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IMMA paint out, Mary Swanzy exhibition

Event Details

Time: November 24, 2018 from 11am to 4pm
Location: Coffee shop IMMA
Website or Map: http://www.imma.ie/en/subnav_…
Event Type: paint, out, and, exhibition, visit
Organized By: Norah Blount
Latest Activity: Nov 24, 2018

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Event Description

A chance to see this wonderful exhibition, we can also paint in the grounds of IMMA. Meet at 11am in the coffee shop

Mary Swanzy (1882-1978) is a unique Irish artist. Her level of achievement, world travel and original thinking is unmatched in Irish art, yet this is the first retrospective of her work in 50 years. Born in the late Victorian era, by her early twenties Swanzy had mastered the academic style of painting. She witnessed the birth of Modern art in Paris before the First World War and her work rapidly evolved through the different styles of the day, each of them interpreted and transformed by her in a highly personal way. In 1920, against the background of violence of the Irish War of Independence, she left Ireland in a form of self-imposed exile. Traveling first through Eastern Europe and the Balkans, she then sailed to Hawaii and Samoa from 1923 to 24 - literally crossing the globe. While there she produced a body of work that is unique in an Irish context with images that show her proto-feminism and critique of the colonial system.

Best known for her Cubist and Futurist paintings, after 1914 she exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon des Indépendants and the Beaux Arts, alongside artists who are now household names. By 1946 she was included in exhibitions with Chagall, William Scott and Henry Moore but after this time her work fell into obscurity. This may in part have been due to her status as a female artist and indeed she was vocal on issues of gender, remarking; ‘if I had been born Henry instead of Mary my life would have been very different’. This exhibition aims to introduce audiences to her extraordinary achievements.

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Comment by Norah Blount on November 24, 2018 at 18:07: It is an interesting exhibition, lots of different phases she went through but I liked her later portraits best.

Kyrle, I envy you , that rain sounds very atmospheric and West cork is a great place to escape to

Comment by Kyrle Cahill on November 23, 2018 at 21:10: sorry Norah am back in Ballydehob, the extension walls are going up yippeee. but the rain was indescribable.

Mary Swanzy was a major artist. great painter. enjoy the day.

Comment by Margaret Costello on November 23, 2018 at 20:34: I'm looking forward to being there, but Rosemary won't be with me

Comment by Noel Hayes on November 23, 2018 at 9:09: Seen already it is an amazing exhibition of a life work. Love to join you for a plein eire session.

Comment by Sally Downey on November 23, 2018 at 8:29: Look forward to seeing you there.

Comment by Norah Blount on November 23, 2018 at 6:39: IMMA is approx. a 12 minute drive from city centre (Stephen's Green). There is ample on-site parking which is just €3 for the first three hours. Parking machines take coins and chip and pin cards. Full Parking costs can be found below:

0-3 hrs - €3
0 - 4 hrs - €5
0 - 6 hrs - €10
6+ hrs - €15