Flowerfield Arts Centre is delighted to host a new exhibition On Growing Old by local artist Harry McMahon.
From first brush strokes to new ideas this carefully curated exhibition features seven selected groups of paintings spanning Harry’s Journey of nearly 50 years, giving an insight into the stages of his creative development.
Harry, now a retired Professor of Education from Ulster University, opens to scrutiny his experience as a growing artist, starting with ‘Tentative Steps 1968 – 1979’, when as an untutored beginner he dabbled in oils.
The exhibition then moves through ‘Watercolours 1980 – 2000’, when his work was of a standard to feature in several solo and group exhibitions; and on into ‘Taking it Seriously 2000 – 2006’, which features work produced during Harry’s degree studies which led to a First in Fine and Applied Art at Ulster University.
In ‘Back to Oils 2006 -2024’ Harry, now professionally qualified, returns to his first love of the Irish landscape in oils, before ‘Breaking Away 2017 – 2024’ into science and mathematics, into movie land and into abstracts. The penultimate group of paintings on show were produced ‘In Good Company 2022 -2025’ on Inishlacken and at Annaghmakerrig.
Finally (and for the time being) the paintings grouped in ‘Still Growing 2023 – 2025’ show how the artist is still finding new avenues for exploration, new things that are starting to happen: the manipulation of time; events both real and imaginary; a hint of surrealism.
We invite you to join us for the official launch on Saturday 13th September, from 12noon, and the exhibition will run until Saturday 25th October. Proceeds from sales of work will be donated to Marie Curie in recognition of the care given to his wife Anne, and Harry, in the last months of her life.
Flowerfield Arts Centre welcomes visitors during regular gallery hours, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm, with extended hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
The On Growing Old is part of Flowerfield Arts Centre’s September - December programme, which also features a wide range of live music, comedy, film, creative workshops and festive activities including the return of the much-anticipated Christmas Craft Market.
For more information about On Growing Old exhibition and Flowerfield Arts Centre September – December programme, please visit flowerfield.org or call 028 7083 1400. The programme is also available for pick up at the Arts Centre.
Harry McMahon – Au Revoir Inishlacken