Paul Walls. Belfast and the Lagan. Saturday 1st November 2008 THE EAKIN GALLERY

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1 Paul Walls Belfast and the Lagan Saturday 1st November 2008 THE EAKIN GALLERY

2 Paul Walls Belfast and the Lagan The Directors of the Eakin Gallery invite you to the opening of an exhibition of Paul Walls, Belfast and the Lagan on Saturday 1st November 2008 Wine 2.00pm pm Wine sponsored by The exhibition continues daily 9.30am pm until Saturday 8th November On receipt of invitation all paintings are for sale. Complete exhibition and price list on our website Enquiries: Brian and Mary Eakin, Suzanne Eakin THE EAKIN GALLERY 237 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7EN Tel: UK: ROI: Mobile: eakin@paintings.freeserve.co.uk

3 THE EAKIN GALLERY Paul Walls in his studio Image courtesy of Donal McCann Photography With Belfast and the Lagan, I have left the hills and shores of Donegal, and made the journey back to the shores of the Lagan and my home city of Belfast. In the past, the light, drama, and wilderness of Donegal have inspired my artistic palette. As this body of work unfolded, focussing on the Lagan and its busy metamorphosis, I was surprised to find a kaleidoscope of those same emotions and moments developing in the rivers flowing reflections. Set within the theatre of the mountains, and tracing a timeless historical vein between Old and New Belfast, this river is like a beautiful old glittering necklace, charting and reflecting the changing light and scenes of its city. Poised and statuesque, Black Mountain, Divis Mountain, and Cave Hill emulate the aperture in a camera, filtering light onto the city and the river below, and presenting the artist with a theatrical expression that would have had Monet and Emil Nolde in raptures. Their presence is felt in every picture. Like Monet s London series or Emil Nolde s seascapes, Belfast silhouette, Timepieces, and Where Starlings Roost all capture this ceremony of light and water. Though far from the hills of Donegal or mountains of Belfast, the impressionistic reflections of Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven are strongly felt in Studied Reflection, The Lock-Keeper s House, Harbour Commissioners Office and Belfast Promenade. Where these artists used the great lakes of Canada to reflect the vibrant light and colour of a northern wilderness, in this work, I have used the Lagan to mirror cameos of a developing landscape. Belfast continues to change and the Lagan quietly catalogues its moods, as depicted by the serenity of Towards Ann Street and the bustling progression and angular vibrancy of Lanyon Place. Employing an impasto technique afforded me the luxury of a more painterly response to the buildings and shadows depicted. For now, my journey finishes at The Weir, a modern gatekeeper which channels the Lagan s memories and the spirit of Belfast, past and present. Its predecessors David and Goliath rest in the background, watching as the river continues its chronicle. Much as I love the wild solitude of Donegal, Belfast is still my home. 1

4 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 1. Where Starlings Roost 36 x 48 Oil

5 THE EAKIN GALLERY 2. Belfast Silhouette 30 x 40 Oil

6 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 3. Harbour Commissioners Office 30 x 40 Oil

7 THE EAKIN GALLERY 4. Time Pieces 30 x 40 Oil

8 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 5. Studied Reflections 40 x 30 Oil

9 THE EAKIN GALLERY 6. The Weir 24 x 42 Oil

10 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 7. Old and New Belfast 24 x 36 Oil

11 THE EAKIN GALLERY 8. Belfast Promenade 20 x 30 Oil

12 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 9. Lanyon Place 20 x 24 Oil

13 THE EAKIN GALLERY 10. Towards Ann Street 24 x 20 Oil

14 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 11. The Lock Keepers House 20 x 24 Oil

15 THE EAKIN GALLERY 12. Studied Reflections Reprise 20 x 16 Oil

16 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 13. The Weir Expression 16 x 20 Oil

17 THE EAKIN GALLERY 14. Lanyon Place Expression 16 x 20 Oil

18 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 15. Where Starlings Roost Expression 14 x 18 Oil

19 THE EAKIN GALLERY 16. Belfast Silhouette Expression 14 x 18 Oil Old and New Belfast Expression 14 x 18 Oil

20 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 18. Time Pieces Reprise 14 x 18 Oil

21 THE EAKIN GALLERY 19. The Weir Reprise 14 x 18 Oil Old and New Belfast Reprise 14 x 18 Oil

22 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 21. Belfast Promenade Reprise 14 x 18 Oil

23 THE EAKIN GALLERY 22. Where Starlings Roost Reprise 14 x 18 Oil Belfast Promenade Expression 12 x 16 Oil

24 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 24. The Lock Keepers House Expression 12 x 16 Oil The Harbour Commissioners Office Reprise 12 x 16 Oil

25 THE EAKIN GALLERY 26. Belfast Silhouette Reprise 12 x 16 Oil Studied Reflections Expression 16 x 12 Oil

26 PAUL WALLS - BELFAST AND THE LAGAN 28. Harbour Commissioners Office Reprise I 10 x 12 Oil Belfast Promenade Abstraction 10 x 12 Oil Where Starlings Roost Reprise I 10 x 12 Oil Studied Reflections Expression I 12 x 10 Oil

27 THE EAKIN GALLERY PAUL WALLS Born: Belfast 1965 Trained: Manchester Medlock Fine Arts Centre Taught Art in various Sec. Schools & Learning Centres Community Artist, Belfast, working on Murals for Schools Member of the NI Arts Council Young Arts Directory and Talks on...scheme 1996 Elected An Associate Academician of the RUA 1999 AWARDS The Mooney Hotel Group 2003 Irish News Prize RUA 2003 Wellington Park Prize RUA 1999 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Official Arts Award 1999 President's Prize RUA 1998 Artslink's Artist of the month (Arts Council of NI) 1998 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Visual Arts Award 1998 Highly Commended, The Laing Art Competition 1997 Wallace Wray Prize for Best Landscape, RUA 1996 The Ulster Arts Club Gallery Award 1995 COMMISIONS & PUBLICATIONS A Buyers Guide to Irish Art, Ashville Media Group 2002 Stepping Stones, The Arts in Ulster , Publisher, Blackstaff Press 2001 RUA, Diploma Collection, Publisher, RUA Trust Ltd (NI 32115) 2000 Illustrated Post Cards for The Irish Art Company, Publisher, Priory Press 1998 Illustrated Environmental Book, Third World Project, Publisher, OWC 1995 Illustrated Environmental Workbook for Schools, Publisher, CCS 1991 COLLECTIONS Ulster Museum The Haverty Trust Collection National Self Portrait Collection Department of the Environment, NI Ulster Television Private Collections throughout Ireland, UK and USA EXHIBITIONS One Person Show Belfast and the Lagan, The Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2008 One Person Show, Harbours, The Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2006 RUA at Boyle Arts Festival 2006 Four Man Show, Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2005 One Person Exhibition, Walls of Paint, The Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2004 Magil Fine Art, Dublin 2003 The Laneside Gallery, Coleraine Some Recent Irish Painting, Messum s, London 2002 One Person Exhibition, The Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2001 The Dyehouse Gallery, Waterford 2001 The Irish Art Exhibition, The Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2001 The Ashford Gallery RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin 2001 The James Gallery, Bangor 2001 The Irish Show, Walker Galleries, Harrogate 2000 Modern Ulster Show, The Eakin Gallery, Belfast 2000 Hunter Simmonds Gallery, Bournemouth 2000 Ireland Today, Messum s, London 2000 The Irish Show, Albemarle Gallery, London 1999 One Person Exhibition, Cavehill Gallery, Belfast 1998 The Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London 1998 The McGilloway Gallery, Derry The Eakin Gallery, Belfast The Elaine Somers Gallery, Holywood The Waterfront Hall, Belfast 1997 Glebe House, Donegal 1997 Two Person Exhibition, Cavehill Gallery, Belfast 1996 Charles Gilmore Gallery, Holywood The Garrett Gallery, Holywood Iontas Small Works Competion, Sligo 1995 The Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast The Cavehill Gallery, Belfast The Mall Galleries, London The Six Artists Exhibition, Ulster Arts Club, Belfast 1994 The Ulster Arts Club, Belfast The Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin 1991 The Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast The Higgins Gallery, Belfast The Laing Exhibition, Belfast/London The Kerlin Gallery, Belfast The Bell Gallery, Belfast 1989

28 Paul Walls Belfast and the Lagan 32.A Little Piece of Time 12 x 10 Oil 975 The Eakin Gallery is interested in acquiring paintings by leading Irish Artists THE EAKIN GALLERY 237 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7EN Tel: UK: ROI: Mobile: eakin@paintings.freeserve.co.uk