Offaly people called on to nominate their 'spectacular human'

Do you have an inspirational person in your life that deserves recognition? Local artist Rowena Keaveney is inviting you to celebrate a special person in your life whose presence has been, ‘Spectacular’.

Has someone around you made a significant and positive contribution towards a particular time in your life? It could be a teacher who believed in you; a friend who supported you; a person who you once spoke to while waiting at a bus stop or on a train; a medical professional; relative; someone you’ve since lost touch with or a co-worker.

The possibilities are endless and only you will know who that Spectacular individual is! Spectacular Vernacular- In the Open | Faoin Spéir – Offaly, funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, is a collaborative partnership led by Offaly County Council’s Arts Office with Birr Theatre and Arts Centre and Birr Festivals Collective.

The aim is to develop an exciting and innovative curated programme of outdoor events, to take place in Birr, Lough Boora, in conjunction with the Sculpture Park and Tullamore, in anticipation of the opening of the new Arts Centre for the town next year.  In the Open | Faoin Spéir – Offaly  generates a sustained and curated programme of multidisciplinary, inclusive arts activity in public or open spaces in towns and communities around Ireland until April 2022. 

You can send an image of your special person or write a short story about why you think they are so wonderful. All Spectacular Humans nominated will be celebrated in a special exhibition presented in postcard form with an inspiring explanation from their nominator as to why they are ‘Spectacular’. The postcards will then be displayed in Birr and Tullamore Town shop windows and on the In The Open Offaly website from Thursday, April 7th  to the end of the month.

Rowena Keaveny  is a visual artist, arts therapist and facilitator based in Offaly. She completed the Art Therapy course at Crawford College of Art and Design and is now an Art Therapist with Autism Initiatives, Tallaght Horizons & Botanic Horizons, Glasnevin, Dublin. She is the recipient of bursaries from The Community Foundation for Ireland (2012, 2012), The Arts and Disability Ireland Awards (The Arts Council and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland - 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013), Tyrone Guthrie Award (Offaly County Council-2009), Artist in the Community Award (Create + The Arts Council- 2009), The Arts Council (2004). Both in public and private collections, her work uses digital media, photography, animation and socially engaged practice.

For all information on the project visit   www.intheopenoffaly.ie. To nominate a Spectacular human you know, contact  paintpolitik@live.ie  subject ‘Spectacular Sapien’ by the deadline of Wednesday, March 16th!