‘Solace’

Exhibition of works by Derval Freeman

Monday 27th February – Sunday 12th March 2017

Signal Arts Centre is delighted to be exhibiting works by the artist Derval Freeman.

Speak to Derval about her work for only a few moments and her love of the environment manifests as she enthuses about her latest artistic challenge, painting or photographing her treks of discovery through the secluded countryside of County Wicklow into which she is inevitably drawn.

My studio in County Wicklow presents a most rewarding backdrop and has inspired my painting for these past two years. Painting has been my first love ever since childhood wonder filled my heart with the joy of discovering the thrill of putting paint strokes on canvas or, as it was in those days, crayon on paper. I was in love and this joyful intrigue would never fail to inspire just as the search and challenge of representing the perfect idyll would present me with the rewarding odyssey of introspection and the knowledge that when I sought to examine the mystery of the scene, I was actually looking into myself. Challenges are mind-based and how the environment is depicted presents an inner challenge to the artistic mind; the painting action is queried: balance, depth, weight and accentuation of each stroke is called into question, namely, ‘is this depiction what I actually want to represent – is it too abstract?

She brings to mind the Celtic Goddess of the Ardennes Forest, Arduinna, who was also a seeker, huntress and who rose to all challenges as she rode her wild boar throughout her demesne, totally in awe of the trees, rivers and streams she was vowed to protect. This exhibition of Derval’s work, one imagines, must have been inspired by the Ardennes Goddess whose spirit percolated down the ages and slid silently into her young Clare soul.

Arduinna returned again and again for solace after her battles, back to that secure environment where her energy was miraculously recharged and prepared for the next adventure. She found it there and so it is appropriate for Derval to title this latest body of work, SOLACE.

Opening Reception: Friday 3rd March 7 – 9 pm

All Welcome!