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In July Newry will play host to an exhibition of original paintings, prints and music by Northumbrian landscape artist and traditional musician, Martin Matthews.
The Exhibition will be on view at the Sean Holywood Arts Centre from the 1st to the 27th of July.
Martin, from Lanchester, Durham, is no stranger to Newry; he has been a regular visitor since the 1970s after his marriage to Newry born Maria, (nee Trainor). He is delighted to have secured Newry Arts Centre as the inaugural host for his first solo touring exhibition. Commencing July 1st, for one month, the tour continues throughout the summer, with visits to Penrith, Bishop Auckland, and Washington before ending in January 2014 at the World Heritage Centre in Durham City. Themed around familiar landscapes, walked, photographed and sketched from family holidays and walks in the Mournes, the route loosely follows the Mourne Wall in County Down and Hadrian’s Wall, ending at Lindisfarne, Holy Island on the north Northumberland coast.
After a career in business and teaching art in Manchester and Durham and tutoring music on the Folk and Traditional Music degree at Newcastle University, Martin admits he has been fortunate to enlist the help of his sister-in-law, Kate O’Hanlon of Windsor Avenue, Newry, to stage this event and has been lucky to be able to call on the musical skills of his brother in law, Donal O’Hanlon, who joins him on several recordings on the accompanying CD. New contemporary folk melodies have been composed by Martin and some of his guest musicians to accompany each painting, and a video/audio installation will be on hand to highlight the link between music and image. Martin’s music, featuring traditional bagpipe and fiddle, highlights the similarity that is found in the light and geology of the common landscape of his paintings en route between Carlingford and Lindisfarne.
The exhibition is one of several events celebrating the return to Durham this summer, of the world famous illuminated Gospels of Lindisfarne and St. Cuthbert. It will re-enforce the ancient link between the Celtic Christianity of Armagh, Iona and Lindisfarne. The Gospels, similar in many ways to the Book of Kells, are to be exhibited for the first time outside the British Museum in Durham University during July, August and September. One final is yet to be confirmed: The Celtic Connections 2014 International Festival, Glasgow, a fitting end to an epic eight month tour.
Martin’s work, originals, limited edition prints and CDs will be for sale during the exhibition. For details of opening times for the Exhibition, contact Sean Hollywood Arts Centre on 028 3031 3180, or email: Jacqueline.turley@newryandmourne.gov.uk.
Wall to Wall
The exhibition is of original paintings, prints and newly composed music by Northumbrian artist and musician, Martin Matthews. Experience this journey from Lindisfarne via Hadrian’s Wall and the Mourne Wall to journey’s end, Carlingford, County Louth, through the media of music and paint. This touring exhibition features recorded music and film and where possible a live concert performance.
Martin Matthews’ Wall to Wall Band
Gerry Kaley (Guitar, Vocals) Paul Martin (Highland, Uilleann and Border Pipes, whistles, mandolin & bodhran) Dan Hands (fiddle and Keyboards) Sean Taylor (Bass and Guitar): all have come together to help realise the music and song specially written by Martin Matthews (Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, Cittern and Guitars) and members of the band for his touring exhibition of Paintings and Music titled Wall to Wall. Hadrian’s Wall at 73 miles long and the Mourne Wall, at 22 miles are the two monumental structures that link this musical journey.
Exploring the traditions of the fiddle and bagpipe music of Northumberland, the Scottish Borders and Ireland, Martin, with help from many of the contributing musicians, has composed a suite of contemporary folk melodies themed around the traditional music found en route between Lindisfarne in Northumberland, and Oriel, the ancient kingdom of South East Ulster and Leinster. This high octane mix of jigs, reels, airs, marches, along with traditional and original songs by Gerry Kaley, will surely set pulses racing and feet tapping.
