A conversation with Artist Richard Hearns

"Every Artist has a particular reason that they choose to express themselves. Regardless of the medium they work in, their inspiration has a 'source' or 'ultimate goal' in the realisation of their creative passions.

In my work I am ultimately expressing my love of nature, the mental connection between physical art and the inner need to express oneself, and the glory of human emotion.My work endeavours to express the solitude and meditation of life that surrounds each one of us and connects us to a larger whole – the source of all existence.

What compels and inspires me to translate these inner thoughts and emotions into a tangible form is the idea that 'something can come from nothing'. That fleeting thoughts and emotions can be captured and translated into a physical expression,that colour and light can be transmuted and laid down to express form.

My ultimate intentions in presenting my 'visions' to the world is to enrich peoples lives visually, emotionally, creatively and spiritually.I feel it is so important to endeavour to create and leave behind something of beauty to enrich the world."

To view works by Richard Hearns go to http://www.richardhearns.com/blog/index.php

An exhibition of his works will take place in The Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare. It will open on June 1st and runs until July 1st.

Samhlaiocht Faces the Music

Bealtaine Music Event in Library - Wednesday, May 21st 2008

As time goes by music is losing some of its traditional communal aspects and becoming much more of an individualised experience with MP3 players replacing the radios and walkmans of old, not to mention record players and ancient old gramophones!

However, quite a few people still have a hankering for the communal experience, and prefer to enjoy music the old fashioned way, and now they have a wonderful opportunity to do just that at a music presentation on Wednesday 21st May, from 3pm to 5pm, in Tralee Library.

The presentation is part of the Bealtaine Festival, a nationwide festival which takes place throughout the month of May and celebrates creativity in older age.

This event will be presented by Sheila Kelly of Samhlaiocht Chiarrai. "Choosing and compiling a musical presentation to celebrate 'Planet Earth' for the Bealtaine Festival is truly a labour of love for me," says Sheila. "It brings together a whole number of things that I am passionate about like my appreciation of creativity in older people, my enjoyment in seeing older people appreciate art in all its various forms and my love of music, planet earth and, of course, people!"

"We're delighted to be working with Samhlaiocht to deliver this music programme as part of our overall programme of events for the Bealtaine Festival," Tommy O' Connor, County Librarian, explained. "We have over 20 events scheduled to take place over the month in seven different locations and with artistic pursuits from poetry to cinema, I think we have something for everyone."

"I read recently that Ireland is the only Country to have a musical instrument, the Harp, as its National Symbol," added Sheila. "That really crystallises for me how precious music has always been, is now and will continue to be in Ireland. As we say as Gaeilge 'Bogann an am, ach fanann an cheol'."

Kerry County Library has lined up a fantastic offering of events in libraries around the county to celebrate Bealtaine. These include art classes, writing classes, cinema screenings, poetry workshops and a myriad of other events and workshops taking place throughout Kerry in Tralee, Listowel, Cahirciveen, Ballybunion, Killorglin, Kenmare and Killarney. For more information please contact Ann Fitzgerald on 066 712 1200 or via email at afitzgerald@kerrrycolib.ie or log onto http://www.kerrycountylibrary.com/

Local libraries may also be contacted for a listing of events.

For information on other Bealtaine events in Kerry please telephone 1890 50 60 60 or email bealtine@mie.ie Interested parties can also visit the official website on http://www.bealtaine.com/

For more information on Samhlaíocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/