Chris O'Brien Shanahan

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Press Review

dreamcatcher:- Index Gallery, Waterford City Council Central Library

Munster Express Review: Municipal Art Shows

Friday, November 28th, 2008, by Liam Murphy

The Chris O'Brien Shanahan show, Dreamcatcher, at the Index Gallery, is an excellent mixed media event in a busy space. Work that draws on similarities between places like Australia and Fenor, gives the casual viewer an experience of the dot style of Aboriginal art in three studies, DREAMING BENEATH THE WILLOW, with its chalky tree and rich dot pastels.

Natural patterns attract Shanahan's attention and that is evident in skylines and boglands as in FENOR WEAVE. A beautiful photographic book reproduces a most varied study of Fenor Bog - a book that just cries out for a publisher to bring the work to a larger audience.

The contrasts in two TRAMORE SKYLINES catch, not only the dreams and possibilities of summer, but the colder resonances of winter in a favourite place.

GOING INTO THE ISLAND is a site specific central space featuring a pattern of stones and shells that is invitingly tactile and to reposition a stone would not wreck the universe. This piece has grades of detail and subtle earth tones.

link to original review online | photos Cecilia @ CCImages

Other reviews

LIVE Art, open art studio, IMAGINE Arts Festival, Waterford, work shown at Greyfriars Gallery | Munster Express Review of Festival