Artist focuses on ‘Un Beau Refuge’ for latest exhibition

GERMANY has become the latest stop for Dromore artist Tommy Barr as his exhibition, ‘Un Beau Refuge’, is presented in the Deutsches Hugenotten-Museum Gallery in Bad Karlshafen.

The gallery is housed in a beautifully refurbished old tobacco factory, which also contains the national library, museum and headquarters of the German Huguenot Society.

On September 9, guests traveling from across Germany were treated to a day which opened with a performance of Irish music by German folk band ‘Spirited Ireland’.

The chairs were then cleared away and refreshments served before Tommy lead little mini tours of the exhibition.

The exhibition draws upon the history of the Huguenots in Ireland and so presents a little piece of history which we share with Germany.

These refugees, fleeing persecution in France during 17th century, made a significant contribution to life in many countries across Europe.

Around 10,000 are believed to have settled in Ireland with 25,000 to 30,000 settling in Germany, creating an historic link between our two countries.

Dr Andreas Flick, President of the German Huguenot Society believes the exhibition to be perfect for the Museum. He is delighted to have been able to bring the paintings over and hopes that many local people and tourists will have the pleasure of enjoying them over the next seven weeks.

Tommy said that he was very pleased with how the exhibition had been staged.

“This is a beautiful gallery,” he said, “and the team at the Museum are absolute perfectionists, so visitors are seeing the paintings at their very best.”

The exhibition runs through to 31 October and is already providing a significant attraction for the region.

Two of Tommy’s paintings are to remain on permanent display with the Museum, one in Bad Karlshafen and one in Berlin. This will provide a permanent reminder of the exhibition and of our shared European history.

Contact details for Tommy along with images from this exhibition can be found at www.tbarr.com

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