The Equal Of This Bull - Exhibition By Lucy Phelan
Blackwater Valley Makers Gallery, 12 McCurtain St., Fermoy, Co. Cork
Sat 15 Feb 2025 - Mon 31 Mar 2025 (note: this event has already taken place)
10am
FREE
“The Equal Of This Bull.”
An Exhibition by Lucy Phelan.
Incorporating the Launch of the New Project Gallery
at Blackwater Valley Makers, Fermoy.
There are exciting things happening in Fermoy, culture wise, over the next few months. Fermoy is already noted for its cultural diversity, community choirs, writers, artists and crafts people as well as a really interesting range of independent shops and cafes. To add to all of this, the historic North Cork town is to have a new pop up Project Gallery hosted by the very popular Blackwater Valley Makers at 12 McCurtain Street in the heart of the place.
If you don’t know who the Blackwater Valley Makers are then this is your cheat sheet. In 2016 a group of North Cork makers came together to highlight the work of local artists craftspeople and designers. ”There is a growing need in Ireland to protect and maintain the work and environment of individual artists and craftspeople,“ said Suzanne O’Sullivan, Artistic Director and a founding member of BVM. “So much precious work is now designed in Ireland but many purchases are manufactured abroad.
Gallery space for original art is in very short supply. It is essential that small art and craft producers are supported and that we are able to keep our heritage and traditions alive”.
A space like BVM also provides a hub for cultural interactions, a meeting place for makers and artists to hatch plans as well as providing a revenue opportunity for the makers.
So what is happening with this new Project Gallery at Blackwater Valley Makers? We asked Suzanne how the new space came about. “We have a large industrial looking space above our gallery and shop. To be honest it had become a bit of a dumping ground and we wanted to do something with the space that would add to our cultural reach.” It was in conversation with local Glanworth artist Lucy Phelan that the idea of a Project Gallery space was born. Lucy felt that there was a need for a space where artists could plan and develop exhibitions, performances, installations and workshops.
“So many good ideas don’t get made because there is nowhere to try out the concept before approaching a gallery or a theatre” Lucy said.”Hopefully this space will provide a valuable facility for local artists and also encourage interaction with artists from outside the region.”
Using the new Project Gallery as a base, ‘Women Make Art’ curated by Lucy Phelan will document the creative journeys of 6 women who each take on the space for a three month period. You can follow their progress on social media or visit Blackwater Valley Makers to find out more about the artist’s talks and workshops.
Lucy Phelan is launching the space with a Pilot Exhibition ‘The Equal of this Bull’ based on stories from the Ta?in from mid February with artists talks about the work and the Project Gallery happening most Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm, until the end of March, 2025.
Blackwater Valley Makers open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
