Joanne Behan – Niamh O'Connor Art

This long brass key IS the key of change

I was telling you all recently how I was going to jump in feet first to a productive Autumn “Art wise”….well best laid plans of mice and men (Squeek!) the Second of September came and went, I did go into my garden studio, I pottered a bit, I played a little, I tidied up a bit but really I couldn’t just get down to IT! I have been finding it so bloody difficult to concentrate on my work and actually be regimented with myself after a long lazy summer, I said to myself – I need a kick-start, something to put a bomb under me and get me moving…. I wondered were it was going to come from!

Recently in Clones (North Co. Monaghan) they hosted their very first Culture Night, this is part of a larger event held across the length and breath of Ireland on the 19th of September which sees Studios, Theatre’s, Print works, Workshops, Galleries and Museums all open their doors and engage and educate audiences to the breath of Arts and Crafts in the country.

The Clones event which was officially opened by our new Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, was a great success and happily I had been asked to contribute by exhibiting some of my Encaustic paintings in the very wonderful modern Library which was the host venue for the evenings main events. I had long ago heard of a Artist Studio Space taking over the old Post Office in Clones Town, the wonderful old building built in 1903 ceased operating as a postal sorting office a couple of years ago and it was damaged in a fire some time ago too but with great faith and vision Monaghan based Artists Eileen Ferguson and Joanne Behan took over the Lease of this old beauty and the Clones Post Office Studios were born – check out their website here: http://clonesartstudios.com/home .

Recently partially renovated, the Clones Art Studio is marketed as an affordable working space for artists but its actually more then that, its airy AND antiquated with high ceilings and wonderful light and little reminders of its previous existence in every corner with old wooden sorting boxes and tables still being used today. Its also my Kick up the butt!!!! After speaking to Joanne Behan on the evening of the Culture Night in the Town I have decided to make a real commitment to getting myself back on track with a self appointed residency if you will – so with real determination I moved boxes yesterday and started work today! I’m now officially a Post Office Artist, working in a small but perfect room just off the original large Sorting Office.