Sisters Susan and Elizabeth Yeats were in the vanguard of the revival of Irish art and artisan crafts in the early part of the last century. As print artists they published many of the great Irish writers of their time including their brother W.B. through their printing company Cuala Press. Elizabeth also authored a number of stunningly illustrated books on how to paint flowers using watercolours.
To celebrate the legacy of these unique women Hamilton Gallery in association with Craftfest Northwest, Yeats Day and Tread Softly Festival is hosting a national Fine Art Print Competition.
Joan McBreen commissioned Artisan House to develop a broadside based on her poem The Mountain Ash. The broadside features Joan’s poem, an original etching by Margaret Irwin West and is letterpress printed by hand by Mary Plunkett of The Belgrave Private Press. It was published by Artisan House and launched by Des Kavanagh at Clifden Arts Festival in 2015.
Following is the adjudication from the Fine Art Print Competition organisers received on 28th April – appropriately Poetry Day Ireland:
“We were delighted with the response to the competition. The three adjudicators have struggled long and hard to come to a decision, but the prizewinners have now been selected and the selection of prints for the exhibition chosen.
The adjudicators have selected 40 prints for the ‘Legacy’ exhibition to be held in the Hyde Bridge Gallery during June. I am very pleased to tell you that your print ‘The Mountain Ash Broadside’ was one of those selected. The prizewinners from the competition will be announced at the exhibition opening on Saturday 11th June.”
For further information contact:
Artisan House Publishers,
Letterfrack,
Connemara,
Co. Galway.
Email: artisanhouseeditions@gmail.com
T: 087 333 4626 / 7