‘Fadó Faces’ is an outdoor drive-by art exhibition celebrating the lives and stories of older people in Laois, through traditional portrait painting and digital art by a selection of local Laois artists.
Sean Ward, Fisherstown and his portrait by Bronagh Conroy at the Fad Faces outdoor drive-by art exhibition supported by Creative Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. The exhibition celebrated the lives and stories of older people in Laois, through traditional portrait painting and digital art by a selection of local artists on SundayÊ18th July at Laois Co. Council Plaza.Ê
Picture: Alf Harvey.
The exhibition took place on Sunday 18th July 11am-4pm at Laois Co. Council Plaza and included Laois artists Kevin McCann (Ballyfin), Rebecca Deegan (Portlaoise), Pauline Conroy (Ballybrittas), Mike Rafter (Castletown), Aishling Hennessy (The Heath), Antoinette Breen (Castletown), Allen Scully (Portlaoise), Bronagh Conroy, (Ballybrittas), Kate Deegan (The Heath), and Sorcha Mathews (Portarlington).
Laois Arts Officer Muireann Ni Chonaill with artists and helpers at the Fadó Faces outdoor drive-by art exhibition supported by Creative Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. The exhibition celebrated the lives and stories of older people in Laois, through traditional portrait painting and digital art by a selection of local artists on SundayÊ18th July at Laois Co. Council Plaza.Ê
Picture: Alf Harvey.
At the exhibition’s recent photo launch, Laois Arts Officer, Muireann Ni Chonaill said:
“Fadó Faces is a fresh take on an art exhibition. The unique feature is the drive-by aspect, with the audience invited to view the work either as they drive by or on foot for a closer look. The range of portraits that will be exhibited is a credit to the artists who created them and homage to the sitters, all older people in the county who had stories to share in the course of sitting for the portraits. Their interesting faces are full of character. Full credit is due to the organisers of this unique and thoughtful exhibition.”
Working with portraiture, the artists have captured the image of their neighbours, family members and friends to celebrate the elderly in Laois and in particular in light of how older people in our communities have been cocooning at home over the last year.
Artists Bronagh Conroy, Sorcha Mathews and Kate Deegan at the Fadó Faces outdoor drive-by art exhibition supported by Creative Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. The exhibition celebrated the lives and stories of older people in Laois, through traditional portrait painting and digital art by a selection of local artists on SundayÊ18th July at Laois Co. Council Plaza.Ê
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Exhibition artist, Rebecca Deegan and one of the organiser’s said:
“Since the exhibition is a celebration of our older Laois people, we thought portraiture would be a lovely way to connect the artists with their subjects. Portraiture is very much a broad theme, it is interesting to see the variations in style, medium and composition throughout the work. The artists photographed and recorded stories from each of the people involved, which will be printed up beside the finished portraits. The stories and experiences of people growing up in the 1930s, 40s and 50s are vastly different to those of people growing up in the 21st century. As artists, it was of great interest to us to find a creative and unique way to tell & preserve these stories.”
The artists plan for ‘Fadó Faces’ to become an annual event with a showcase of twenty or more portraits and stories of older people in Laois. This will lead to a rich and diverse archive celebrating the lives and valuable stories of people within our communities.
Iva Wright, Portlaoise enjoys her portrait with Millie by artist Pauline Conroy at the Fadó Faces outdoor drive-by art exhibition supported by Creative Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. The exhibition celebrated the lives and stories of older people in Laois, through traditional portrait painting and digital art by a selection of local artists on SundayÊ18th July at Laois Co. Council Plaza.Ê
Picture: Alf Harvey.