Gillian and Sally-Anne inspired by links with sea for joint exhibition at Abbeyleix Library 

A JOINT art exhibition titled Undercurrent by artists Gillian Adams from Geashill, Co Offaly and Sally-Anne Gaffikin from Dalkey, Co Dublin is on show in Abbeyleix Library for the month of September.

Both artists are studying textile art and artefacts at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Thomas Street, Dublin, where they met, clicked and became friends. This is their second exhibition together, their first being at the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire earlier this year and focuses on Gillian’s works on garments and how they can age, having spent time under the sea and on Sally-Anne’s works, which centre around items found on beaches in Dalkey, Killiney and Dún Laoghaire, such as driftwood, fishing ropes and the likes.

Both artists spoke to the Laois Nationalist in Abbeyleix library on the day that they hung their exhibition.

Gillian said that she is a multi-disciplinary visual artist with QQI level 5 art, craft and design and QQI level 6 advanced certificate in art qualifications from Abbeyleix Further Education and Training Centre and is studying for an honours degree at NCAD while working from her home studio.

Gillian said: “This body of work was inspired by traces left behind by the effects of time, the marks and imprints of those who passed this way before and the untold stories of their lives, both factual and imagined. I’m fascinated by the effect time has on our environment as well as on aged garments and artefacts and by the way footsteps, regular use, water trails or weather can wear away footpaths, stones, paintworks and fabrics.

“For the Undercurrent exhibition, I look at the nature of fabric and its ageing process along with the details of stitching and the embellishments. I consider the effects of water, especially the effects of the sea on the garments which have become lost within it. In rare circumstances fabric can be preserved, giving a unique view into history and the stories of the original owners and their lives. Even recovered fabric remnants can provide a window into the past.” Sally-Anne said that she took up art during covid lockdowns and originally took an interest in watercolour painting and drawing and then moved to textile art. She is currently a second-year student at NCAD.

Continuing, she said: “I have always lived close to the sea. My relationship with it has changed over the years and now it is a place for me to breathe and restore myself. I have always enjoyed discovering beautiful stones and shells while walking by the sea. Recently, I became curious about other objects that wash up on the shorelines. Some of them are part of the landscape of the coast and others are brought ashore by the currents, such as debris from fishing and other sea litter. The high tide line is a threshold between the land and sea where a give and take exchange takes place.

‘‘After the January storms this year, I found manmade and organic objects in piles of seaweed that mark high tide on Killiney beach and many are a reminder of the detrimental effect our lifestyles have on the coastline but are also a search for hope. In Undercurrent, I tried to find beauty in the debris given up by the sea and to create a celebration of the threshold between the land and sea around us.” 

The Undercurrent exhibition is well worth visiting and runs until the end of September in Abbeyleix library. Both artists can be found on social media sites. Contact Gillian by emailing gillianadamsart@gmail.com and contact Sally-Anne by emailing sagaffikinart@gmail.com.