Inspirations

Inspirations is the first exhibition by The Dockers Collective and is based on places and people that have inspired or elevated their work. Please join the collective for the opening reception on Saturday 7 December in the Jury Room café.

The artists in the collective, born from The Dock’s monthly Artists’ Meet-Ups, have gained much through the sharing of art and art-related subjects such as techniques, opportunities, emotional wellbeing, self-esteem and a sense of belonging to a group. The collective’s discussions have facilitated new friendships and included both new art and resurrecting long forgotten projects from cupboards, attics and under beds!

“We have twenty artists taking part in the exhibition which is staged in The Dock’s Jury Room café starting in December. It gladdens my heart to be able to present this exhibition mixing professional and aspiring artists in a non-elitist manner,” said Josie Williams the exhibition coordinator, a retired community arts development officer who spent thirteen years in the UK inspiring and offering opportunities to the local community.

“I have always loved art, and experimented with watercolours, acrylic paints and whatever else I had to hand. It wasn’t until I moved to Ireland two years ago and attended The Dock’s monthly Artists’ Meet-Ups, that I felt encouraged and inspired to share some of my work,” said Maria Sotgiu whose artwork until now resided under her bed.

“Having met Clyde, an excellent freelance cartoonist, at one of our monthly meet-ups, I was very impressed with his work and I gave him a copy of my book The Clainings Tree, hoping he might like to collaborate with me and illustrate one of my short stories. I’m very happy with the result,” said local celebrated author Gerry Bohan.

The Dockers Collective was born in 2023 from the all-embracing community ethos of The Dock who schedule the free monthly Artists’ Meet-Ups facilitated by artists Josie Williams and James Busher. They are a mix of professional, semi-professional, aspiring artists and the retired, with one thing in common — the love of art and the vast world that it opens up.

The artists taking part are Maggie Ferrari, Lluvia Ramirez, Kevin Walker, Jim Busher, Vanessa Power, Gerry Bohan, Clyde Delaney, Therese Hanley, Olive Wright, Doris Crawford, Maria Sotgiu, Siobhan Cox, Catherine Gray, Josie Williams, Miriam Doran, Margie Dunne, Sarah Gaffey, Grainne McHugh, Barbara Browne, Peadar Jolliffe-Byrne.

Inspirations is a pre-cursor to Xploration planned for next year, where artists will work together on collaborative pieces.

For further information, you can email Josie at josiewilliams1959@hotmail.co.uk