A Collection of Poetry and Visual Art

A stalwart tale of friendship, creativity and determination to be heard amid the clutter of everyday life, prompted two long time friends to create an exhibition which they hoped would speak to many women who are busy ‘getting on with the getting on’.

The two women, coming from different artistic backgrounds (one poet and one visual artist), both saw value and beauty in everyday life and, recognising the synergy that existed between them as women and artists, undertook a joint project: 'Be That As It May...'

This project resulted in the publication of a book and a touring exhibition, where both women engaged with similar themes and each other’s work. The book and exhibition launched in November 2017 in Maynooth University Library and subsequently travelled to McAuley Place, Naas in 2018. The final show ran in Leixlip library in April 2019.

The title ‘Be That As It May....’, comes from an acknowledgement that life for many women is not planned but an evolving tapestry of unforeseen events, each in their own way important in their unimportance. The two artists are inspired and motivated to make art by their daily lives, typical of many women: Mothers, Daughters, Wives.

Both seek beauty in the ordinary through their work and this shared process led them to respond to each others’ art, allowing them to connect with and appeal to a broad spectrum of people. Their work blends together and overlaps in many places. Both are driven by similar artistic motives, seeking to find and see meaning in people’s everyday lives.

In this book and show, they have an open dialogue with the audience through their work, engaging hearts as well as minds, stimulating thinking and emotional responses and encouraging participation in their artistic conversation.

Funding was received from Kildare County Council and Naas Credit Union to whom they are most grateful.

To order a copy visit the contact page