join us for the opening event and to experience the work throughout the exhibition period,” she concluded.