Glarryford artist exhibits in cow byre

A very special arts and crafts exhibition is being staged in a disused byre in Glarryford, outside Ballymena.
Poet Elaine Gaston and artist Sharon Adams, who organised the Five Artists in a Byre Exhibition. Submiited picturePoet Elaine Gaston and artist Sharon Adams, who organised the Five Artists in a Byre Exhibition. Submiited picture
Poet Elaine Gaston and artist Sharon Adams, who organised the Five Artists in a Byre Exhibition. Submiited picture

The exhibition features work by Glarryford native, Sharon Adams, Alice Clark, Katy English, Noel McCullough and Rory Shearer and includes original one-off pieces of sculpture, furniture, ceramics and drawing.

Artist Sharon has curated a small selection of local work to show in the disused byre at her Glarryford home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “Galleries can seem a bit sterile and serious so I wanted to host something simple and down to earth that everyone can enjoy. August sees craft take centre stage as Craft NI launched its annual Craft Month with exhibitions, workshops and shows right across the Province. You could see goldsmithing in Glenarm or linen in Lisburn, but why not visit an exhibition closer to home?”

Robert Martin, Director of R Space Gallery in Lisburn with Noel McCullough,  furniture maker.Submitted pictureRobert Martin, Director of R Space Gallery in Lisburn with Noel McCullough,  furniture maker.Submitted picture
Robert Martin, Director of R Space Gallery in Lisburn with Noel McCullough, furniture maker.Submitted picture

As well as Sharon’s own “functionless tools” you can see sculpture by Alice Clarke (all the way from Belfast), drawings by Cushendun-based Katy English, furniture by Ballymena maker Noel McCullough and ceramics by Rory Shearer, who also lives in the Ballymena area.

There are one-off pieces, more often seen under the bright lights of a crisp white gallery and a complementary retail selection. In natural materials and muted colours, they are quite at home among the original fixtures of the byre, last used for milking by the previous owners in the 1960s.

During Saturday’s launch and opening reception, poet Elaine Gaston read from her recently published debut collection. Her book The Lie of the Land will be on sale, alongside smaller handmade items and the second issue of Freckle Magazine.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Local artist Sharon Adams spent 25 years living in London before returning to Cloughmills in 2013. Formerly director of an events company, it was the decision to study for a second degree at art school in Brighton that lead her to return home.

The disused byre in Glarryford scene of a new contemporary art and craft exhibition launched on Saturday as part of August Craft Month. Submitted picture.The disused byre in Glarryford scene of a new contemporary art and craft exhibition launched on Saturday as part of August Craft Month. Submitted picture.
The disused byre in Glarryford scene of a new contemporary art and craft exhibition launched on Saturday as part of August Craft Month. Submitted picture.

Exchanging her London flat for the stone farmhouse that neighbours her family farm has provided space for a workshop, and for this current pop-up exhibition.

Working primarily with wood and metal, Sharon makes functionless tools, provoking questions about the meaning and value of skilled work in a digital age. Her work has been exhibited in England and Ireland, and is held in public and private collections.

The exhibition continues on August 22-23 and August 29,30,31 from 11am to 5pm at 81 Old Frocess Road, Cloughmills BT44 9NA

Visit website at: www.sharonadams.co.uk/byre

Related topics: