County Wexford Community Workshop (New Ross)
VISUAL ART
The Arts Ability Studio Group at County Wexford Community Workshop (CWCW) New Ross was formed in March 2006 and runs one day a week, 9am to 4pm. The studio was a natural progression as some of the workshop participants were very interested in getting more time to develop their art work and had shown a huge commitment to the development of their art practice, in a professional manner, creating the opportunity to develop the work to a high standard, for exhibitions, commissions and public/private collections. The studio group is involved in all areas of general artist practice such as applying for exhibitions, hanging exhibitions, exchanges, residencies and attending conferences. The group also goes on field trips to galleries and to other areas of interest.
The Studio Group has gone from strength to strength. Six artists presented themselves to take part and these six had already demonstrated a commitment and a desire for more access to artistic activity, each one with their own individual style and approach. The six studio participants are Andrew Murphy, JJ. Maddock, Mary Holohan, Pat Roche, Thomas Martin and Frank Power.
Arts Ability/New Ross has a unique blend of workshops in various media, some to fulfil the FETAC criteria for certification but also to include periods of time for the participants to pursue and set their own projects based on their own ideas. Over the last three years the programme has included collaborative projects where the group of participants worked together. Artists with specific expertise in specialised areas have been invited to give workshops, such as Woodcarving, Fabric Art, Ceramic Sculpture and Woodblock Printing.
In March 2008, two studio artists, Andrew Murphy and Pat Roche travelled to Expo 2008 in Glasgow, Scotland, run by Project Ability. Project Ability is a well-established art and disability group. The aim of the conference was to bring together all the groups from around Scotland, to see how they could learn from each other. Each group gave a presentation detailing their activities, difficulties and achievements. The conference was a great opportunity for Pat and Andrew to meet other artists and to see their work, to see the different projects, the groups set up and there approaches.
To date the Arts Ability programme at C.W.C.W. has had a number of very successful Exhibitions and Projects.
2004 ‘Three Degree’ Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket, Wexford.
2005 ‘Rocking Shandy’ St. Michaels’ Theatre, New Ross Co. Wexford.
2006 ‘Three Degree’ 32 John Street, Kilkenny
2006 ‘A Brush in Hand’ St Michaels’ Theatre, New Ross Co. Wexford.
2007 ‘A Spot of Colour’ Cockleshell Gallery, The Fort, Duncannon, Co. Wexford.
2008 ‘A duo of Jewels’ St. Michaels’ Theatre, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
2009 'Close Up' Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford City.
