Artist returns with exhibition as Mayo venue celebrates 10 years

J-Dreaming is the latest exhibition of eclectic mixed media, paintings and drawings by artist Marie Wood, going on display at Westport Town Hall for the month of June.

It celebrates 25 years of making art professionally and, coincidentally, it is her third solo exhibition at Westport Town Hall at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the venue's opening.

Marie’s work is rooted in a lifetime’s excitement in her visual environment.

The very particular 'place where you live' has always had an influence not only on the subject matter that she seeks to celebrate, but also the media used to create the works. Grounded in both an academic and practical understanding of her craft as an artist, she has never been frightened to 'break the rules', finding ways of using media that are not supposed to work together.

Her imagery, whilst often instantly recognisable, shows a very particular way of seeing, using a deep affinity with colour, form and texture. Where the image might seem to be purely abstract, it is usually because Marie has taken a 'direct abstraction' from reality.

This exhibition explores a number of two-dimensional themes and media.

For the first time in Ireland, Marie is showing a group of works focusing on drawing. In these images there is not only evidence of technical skill, but also a unique understanding of the 'hard' subject matter and more importantly a fascination with 'the spaces in between'. Marie is “wired differently”!

Marie was born in Manchester, with a strong Donegal family background. She studied and taught in the UK, becoming a full-time artist in 2000, and she moved to Mayo in 2014.

She has exhibited extensively in England, Scotland and Ireland. She previously had works in the Scottish Royal Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland, and has works in private collections throughout Ireland, UK, Europe and America.

The exhibition will have its official opening at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4.