Laois artist Orla had ‘blast’ putting exhibition together
Artist Orla McDonagh pictured with one of her art exhibition pieces in Mountmellick Library Photos: Stan Henderson
AN art collection titled Women’s Ways, which is an exhibition of new works by Abbeyleix multi-medium artist, art tutor and creative associate with the Arts Council Orla McDonagh is currently on display in Mountmellick Library and Art Gallery.
The exhibition fills the largest of the three-roomed art gallery, where it will remain on display until the end of December, marking the 12th successful monthly art showing of 2025 for the Mountmellick branch of Laois Libraries.
The talented artist also works with students and teachers in various schools. Orla works with several education and training boards (ETBs) and with Creative Ireland through its Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers (BLAST) programme, which is a department of education initiative. Her tutorial work with schools brings her to several counties, including Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Meath and Tipperary, where she is currently working on a therapeutic art project with a special school.
While hanging her exhibition, Orla took a few minutes to comment on her latest show for the Laois Nationalist.
She said: “I’m delighted to be exhibiting in Mountmellick library again this year. Women’s Ways is an exhibition that brings different artforms together to describe and reminisce on moments in the life of a girl through to being a woman.
“I have explored emotive events throughout my life by using textiles, ink, drawings and paintings. This display represents my life experiences, but it could be any woman’s journey through life.” In the exhibition, Orla has used textiles to create four handbags, which represent her four sisters through her different imaginative styles.
There is an amazing, vibrant patchwork piece where 27 different pieces of textiles (each representing a different time in Orla’s life) are joined together. One of these is a piece of Donegal tweed from a visit to Donegal some years ago, while another shows a yellow front door, which is reminiscent of the family home that she grew up in in Crumlin, Dublin. Orla also named her art studio at her Abbeyleix home The Yellow Door Art Studio. A variety of stories continue within that particular piece, including a square of her school uniform and of her Confirmation hat.
Also included in the display is an ink drawing, which shows a hand wearing a Claddagh ring and a Swatch watch on its wrist depicting the 1980s trend where Swatch watches were ‘the in thing’ and Claddagh rings were worn facing inwards if you were in a relationship and outwards if you were single. Another shows a baby being fed naturally by its mother and there is a painting of her grandson.
The multidisciplinary exhibition is an interesting display and is well worth viewing.
Karen Lambe is senior library assistant at Mountmellick Library and Art Gallery. Commenting on the exhibition, she said: “On behalf of the library we’re delighted to be welcoming Orla McDonagh back to the gallery again this year with her art exhibition Women’s Ways. Orla has produced another wonderful mixed media exhibition, which focuses on some of her memories on travelling through life. The exhibition is here for the month of December and everyone is welcome to come along and view this fabulous display during library opening hours.” Orla can be contacted by emailing orlamcdonaghartist@gmail.com, on Instagram and Facebook by searching for orlamcdonagh.artist or by phoning 085 7889331.
