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€1m art collection donated to WIT Posted: Tue, November 15, 2005 |
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A collection of 200 works including tapestries, wall hangings, watercolours and sketches by renowned Irish artist Pauline Bewick is to be permanently housed in the Walton Building at Waterford Institute of Technology's Cork Road campus from September 2006.
Ms Bewick is donating the collection, the value of which is estimated at €1m, to the State with the proviso that it be permanently exhibited in Waterford where she has chosen the recently opened Walton Building as the ideal setting.
Born in 1935 and painting since the age of two, Bewick is long established as one of Ireland's leading contemporary artists. Based in Kerry, she enjoys international acclaim for her unique style and vibrant work which has been described as Picasso-like. Her daughters Poppy and Holly are also talented artists.
Waterford was initially proposed to Ms Bewick as a suitable location for her collection by Dr Abdul Bulbulia of the Waterford Healing Arts Trust and Claire and Pat Keegan of Solo Arte, the gallery on the main Waterford-Tramore road which is committed to providing local access to the best of contemporary Irish and European art.
Welcoming Ms Bewick's gift of such a large collection to the State for display at the Waterford Institute of Technology as a "magnificent and generous gesture", Prof Kieran R Byrne, Director, Waterford Institute of Technology said it arose from a genuine concern on the part of the artist to make her work accessible to the widest possible range of people.
"This Institute is honoured to have so substantial a collection of colourful contemporary art coming to us in less than a year from now. Pauline Bewick's works will brighten and grace our campus for many years to come and be viewed by literally thousands of students and staff as well as by members of the external community.
"Our learning environment will be enhanced considerably in so many ways and the collection will expose our students to the work of a living artist in a very real way. Intellectual maturity stems from a variety of exchanges and the aesthetic experience is central in that regard; particularly at a time when a materialistic culture threatens to consume us. The spirit and idealism of young people are to be cherished and exposure to the work of Pauline Bewick in this way will be of immense value," Prof. Byrne continued.
"We also view this gift as an endorsement for our School of Humanities and would hope that Ms Bewick can work with our art and design students and staff in the future. Too often in the past, our literary and visual artists have only been recognised after their deaths. I hope and anticipate that the permanent housing of the Bewick collection in Waterford will help ensure that Pauline Bewick wins the recognition she deserves while she is still very much alive and well.
"The generosity of spirit that underpins this gift to the State is a credit to the artist and also owes much to the friendships she has formed with Dr Bulbulia and the team at Solo Arte. Waterford is fortunate to be receiving this tremendous gift and a flavour of what we can expect to see here in September next will be provided later this month by the launch of Ms Bewick's book, 'Pauline Bewick, Seven Ages' which features work from each period in her almost seven decades in art."
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