New exhibition of work from talented Ballybofey artist

Visual artist and poet, Maria Noonan McDermott is about to end a busy year with her latest exhibition entitled 'Time-Lapse'.

It has been in Ballyshannon, Enniskillen, and will be at the Alley Theatre in Strabane tomorrow, Monday, November 21 before further showings in 2023.

As usual, her stunning work has captured the imagination of art lovers and critics alike.

The Ballybofey-native who now resides in Kinlough reveals her artistic journey stems from her early childhood experiences.

“My mum Margaret (Maisie) was a fashion designer and would dress us in weird and wacky creations. My dad Jackie sailed around the world as a radio officer and would fill our heads with fascinating adventures and stories when writing home.

“Growing up in Ballybofey, we were nestled between rivers, woodlands, and fields. My dad referred to us as “the Alley cats’’ because we were wild and free. Drama and music were part of our upbringing and we reveled in them.
Our small community was surrounded by the most amazing characters and storytellers, so it was only natural for us to grow up with a great sense of wonderment with imaginations that were overstimulated.”

Maria was well in her teens when she decided to follow in her mum’s footsteps and went to college in Dublin to study fashion design.

“It was there that I understood my passion for creativity. Determined to find my own route, I returned to college to explore fine art and rekindle my love of painting and the use of palette knives which have been an extension of my body ever since.”

She joined the Balor Theatre group in Ballybofey in 1988 initially to work on sets and costumes but ended up working on all areas of stagecraft under the tutorage of Kieran Quinn and Jack Quinn.

“I also became a member of the Butt Drama Circle and toured extensively with their festival shows. As an integral member, I established youth drama workshops and we became affiliated with NAYD. It’s so nice to see that this has evolved and developed over the years to the success it is today.”

The work in the theatre inspired Maria to create her first body of work for a solo exhibition in Letterkenny in 1989.

“The response I received helped focus me on my current path. Hard to believe that that is now 33 years ago!”

Maria finds her inspiration in many places.

“I believe that art reflects life and we bring our personal self, an element of who we are to each and every work. My paintings represent, not only a visual impression but also my emotional response to the subject matter. The natural landscape around me, the quality of light and shade with its changing vistas, ignites possibilities that have influenced my work continuously over the years. I am inspired by the shared colloquial history of my island where stories and the people are often intermingled with the landscape.”

Maria paints mainly in oils or acrylics but over the years she has experimented and worked with many different mediums.

“My technique is primarily impressionistic in style as I slowly and gradually build layer upon layer, using the paint to build texture and structure to the work. There may also be an element of abstraction there. In my landscapes, the sky, sea and land can melt into one, and often my figurative paintings are devoid of features giving them a timeless element. In this way, they become as I am, rooted and ingrained in the land.”

She feels her art and poetry are intuitive.

“I paint and write what affects me in my everyday life. I believe art is about constantly questioning yourself and the world around you. I feel that my role as an artist is to explore new ways of authentically connecting with an audience, to bring joy, help inspire and make a difference.

“One of the biggest challenges is the financial considerations of being a full-time artist. The importance of having your work valued as a professional artist where your work is recognised for its artistic merit but also for its relevance and social importance.”

Maria's work has been seen at Hambly & Hambly Gallery, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh; Lahinch Art Gallery, Co Clare; Hamilton Gallery, Sligo; Gallery 1608, Bushmills, Co Antrim and The Leitrim Design House, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim. It is also held in private and corporate collections throughout Ireland, the UK and in locations across Europe and America.

Her current touring solo exhibition ‘Time-Lapse’ is one that is very close to her heart. This exhibition is an ongoing project that Maria has been unwittingly working towards over a number of years while helping care for her late mother living with Alzheimer's.

You can keep in touch with her career at her website: www.marianoonan-
mcdermott.com; on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/m.noonanmcdermott or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noonanmcdermott

If you get the chance call into the Alley Theatre/Arts and Conference Centre, Strabane anytime between the official opening at 3pm tomorrow, Monday, November 21 and December 23.

The exhibition will be officially opened by Dr Orla Noonan-Sweeney.