On the Town: Thoughts turned to seasides and long summer days as sunlight streamed in through the open french doors of the Jorgensen Fine Art gallery at the opening of its summer exhibition this week.
A painting by the late Sir Gerald Festus Kelly, On the Beach, was chosen by arts consultant Ciarán MacGonigal as one of his favourites in the show. "I suppose it reminds me of childhood and nostalgia. It's like Ardmore [ in Co Waterford]," he said. He recalled meeting the artist, who died in 1972. "He was very, very grand," he said.
David Britton, former owner of the Frederick Gallery on Dublin's South Frederick Street, which closed after 11 years last month, was among those who came to enjoy the collection of 60 pieces by both dead and living artists. Britton, who is now a director of James Adams Auctioneers, said he especially loved the Still Life painting by Martin Mooney. This artist, who is based in Donegal, has a big show coming up in New York later this year, he explained.
The Slovenian ambassador, Franc Miksa, who has just arrived in Ireland to take up his post having handed in his credentials to President Mary McAleese early last month, was also present. The colours in the small painting by Mildred Anne Butler, called The Spring Garden, Kilmurry, "are all in harmony", he said. "I like the light and the perspective. It's so romantic and lovely."
Others at the show included JJ Gibbons, an art dealer from Clara in Co Offaly; Dr Risteárd Mulcahy, the retired cardiologist; Campbell Bruce, chair of the Contemporary Irish Arts' Society and his wife, artist Jackie Stanley (Bruce said he especially liked the piece by Sean Shanahan and the two paintings by Barrie Cooke); John Ratajkowski, an American painter from San Diego, and PR consultant Dermott Barrett. The artists Rose Stapleton and John Brobbel were also there.
The Summer Exhibition at Jorgensen Fine Art, 29 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, runs until Sat, Aug 27