Hamilton Gallery countdown to our St Brigid’s Day exhibition at 12 Star Gallery, Europe House London, is underway.

The exhibition will open to the public from January 23rd and run until February 1st, St Brigid’s Day, and it is part of the Irish Embassy in London’s St Brigid’s Day Celebration of Women and creativity.

In the run up to our opening night in London we bring you a daily blog with a selection of the 90 works by Irish women artists that will be shown at the exhibition.

We will include interviews and insights from the artists involved as well as other news and developments relating to events at the 12 Star Gallery in London which will occur in compliment to the exhibition.

Today our featured artists are Mary Rohan, Una Sealy, Bettina Seitz, Angie Shanahan and Anita Shelbourne.

We also include the poem “A Single Rose” by Leland Bardwell. Leland’s poem “St Brigid’s Day 1989” was circulated to all participating artists as the thematic inspiration for the exhibition.

Mary Rohan, born in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary.  Living in County Sligo since 1993.  Exhibited with various galleries - Kilcock Gallery, Co. Kildare. Oisin Gallery and Solomon Gallery, Dublin and Hamilton Gallery, Sligo.

“ My inspiration in Leland Bardwell’s poem is nature based.  The women celebrating in the landscape, the coming of Spring, Brigid’s day.  Her poem evokes images of the ritual gathering of the rushes, and the making of St. Brigid’s crosses.”

Una Sealy Born in Dublin where she still lives. A graduate of Dun Laoghaire College of Art (now IADT). She is a full member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and a tutor at the RHA School.

 I spent holidays as a child in my grandmother’s cottage in Donegal, and still go there with my own family. The black iron beds remain, and the only décor is the St Brigid’s crosses, made from rushes long ago.

Bettina Seitz: Born 1963 in Lohr, Germany, now lives in Sligo, Ireland.  Studied sculpture in Germany and Italy from 1988-1993.  Since 1992 national and international exhibitions, public and private commissions, work in numerous collections around the world.

 “The artwork is inspired by the legend of St. Brigid's cloak - the expanding cloth as a metaphor for the importance of spirituality, female energy and ancient rituals for our times.”

Angela Shanahan

Graduated Crawford College of Art and Design 1980's.  Award winning painter. Work in private and public collections.  Studio in Cork City, works frequently in West Cork and Italy.   Has collaborated with writers and poets

 To the Lake St Brigid's Day.

Winter; a flooded track, sliver of light on distant lake.

Words on slender branches lead skyward, women's ‘voices whip the air’

Crow; symbol of prophecy, Brigid cross floats; say YES 2018.

Anita Shelbourne: Anita studied at the NCAD, Trinity College, and London. Notable awards Irish Arts Council Bursary, the De Veres Award for Distinction, Irish Arts Council Bursary 2018.  Collections in Irish Embassy in South Korea, Greece, and Japan, also Bank of Ireland and AIB.  Currently showing in Taylor’s Gallery Dublin.

 “Research showed St Brigid was a Celtic goddess - painting wanted to emphasise this showing she was both human and angelic.”