The Permanent Collections

 

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The National Collection of Contemporary Drawing

 

Limerick Contemporary Art - A Chronology                               

Pre-1983 - A number of representations are made to the Art Gallery Advisory Committee of Limerick City Gallery of Art to set up a Friends of the Gallery. It is suggested that the primary but not only function of the Friends would be to raise money towards the purchase of contemporary art for the gallery, of which there are very few examples in the collection. All representations are rejected.

 

1983 -  Limerick Contemporary Art Society founded by Samuel Walsh, Committee consists of Luke Kiernan (ad-hoc chairman), Ursula Brick, John Logan, Fr. John Leonard, Marian Fitzgibbon (Mid-west Arts Officer) and Jo Slade. Samuel Walsh is ad-hoc secretary/treasurer. Marian Fitzgibbon resigns shortly after founding, and is replaced by Paul Lynam. The society is to purchase work by artists who exhibit locally to form a collection. Funding comes from individuals and corporate subscriptions.

 

1984 - 1st AGM. Constitution is approved. Ad-hoc committee becomes committee proper. John Logan resigns and is replaced by Catriona O'Connor. Society approved for Joint Purchase by the Arts Council, Each 1 pound raised by the society is worth 2 pounds.

 

1985 - Hon. Membership offered to Marian Fitzgibbon, Cecil King and John Logan. Accepted.    Collection is hung, on loan, in the Regional Management Centre, National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick . 2nd AGM. Grant received from Limerick Corporation.

 

1986 - 3rd AGM. Fr, John Leonard resigns. Replaced by Mike Byrne. Decision taken to found the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing and to tour the present collection through the mid=west. It is suggested that a collection of contemporary drawing will give Limerick a collection of contemporary work not available in any other city in Ireland. Such a collection would also have an archival element. And, on an ongoing basis, could be used for research and study. A decision is taken to adopt the name Limerick Contemporary Art. It is felt that this is a more specific title and that it will stop LCA being confused with the Limerick Art Society, a group of local amateur artists. The First Collection, Limerick Contemporary Art 1983 – 1987 tours mid-west in conjunction with the Mid-West Arts Association. LCA initiates a series of lectures in Limerick City Gallery of Art called 'Artists Talking'. Drawings, when acquired by LCA are loaned to Limerick City Gallery of Art.

 

1987 - 4th AGM.  Fr. John Leonard resigns.  Replaced by Mike Byrne. Decision taken to found the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing and to tour the present collection through the mid-west.  It is suggested that a collection of contemporary drawing will give Limerick a collection of contemporary work not available in any other city in Ireland.  Such a collection would also have an archival element, and, on an ongoing basis, could be used for research and study.  A decision is taken to adopt the name Limerick Contemporary Art.  It is felt that this is a more specific title and that it will stop LCA being confused with Limerick Art Society, a group of local amateur artists.  The First Collection, Limerick Contemporary ARt 1983-1987 tours mid-west in conjunction with the Mid-West Arts Association.  LCA initates a series of lectures in Limerick City Gallery of Art called 'Artists Talking'.  Drawing, when acquired by LCA are loaned to Limerick City Gallery of Art. 

1988  - 5th AGM. Catriona O'Connor resigns. Tony Rogers co-opted to committee. Hon. Membership offered to Catriona O'Connor and Fr. John Leonard. Accepted. Application for charitable status refused. Patrick J Murphy, chair of Rosc, gives the Barclay-Russell Memorial Lecture at Mary Immaculate College of Education. The First Collection presented on permanent loan to Mary Immaculate College of Education on the understanding that the College will continue to acquire contemporary work to add to the collection. Hon. Membership offered to Patrick J Murphy. Accepted. Decision made to create and publish a book of photographs of Limerick artists in their studios in conjunction with the photographer/artist Tom Shortt. A proposal and application for funding is made to the Limerick Treaty 300 Arts Committee. They express no interest.

1989 - 6th AGM. Mike Byrne resigns. Evan Morrissey co-opted. The 'self-destruct' idea is talked about for the first time. Having achieved aims and realised certain goals, LCA believes that a responsibility now falls to the Limerick City Gallery of Art to continue on the purchase of drawings for the National Collection of Contemporary Drawing through a Friends of the Gallery structure. Initial approaches to Limerick City Gallery of Art to accept the drawing collection as a gift and continue adding drawings to the collection is favourable.

1990 AGM postponed until 1991.

1991 - 7th AGM. The drawing collection is offered to and accepted by the Limerick City Gallery of Art. It comprises 23 works by 22 artists and 1 poet. The collection is worth over 8,000 pounds. LCA requests that the Arts Council agree to give on loan its drawing collection to Limerick City Gallery of Art to complement LCA's drawing collection. The Arts Council agrees. Limerick Contemporary Art suspends activities until a suggested formal group of Friends comes into being through Limerick City Gallery of Art.

compiled by Samuel Walsh, 1996.


(text taken from the publication by LCGA - National Collection of Contemporary Drawing Volume I, 1996, ISBN 0946641 714) 

catalogues available from LCGA by contacting artgallery@limerick.ie

 

Limerick Contemporary Art – Members 1983-1989

 

Members*

Terence Black

Derek Cahill

Colm & Alva de Burca

Mike Fitzharris

Luke & Breda Kiernan

Brendan & Susan Lane

Rev. John Leonard

Paul & Helma Lynam

Dermot Moloney

Pat J. Murphy

Mike Byrne & Mary Nagle

John & Joyce O'Callaghan             

Catriona O'Connor 

Moira O'Grady

Jim O'Halloran

Pauline Purcell

Tony Rogers

Richard & Jo Slade

Samuel & Ursula Walsh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Members 

1983

Mary Immaculate College

Murray Sweeney, Solicitors

NIHE

 

1984

Allied Irish Banks

Aughinish Alumina Ltd.

Bank of Ireland 

Thomond College

 

1985

Plassey Management

&Technology Centre

 

1986

Coopers & Lybrand Accountants              

 

1987

Connolly, Sellors, Geraghy, Tirr

& Co. Solicitors

 

1988

Murray O'Laoire Associates

Riverrun Gallery

 

1989

Edward Duffy Accountants

Ulster Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Honorary Members

1985

Marian Fitzgibbon (founder member)

Cecil King (artist; deceased, 1986)

John Logan (founder member)

 

1988

Catriona O'Connor (ex.committee)

John Leonard (founder member)

Patrick J. Murphy

 

Committee Members

Ursula Brick* (1983-89)

Mike Byrne (1987-1989)

Marian Fitzgibbon* (1983)

Luke Kiernan, Chairman (1984-89)

Rev. John Leonard* (1983-87)

John Logan* (1983-84)

Paul Lynam* (1983-89)

Evan Morrissey (1989)

Catriona O'Connor (1984-88)

Tony Rogers (1988-89)

Biddy Slade* (1983-89)

Samuel Walsh, Secretary/Treasurer

1983-89)

 *Ad-hoc/founder members

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

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