Johanna Lyons Artist

The part played by the local Community Arts Centre in promoting the Arts and cultural awareness within our community may not be apparent to many. It was something which struck me as I reviewed the events and exhibitions planned for the Woodstock Street Centre during the month of June. I was particularly pleased to see notice of an exhibition by local girl Johanna Lyons which started in the Community Arts Centre on Thursday, 13th June and which continues to the end of the following week. I have known Johanna for many years and during the long period she has been practising and perfecting her skill as an artist. From a very rudimentary, in effect a very basic start to her artistic career she has by dint of commitment and hard work become an artist of merit whose work I am privileged to have in my own personal collection. Johanna who was born in the Curragh came to Athy over forty years ago and now lives in Castle Park. She first attended art classes under Pascal Fitzpatrick in VTOS at a time when the Training Centre was located in the original Model School on the Dublin Road. She later attended Ormond College in Kilkenny and the combination of the two courses set her on an artistic path which she has travelled ever since. She works mostly in oil and produces work which can be regarded as excellent. Her Exhibition in the Athy Community Arts Centre is I believe her second Exhibition and promises to give us a rare insight into the work of a genuinely talented artist whose work has improved immeasurably over the years. This Exhibition which opened last Thursday continues this week. The picture with this weeks Eye on the Past is one of Johanna’s paintings which is privately owned but will hopefully be included in the Exhibition. Johanna Lyons’s solo Exhibition will be followed on Thursday, 20th June by an Exhibition of work by well known female artist including Elizabeth Cope, Eileen McDonagh, Ciara O’Keeffe, Emily Rainsford and Cathy Callan. This is just one of several events which will be held in the Athy Community Arts Centre and the Town Library in the week of the Johnny Marr Concert which will take place in the former Dreamland Ballroom. All the events over a two week period are supported by Kildare County Council and the Athy Community Arts Centre in conjunction with Athy Photographic Society and promises to deliver a wonderful backdrop to the revival of dance hall days memories which will flow from the Johnny Marr concert in Athy’s former dancing mecca. An interesting addition to Athy’s written word is the Made of Athy Guide and map which will be launched in the Athy Community Arts Centre on Friday following the Marr Concert the previous day. A musical event which will form part of the guide launch will be a performance by Castledermot resident, Chris Swaine who is presently compiling an album of original songs. Chris whose musical genre has been described as somewhere between country and soft rock has previously performed in the Community Arts Centre. He will be joined by Athy’s own Carmel Day for a concert in the Centre before the end of the year. In the meantime, do visit the Johanna Lyons Exhibition in the Athy Community Arts Centre and show your support for a local artist who can justifiably be proud of her work.