11 minute read
Victor Cirefice
In the fifty years since leaving the Royal Academy schools working as a journeyman artist Victor's work has moved through subjects, the sea, hunting and shooting, the horse, sporting scenes and the dance, together with portraits figure studies and landscapes.
Title of Work
Advertisement
Contemplative
Medium Oil on Canvas
Dimensions 20 x 16 ins
This painting was composed from life sketches made in Kilbroney Parish church when Canon Jameson was lost in prayer.
Title of Work
Church of Saint Bronach, Interior
The work in pastels was created as a fund raising exercise and prints, of which this is one, were sold.
Kilbroney Parish Church ‘Senior Explorers’
Title of Work
Saint Bronach’s Clock and Bell Tower
Medium Cardboard and paint
Dimensions: The model is 150 cms approximately with three A1 presentation sheets mounted on the notice board.
All the young people aged between 9 – 14 had no previous experience in this form of construction. They embraced it with enthusiasm and some considerable talent but more importantly great dedication.
It's good to experiment and try out new ideas, I find showing new work to people is crucial in developing my creativity. I really enjoy talking to people and hearing their opinion.
Alix Cleverdon (née McVittie) is an illustrator born in 1971. Alix was brought up in Ireland and was accepted to University of Ulster, Burnley and Leeds to study Art & Design in the 90's.
Alix worked formerly under the online footprint of Alecart, more recently Alix now uses Irish Curio. The artist is better known for illustrating the myths and legends of Ireland. Currently Alix is working on a series of comics about the life and times of both Finn McCool and also Cuchulain.
Producing personal pieces is important for keeping fresh and engaged. Alix enjoys painting in acrylic, sketching beauty spots in watercolour and portraiture.
Title of Work
Canon of the Bells
Church of Saint Bronach
Saint Paul’s Church Ruins
I am a self taught artist working in oil and watercolour. I did study art to A level but was not able to develop my creativity until I retired. My inspiration comes from my environment here in Rostrevor and the myths that are held within the landscape.
Title of Work
Medium oil on canvas
Dimensions 40 cms x 30 cms
St Bronagh dominates the culture of Rostrevor. Her name is everywhere and both churches communities are described as being Kilbroney Parish, and both churches are established here because of her enduring influence, she is a legend, but what did she look like? I have tried to imagine St Bronagh and convey her personality in my work. I am celebrating Kilbroney (church of Bronagh) Parish bicentennial with my visual interpretation of Bronagh’s personality.
St Bronagh
Sliding Between 2 Churches (by kind permission of Gary Parr)
This work was inspired by an amateur black and white film featuring children sliding in the snowdown church Street many years ago. The film quality was basic but at the same time made the scene veer towards being abstract. It was shown on the BBC’s Travelling Picture Show which featured Rostrevor.
Three years ago, I came to Rostrevor the first time for a several-month stay and realized this is the place I had been dreaming about. Two years ago, I missed Rostrevor, my spiritual home so much that I started to paint as I went through all pictures I took before.
Title of Work
Stained Glass from the back of Kilbroney (Church of Bronach) Parish
Medium Watercolor and Pencil
Dimensions 30 cms x 20 cms
As my first Christmas in Rostrevor last year, I joined carolling team with some colleagues and students from An Cuan, when we walked up the road and came to the back of the Parish, the luminous stained glass really caught my eye. It’s captivating which lit up the dark at late night with a fascinating ambience of warmth. It’s also the same piece I have heard the most stories about the boy reading the book and the food becoming rose petals. It’s absolutely a delicate and exquisite piece of art itself.
St Bronach’s Church of Ireland, Kilbroney Parish Church, Rostrevor celebrates 200 years of spirituality, worship, and sustenance of souls . I needed to portray this deep Christian ethos through the many artistic elements that delight the eye … colour, shape, pattern, texture, form, etc and also to celebrate the many designers craftspeople, weavers, engravers, stained glass window makers, gardeners etc and all who have eclectically contributed to what we have, see and use in St Bronach’s to this day. I hope I have achieved this in my small vision, and that you too delight in all the artistic wonderment seen all around you in this beautiful church . This is dedicated to you and to all who have and do worship here.
Title of Work
Exodus 35 : 35
52 cms x 38 cms watercolour .
Journalist William Graham is former Irish News and Belfast Telegraph Political Correspondent and previously special correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and the London Times. He is founder of Rostrevor Literary Festival.
Title of Work `Time of Day`
The second photo is of Canon Jameson taken of him in his garden.
`Walking in the garden ...Dermot`
Pauline has been painting in watercolours and oils for over 50 years
She sat her A level art in the late 80s with her close friend Enid Dougan who was her painting companion on many watercolour locations around this beautiful area of south Down.
Title of Work
St Bronagh's in the trees
43 cms x 33 cms
Title of Work
St Bronagh's nestling in the hills
54 cms x 45 cms
Medium Watercolour
Both these watercolours demonstrate how Saint Bronagh's Church sits comfortably in its rural village setting, part of the fabric of this world.
I am a self taught needle woman and I have been doing it since I was in my teens. It is a very peaceful occupation which creates beautiful and often useful things. I love mixing colours and once found an old sampler of continuous patterns from which I created my own designs. It gives me great satisfaction.
Title of Work
Saint Bronach Bicentennial
This is a wall hanging commemorating our bicentennial. It is inspired by the colours of the interior of the church and based on a kneeler I did 55 years ago for Saint Alban’s, Tokyo, which is still in use.
My interest in, and love for, painting goes back to Kilkeel High School in the 1960s and our art inspiration Mrs Newsam. In the decades that followed there wasn’t much time made to pursue this hobby until I retired in 2018. Saint Bronach’s became my “home” and I found myself surrounded by artists! It was a small step to join Heather Cerefice’s watercolour classes and this has opened up a whole new dimension in my life. My other love is photography ever since, as an eight year, old I was given my first Box Brownie! Now with the luxury of digital photography, my camera holds in excess of 50,000 images!
Title of Work
Saint Bronach’s looking towards Carlingford Lough.
Watercolour
Two hundred years in this building, many centuries of witness in the district. What a heritage! What a privilege to be called to carry on the work in and around Rostrevor. The Lough is likely the route Bronach travelled when she arrived in this district.
Title of Work
Saint Bronach’s … a place of welcome
Photograph on canvas
Kilbroney Parish Church … The Church is the People (Photograph Collage inspired by an idea from Susan Farrell)
I am a textile artist having taken courses with the Open College of Arts and workshops in India and France. Where possible I like to recycle materials and embellish my work with both machine and hand embroidery. My inspiration comes from both my inner and the outer landscape.
Title of Work
Transformation.
Medium Textile
Dimensions 49 cms x 69 cms
For two hundred years St Bronagh’s Church has witnessed to the transforming work of Christ in the individual and out into the community. Both the church and her people are vessels living these changes.
I am a photographer who is drawn to the interplay of light and colour in the landscape, both in wide vistas and smaller scenes. Sometimes there are only fleeting moments of illumination. Being out in nature is both revelatory and therapeutic for me as creation speaks to me profoundly of God’s handiwork.
Title of Work
Two studies of the Tree of Life window:
St. Zita’s teardrop
Four evangelists, two birds and a saint
Medium Inkjet prints of digital photographs
Dimensions 42 cms x 30 cms (A3)
For me the Tree of Life window in the North Transept is a celebration of creation. It is full of life and colour - people, animals, birds, trees and flowers, with fish in a river which flows through it and links the vertical panels. Above the panels are the symbols of the four evangelists and a depiction of a saint. Saints and gospel writers alike offer us an example and inspiration to live by the teachings of Jesus. They challenge us to show the love of God to others and also to respect and care deeply for all of creation.
On Wednesday 3rd December 2018 a new ' Share Your Skills' craft class started in Kilbroney Parish Church's Parish Room. It offered the chance for all ages, from learner to pro, to bring their own winter project to start or finish in knitting/ crochet/cross-stitch.
It was started primarily to help encourage a sense of community and a chance of fellowship over a shared interest. It was also seen as a way to open our church to the wider community as an element of outreach.
Early in 2019 two ladies in the group took on a challenge posted up on Facebook by the local PSNI for knitting groups to knit ‘Trauma Teddies’ for local police teams to carry in their squad cars. These teddies would then be given as a support to young children caught up in the upsetting nature of crime, as the police did their work.
Now known as ‘Kilbroney Crafters’ the class lasts two hours and has a lot of crafting, craic and cups of tea thrown in.
Covid, however, paused the class but recommenced in 2022 March. This time with the War in Ukraine we focused on hats that could help those who found themselves helpless and homeless. Well the ladies took up the challenge with gusto and produced a lovely collection of knitted items.
Crafters are still on going for anyone who is interested in joining us, beginner or otherwise: Wednesday Mornings at 11.00 am to 1.00 pm in Kilbroney Parish. While our current season is ending now on 20th July for a Summer break we will hopefully take the needles up later on in Autumn.
Pauline Coffey on behalf of Alanah Donaldson, Lorraine Donaldson, Barbara Graham, Patricia Trenier, Alix Cleverdon Karen McCartney and Susan Farrell.
