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The John O’Leary Fine Art Graduate Award 2009

Graduate Cathal McGinley Wins Coveted Award

The presentation of the John O’Leary Fine Art Graduate Award which honours the late Sligo based artist and lecturer, John O’Leary, took place last Thursday evening, 4th June at the Art and Design Honours Degree Show in the Fine Art and Design Department, Institute of Technology, Sligo.
 
This award was introduced by Sligo County Council in the current Space for Art Sligo Arts Plan 2007-2012 and is delivered in partnership with the Fine Art Department, Institute of Technology Sligo and the Sligo Art Gallery, to recognise excellence in the visual arts at under-graduate level.

This annual award supports a graduate in preparing for their first exhibition in Sligo Art Gallery planned for late 2010.  Cathal McGinley from Ramelton, Co. Donegal was announced as the award winning artist for his exhibition ‘Ó Ghleann Go Cnoc’ by Aine O’Gara Salter, President of the Sligo Art Gallery and presented with a cheque as a starter fund to prepare for the upcoming solo exhibition. Grace O’Leary wife of the late John O’Leary, tutor and mentor to so many students in the IT Fine Art Department over the years was also present.

The award is valued at over €7,000; €6,000 from Sligo County Council and both space and extra support, financial and otherwise from Sligo Art Gallery and the Fine Art Department of IT Sligo.

The adjudication panel noted that the winning artist demonstrated a sense of finesse and fluency with high artistic sensibility. They continued to say that the artist made a clear and informed point of connect with Sligo Art Gallery and his proposal echoes the artist’s discipline and ambitions.

Cathal McGinley commented that during the course of this year, he has attempted to develop his own visual language through the medium of folded paper. ‘In Origami the term mountain and valley folds’ he states, ‘is the traditional name given for pleated paper’. His winning installation is called ‘Ó Ghleann Go Cnoc’ from valley to mountain. Though this may refer to the surrounding landscape or that of McGinely’s home of Ramelton, Co. Donegal, his inspiration can come from a conversation with or stories told by people within these valleys and mountains. McGinley draws from these experiences and he then folds paper, simply letting the subconscious lead. These act as a starting point that lead him to make subconsciously sought constructions that evolve with the manipulation of the paper. His installations would ideally be placed in a darkened or naturally lit environment to gain the full effect of the shadows created by the cut or illuminated forms.

McGinley who has been accepted into a 2 year Masters in Applied Fine Art in University of Ulster, Belfast will exhibit in the Sligo Art Gallery in late 2010. The adjudication panel comprised of a representative from each of the three partners, the Fine Art Department of the Institute of Technology, Sligo Art Gallery and Sligo County Council Arts Service together with guest panel member, independent curator Cliodhna Shaffrey. They hope that the work will inspire future graduates to strive for quality of presentation and artistic excellence.

Cathal McGinley’s work will be part of An Cosán Glas’ Sculpture Trail on Magheroarty Beach in the Earagail Arts Festival, a trail from 10pm to midnight on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July, 2009. www.eaf.ie.   

For more information on the award contact Sligo Arts Service on 071 911 1826 or www.sligococo.ie/arts  and for information on the Fine Art Diploma and Degree courses in IT Sligo contact 071 9155222 or log onto their website www.itsligo.ie.

Cathal McGinley from Ramelton, Co. Donegal, winner of the 2009 John O’Leary Fine Art Graduate Award at Institute of Technology, Sligo with his work at the BA (Hons) in Fine Art Degree Show at Institute of Technology, Sligo
- Cathal McGinley from Ramelton, Co. Donegal, winner of the 2009 John O’Leary Fine Art Graduate Award at Institute of Technology, Sligo with his work at the  BA (Hons) in Fine Art Degree Show at Institute of Technology, Sligo.

Cathal McGinley from Ramelton, Co. Donegal, winner of the 2009 John O’Leary Fine Art Graduate Award receiving his award at Institute of Technology, Sligo
- Cathal McGinley from Ramelton, Co. Donegal, winner of the 2009 John O’Leary Fine Art Graduate Award receiving his award at Institute of Technology, Sligo from Dr Perry Share, Head of Department of Humanities Institute of Technology, Sligo (l) and Aine O’Gara Salter, President of the Sligo Art Gallery
 
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