Environmental Exhibition Shortlisted for National Awards

Work draws on impact of energy production at Erris in north Co. Mayo and Ogoni in Nigeria.

                                 Giselle Harvey, left, creator of 'The Beating of a Heart' exhibition, inconversation with Sr. Majella McCarron, OLA.

An exhibition titled ‘The Beating of a Heart’ by textile artist Giselle Harvey has been shortlisted for the RDS Visual Arts Awards which are due to be held in October. The exhibition focuses on textile localization, community sustainability and economic development.

Giselle was in Erris, north County Mayo during the years of the Corrib gas project. Sr. Majella McCarron, OLA also spent some time in the Erris area while the project was on-going. Sr. Majella had been previously involved with the Ogoni people's campaign against oil production over twenty years ago in Nigeria.

The exhibiton looks at the sustainability of two local rescources - gas and wool while sharing some experiences of the local communities in Mayo and Nigeria.

Sr. Majella visited the exhibition recently and observed that the exhibiton is a reminder of "how Ireland produced a lot of woven cloth from sheep's wool. This changed with industrialization and bigger machines. Giselle's work highlighted how the skills of spinning and weaving are dying out."

She concluded that localization and sustainability are key.  "The exhibition illustrates that we have to examine our local place and see what resources are within our own location. A community needs to decide if these resources can be developed in a sustainable way for the benefit of the local community."

The exhibition is open to the public and continues in the GMIT Art College, Galway until June 5th. 

Giselle may be contacted by email: gc.harvey@gmail.com

Further information on the exhibition is available here 

                                           Giselle Harvey, left, creator of 'The Beating of a Heart' exhibition, pictured with Sr. Majella McCarron, OLA.