New Exhibition of Work from Isabelle Gaborit to go on display in Samhlaiocht

Isabelle Gaborit's 'Somewhere In Between' exhibition opens in Samhlaiocht, Thursday, September 4th

Tony Bennett's signature tune, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, speaks of the magical effect a place can have on a person and while Tony's heart was captured by the City by the Bay, many who visit Ireland experience the same feeling. Captivated by the beauty of the landscape or the beauty of the 'cailini' many a visitor has left their heart in Ireland!

One such visitor was Isabelle Gaborit who hails from La Rochelle in the South West of France. She visited Ireland, fell in love with the place, and stayed from the first! "I came to Ireland in 1993 on a student exchange from my college in France," says Isabelle. "But I came with my car fully packed because I knew I would love it and I have been here ever since!"

Her primary reason for visiting was to study English but she was also taking classes in Celtic Studies and has always had an interest in Art. "I was lucky, because while I was studying in France we were encouraged to take extra-curricular classes and I took Art. When I came to Ireland I found the place absolutely beautiful, just as I was expecting, and having graduated decided to dedicate myself to my Art."

Having completed her primary degree she remained in Ireland and since then she has become an active member of the artistic community and recently graduated from the Galway, Mayo Institute of Technology with an honours degree in Fine Art.

Isabelle is captivated by the landscape and her inspiration for this exhibition 'springs' from Holy Wells. "I once did a project called 'Sense of Place' that encouraged us, as Artists, to think about the place from where we come or the places that are dear to us," says Isabelle. "I'm inspired by the holy wells and ground waters of Ireland. They almost seem to record the relationship between the land and its people. The wells evoke a depth and stillness while also working as a reflection or mirror of the soul. The waters are gentle, soft and beautiful, but also there's a history to these places while many are legendary for their healing powers. So there are many different layers at work."

Her work mirrors this, "I use my art to explore these different layers," says Isabelle. "My work reminds me to look underneath, to unwrap the numerous layers and, hopefully, it allows the viewer a space in between, somewhere, perhaps, between reality and memory."

To this end her work uses a collage of objects which she has found while incorporating inks, watercolours, acrylics, pastels, and pencil drawings. "I guess my work is almost like a personal jigsaw," laughs Isabelle. "I deal with fragments of my own memory, things I have found and I try to work on different layers, planes or levels. The idea is to capture the eye of the viewer and draw him or her into the painting, into the different details in the work."

The paintings, which were completed between 2007 and 2008, became, almost, a mirror to the changing moods of the Artist and the many changing moods of Irish weather as the seasons passed, from winter to summer. The paintings reflect this passing with shades ranging from cool, cold tones to bright, cheerful splashes of colours.

Isabelle grew up next to the sea and admits to absolutely loving water but there may be just a little too much water for her here! "While I feel absolutely at home in Ireland, I have a two year old baby girl and a wonderful partner, I have to admit to sometimes missing the weather in the South of France," laughs Isabelle. "But at least the rain here keeps the holy wells full to brimming!"

The exhibition, which is titled 'Somewhere In Between', opens on Thursday, September 4th, and runs until Friday, September 26th, in the new Samhlaiocht Gallery which is located in the Old Presbytery on Lower Castle Street in the heart of Tralee. The Gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, is free to visit and all are welcome. For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/