Mayor visits thought-provoking new art exhibition in The Alley
13 April 2023
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council was delighted to visit a new emotive and thought-provoking exhibition in Strabane over the Easter holidays.
Mayor, Cllr Sandra Duffy, enjoyed and exclusive tour of the latest exhibition, Tribes & Tribulations, in The Alley Theatre on Good Friday from Curator, Noelle McAlinden.
The solo exhibition by award winning Wexford based artist, Helen Merrigan Colfer features 30 uniquely crafted resin and mixed media sculptures, paintings, poetry as well as the emotively charged, Lockdown Diary. Additionally, the exhibition is centred around five unique sculptures celebrating the sanctuary in finding compassion, community and connection. It is inspired by finding our own tribes and those around us who support us through life’s challenges and tribulations.
Mayor Duffy thanked Noelle for the opportunity and praised the fantastic work of artist, Helen Merrigan Colfer.
“I was delighted to visit this stunning exhibition and spend the afternoon learning all about the work of Wexford artist, Helen Merrigan Colfer. Noelle created an incredibly welcoming and personal experience and had an abundance of knowledge which I just loved soaking in.
“Something that stood out to me was the Lockdown Diary. Lockdown and the Covid pandemic separated us from our communities, our tribes. It created a lot of tribulations for a lot of people across the entire globe. While we were all kept apart, we were all experiencing similar difficulties. It might seem like a long time ago now as we have adapted back to our normal lives, but it’s important to reflect on that time and realise how important our ‘tribes’ are. We need our own communities more so than ever.”
Curator, Noelle explained the inspiration behind the exhibition and why she has such a strong connection to the work of Helen Merrigan Colfer.
“The exhibition is about celebrating life in the face of adversity, the power of arts and culture, creativity, self-expression and connection. It unites us regardless of age, stage, cultural or religious background. I have always been passionate about the importance of the arts, and the power it has on our mental health so I was incredibly excited to work with Helen and display her fantastic work.”
Described as ‘a delight’ and an ‘unusual exhibit’ from the Belfast Telegraph and the Sunday Times, the exhibition has gained support from some well-known locals. Comedian and actor, Kevin McAleer, has visited as well as Maurice Harron, internationally renowned artist, and Singer Songwriter Victoria Geelan. While the exhibition has featured in different locations across Ireland, The Alley Theatre has a few bespoke and exclusive pieces that people will not want to miss.
The exhibition was officially opened on Saturday 25th March and is on display until Friday 21st April.
For more information, or to view the full Spring Programme in The Alley Theatre, please visit www.alley-theatre.com