'Incredibly powerful' work of Offaly artist praised as exhibition opens
Writer and documentary-maker, Manchán Magan, described the work of Offaly artist, Teresa Doyle, as “incredibly powerful” at the official opening of her exhibition ‘The Living Fabric’ in the Atrium at County Buildings in Mullingar this week.
“The compassion, the love with which Teresa looks at the world informs everything she does,” said Mr Magan, who said she is someone who goes around the world in “a quiet humble way, never revealing herself” and yet creates art which gives “so much patience and so much honour to the frail, the wonderful, the young, the vulnerable, the insecure and the old.”
He also spoke about how rare it is to launch an art exhibition, or to even attend one, that is not about “the narcissism of the artist” and despite the fact that Teresa Doyle is “a highly-accomplished fine art practitioner” he said every aspect of her work as an artist demonstrates her “caring and compassionate nature” and her “ridiculously expansive heart.”
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Teresa Doyle with “Agatha”.Image 2 of 4
Teresa with her sisters, Colette O’ Reilly, who lives in Portarlington and Geraldine Horan, who lives in Geashill.Image 3 of 4
Betty Kelly and Mary Treacy, from Killeigh, at the exhibition opening.Image 4 of 4
Maria Noonan, Cllr Frank McDermott and Teresa Doyle’s daughter, Mary, at the opening of ‘The Living Fabric’ exhbition.Mr Magan predicted that the launch of ‘The Living Fabric’ exhibition was “only a stepping stone which will go much further” and said the concept of creating a doll to “remember someone, or for someone so that they will be remembered” is a unique and wonderful concept.
“This is a peak of the journey that Teresa has been on as an artist and once a wider audience engage with her work they can’t help but be moved by what they see,” he said.
Teresa Doyle, who is a Graduate in Fine Art from Limerick College of Art and Design, makes handmade dolls in her workshop in the rural area of Ranaghan, outside Castlepollard in north Westmeath.
She uses a wide range of fabrics and accessories given to her by people who wish to have them incorporated into the doll as a means of remembering a loved one, or honouring a significant event in their life.
Her ‘memory dolls’ are bespoke one-off creations which, in time, she hopes will become treasured family heirlooms to be passed down through the generations.
She is a native of Kilcavan, on the Offaly border with Laois, and is daughter of the late Brendan and Lil Kelly (nee O’Brien). She received her early education at Clonaghadoo national school and St Mary’s College in Mountmellick.
“The Living Fabric” exhibition, which features a selection of Teresa Doyle’s handcrafted dolls, runs until March 3 in The Atrium in Mullingar.