Artist made contact with Laois library at just the right moment

GALWAY artist Sarah Loughnane emailed Mountmellick Library on 4 November on the off chance that there might be an upcoming cancellation by an artist for a monthly exhibition - and was told by branch manager Amanda Hyland that on that very day a slot for this month had just become available.

Jumping at the chance to exhibit her radiant works in the sought after three-roomed walk-through art gallery in Mountmellick two days later; Sarah was hanging a dazzling 50-piece acrylic pour display of her wonderful works.

Sarah is a contemporary abstract expressionist artist from Ballinasloe, Co Galway who specialises in fluid acrylics. Her work explores the connection between people, places, and unseen forces drawing from nature and internal landscapes.

Speaking to the *** Laois Nationalist while hanging her latest show, Sarah said that she is delighted to have received the news that gave her the opportunity to display her works in Laois.

Talking about her exhibition, titled Bloom and Current, and her background in art, Sarah said: “I always liked to draw, and my mother inspired me to paint. I did art in school, but the teacher was very critical. In school we had to paint something to be marked on, which isn’t my idea of art, so I didn’t do art for my leaving cert.

“I graduated from NUIG in chemistry two to three years ago. As well as being in college I was always painting and was holding art exhibitions too. In the last year I decided to follow my heart and my passion and to paint because now I have confidence in myself.” Sarah said that her style is known as acrylic pouring and that she uses a wide variety of different techniques to create certain effects on her works. She said that in her Bloom and Current exhibition she focuses on the flow of water in some of her bigger pieces while exploring the human connection with nature, as she loves to dip herself into water at lakes and beaches.

Sarah explained: “As an emerging artist I’m developing a body of work that reflects my interest in how abstract forms can hold emotional memory. My paintings invite the viewers to slow down, immerse themselves in colourful flow and connect to the subtle interplay between control and chance.” The talented artist has held several solo exhibitions in her native Galway over the years along with taking part in group shows around the country.

Commenting on Sarah’s exhibition, Amanda Hyland said: “We would like to welcome Sarah Loughnane to the gallery here at Mountmellick Library and to wish her lots of luck on her first time exhibiting here. It was fate that brought her here because we just had a cancellation on the same day that Sarah got in touch with us, so she is definitely meant to be here!

“Her exhibition is thoughtfully arranged, and it brings you on a vibrant journey through the rooms of the gallery and her paintings are so colourful that they would brighten any winter's day.” The exhibition will remain on display during library opening hours until the end of November.

All of the pieces are available for purchase and more can be viewed on Sarah’s website at www.sarahloughnaneart.com. Enquiries can be made to Sarah on 083 1273339 or by emailing sloughartistry@gmail.com..