Chris O'Brien Shanahan

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Press Review

Punchinello: Garter Lane Arts Centre

Munster Express - Review: Punchinello, Friday, 7 August 2008, by Liam Murphy

At face value, the exhibition Punchinello, at Garter Lane Theatre, is aimed at chaildren as part of their exciting pre-Spraoi series of family events, SprÓg. But you would miss a fine fun and progressive art experience.
All the way in from the street there are colourful flower patterns from Spraoi in the Park, creating a visual thrill and huge Punch and Judy heads adorn the foyer and entrance to the gallery. Recycling seems to be a theme in the arts this year with Galway featuring reheats and repeats, and Kilkenny in a similar vein.
No matter … in the gallery, the nature conservation work of Chris O’Brien Shanahan, sets a beautiful tone with a Walkway and Weave montage. Gabriella Eviston has a selection of acrylic on board around the theme of Wind.
Joe Moran has some cast bronze small heads and two fantasy sculptures from scrap. Steel Dog used car bumpers and bicycle parts as did Bird Skrapparts to create a great talking point.
Philip Cullen has created wonderful cut-outs in a carton style to give a dancing effect.
Ben Hennessy’s Lost Ark work used video/digital imagery on a screen to present a wonderful exciting set of expressive images.  In front of the screen is an impressive big Buddha Bag to sit into. Ben would make a splendid illustrator and it is a great experience to sit and enjoy the screen, especially the Two Headed Giraffe, Lost Animal and an amazing Boy With The Moon On a Red String.
This exhibition runs until the end of August and it is a joy to enjoy.

Other reviews

Munster Express - Review: Municipal Art Shows, Friday, 28 November 2008, by Liam Murphy

The Chris O'Brien Shanahan show, Dreamcatcher, at the Index Gallery, is an excellent mixed media event in a busy space. Work that draws on similarities between places like Australia and Fenor, gives the casual viewer an experience of the dot style of Aboriginal art in three studies, DREAMING BENEATH THE WILLOW, with its chalky tree and rich dot pastels. Natural patterns attract Shanahan's attention and that is evident in skylines and boglands as in FENOR WEAVE.
A beautiful photographic book reproduces a most varied study of Fenor Bog - a book that just cries out for a publisher to bring the work to a larger audience. The contrasts in two TRAMORE SKYLINES catch, not only the dreams and possibilities of summer, but the colder resonances of winter in a favourite place.
GOING INTO THE ISLAND is a site specific central space featuring a pattern of stones and shells that is invitingly tactile and to reposition a stone would not wreck the universe. This piece has grades of detail and subtle earth tones. - link to original review online | photos Cecilia @ CCImages

Munster Express Review of Festival | LIVE Art, IMAGINE Arts Festival, work shown at Greyfriars