On Culture Night, Friday 17th September, the Arts Department of Wexford County Council and Wexford Arts Centre are pleased to present Whatever, the bi-annual Arts Ability initiative in CUMAS, New Ross.
Thomas Martin is a poet, a painter, a writer and an illustrator, who lives in Co. Wexford. He is a foundin member of the Arts Ability group at Cumas New Ross.
Marie Holohan is a founding member of the Arts Ability Studio group at CUMAS. A meticulous painter, Marie’s work features surreal patterns and vibrant colours to create vivid, detailed paintings which build highly imaginative and dreamlike landscapes.
The title of this exhibition was prompted by artist Andrew Murphy’s concept of the bandaged sky and the rainbow, referenced in the writing of another participant in the exhibition – the writer/artist John D. Yates.
As Ever brings together selected poems by John D. Yates, a participant in Wexford County Council’s Arts Ability Creative Writing programme.
The poetry and prose contained in this new publication provides us with a glimpse of the diversity and richness of a ‘Creative Writing’ programme which represents the hopes, dreams, observations, rituals and humour of over forty writers based in Kilagooley Training and Activation Unit ( KTAC ) in Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
Climbing Mountains in our Minds is a new collection of poetry, prose and photographs about life in St. Senan’s Hospital, Enniscorthy. The book was commissioned to coincide with ongoing changes to the mental health services in the South-East, which incorporates the closing of St. Senan’s Hospital after more than a hundred and fifty years in operation.
True Colours is a significant exhibition for the Arts Ability artists as it is their first exhibition outside of the southeast of Ireland.
Extracts from an anthology of original work by the K.T.A.C writers was published in 2008. It comprised of a lively mixture of poetry, prose and monologues. The book sold out quickly but continues to be available through public libraries.