Photo credit: Gerry Molumby, Brian next to his paint of Richard Harris in his role as the Bull McCabe for JB Keane’s classic film ‘The Field’.
Irish artists in Nottingham host ‘Forty Shades of Green’ exhibition to fund a speech therapist for people living with Parkinsons in the local area.
Married couple Mary and Brian Evans are the main contributors of the exhibition. Both are based in Beeston, though Mary, a former schoolteacher in Long Eaton, originates from Belmullet Co. Mayo. Brian is a retired Lecturer who started his career in engineering as a fitter and was born in Stapleford, spending many years working at the Stanton Ironworks.
Mary told Gerry Molumby, who covered the event: “We have always chosen 40 Shades of Green as the title for our exhibitions after the song written by Johnny Cash which made it’s way into the charts on Radio Luxembourg’s top 20 in 1961”
This was the year Brian first visited Mary’s home in Co. Mayo. and instantly fell for the rugged beauty of it’s landscape and the humour and music of it’s people. Since then they have returned every year and their artwork is strongly influenced by the landscape and the people of the west of Ireland.
Photo credit: Gerry Molumby, Mary’s painting of The Gap of Dungloe Co. Donegal
Brian has been living with Parkinsons for a number of years and finds the decline in his speech ability to be a great loss but benefits from speech therapy. The couple are delighted that visitors appreciate the paintings while at the same time contributing to supporting Brian and others locally with Parkinsons.
Photo credit: Gerry Molumby, Exhibition opening night
Head of Local Networks at Parkinson’s UK Tyna Brych, opened the exhibition last week at the Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery, which will run until 10th September (10:30am–4:30pm daily). Any unsold donated paintings will be auctioned for the cause on Sunday 10th September at 2:30pm.
Speaking for the Nottingham Society of Artists, Alan Gardner, Chair of the society said:–
“This is our first formal initiative for the Parkinson’s charity, though the society has regularly hosted events and exhibitions with a strong charitable dimension. Mary and Brian have exhibited with us in the past, as recently as 2016, and have promoted similar very well–attended exhibitions. We hope this raises much–needed funding for the valuable work done by Parkinson’s UK in the local area.”
See the Nottingham Society of Artists for more information about the exhibition.
The exhibition venue
Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery, St Luke’s House, Friar Lane, Nottingham, NG1 6DH
Pictures by Gerry Molumby