Rambling into Culture: A Month of Art, Music, and Community

From grant applications to vibrant exhibitions and lively performances, the Rambling House Group continues to enrich and inspire through creativity and connection

The Beautiful – Claremorris Visual Arts Community @ Ballina Arts Centre from 8 January to 15 March 2025

Thursday Night, February 13th the Rambling House Group hosted a very productive meeting. Our grant application to the National Lottery Fund was being submitted for consideration on the following morning.

If successful: this funding will be channeled towards the procurement of speakers on cultural events; such as published authors/artists sharing insights into their achievements.

Tutorials on The History of Art would broaden the dynamics of our group, making it accessible and more inclusive to a wider reaching audience. Extending invitations to Musicians, Poets and Practisioners trained in the Holistic Approach, were some more of the ideas we debated.

Fun and novel ideas were floated too: including Colour Me Beautiful, Dream Interpretation; Enneagram of Personality, Find Your Ancestors; Needle Felting, Quilting and Willow Basket Weaving. The enthusiasm of our Ramblers is infectious!

February 19th 2025
My Rambling feet took a friend who isn't a Rambler: although she is an amateur artist, and myself, who isn't an artist at all; to view the current exhibitions available at the Ballina Arts Centre. The submissions: covering four different mediums of art, were produced by a group of three ladies from Claremorris; who's work comes under the banner; Claremorris Visiual Arts Community. "The Beautiful", and solo artist Louise Shearer.

Ann Ward is a painter and sculptor. She works in mixed media; exploring everyday contemporary culture and society.

Christine Lynn is a self-taught artist who specialises in stained glass and is influenced by the Tiffany style.

Anna O. Dixon is a mixed media painter intrested in the biodiversity of the West of Ireland, where she takes her inspiration from.

"The Birds Always Sings" is the solo work of Louise Shearer, a native of Co. Wicklow. Her acrylic abstract art exhibition is based on and around bird song.

The above mentioned showpieces: together with splatter action painting, created by a male artist, not listed, were on display in the Concourse Gallery and Main Gallery respectively. The body of work which absorbed my attention the most was Christine Lynn's colourfully produced Mosaics and Anna O. Dixon's paintings called "Wild Meadows". I found the splatter action abstract pieces facinating also. What an interesting and enjoyable morning we had!

The Rambling House Group would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to parents, Melissa Mc Andrew and Sinéad Cleary for allowing daughters, Lily and Éimear and her sisters to entertain us with their beautiful Irish step-dancing and singing. This very special and enjoyable social occasion took place on Thursday February 27th. Music was provided for the dancers, by Melissa and Lily's cousin, Antoinette Hoban. Well done to all involved in our soirée.