Video: Maghera artist Brian Kielt talks about ‘Pillars’

Entitled ‘Pillars,’ the showcase will celebrate the positive influence of individuals, businesses and organisations in a range of media including oil, charcoal and pen and pencil.

The man behind the venture is Maghera artist Brian Kielt, who is currently immersed in collating and creating the works for the exhibition, which will double over as a charity fund-raiser.

He explains that all artworks will be original pieces and that it is not too late for you to feature... Brian would welcome a call from individuals or groups who will allow him into their place of work for a short time, with the view to capturing them for the Bridewell presentation.

“I promise, I’ll be as non-intrusive as possible,” says the 26-year-old. “I’ll only need half-an-hour or so of your time.”

The process Brian has adopted for this exhibition is, on the surface, simple – he photographs or sketches his ‘subjects’ and then develops the preliminary images – free-hand – into larger works.

Although he has completed several pieces for ‘Pillars’ already, he cannot reveal who will feature in the ‘Who’s who’ of local people as the body of work will undergo a ‘final edit’ or ‘cut.’

A former student at the University of Ulster Arts campus in Belfast, Brian’s work has previously been showcased at the Culture Night in Belfast in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Stendhal Exhibition in Limavady.

“Over 200 events are held in Belfast on Culture Night,” he says. “Galleries open their doors to the public and artists open their studios for free. There’s a real carnival atmosphere.”

It is that atmosphere, it seems, that Brian wishes to bring to his home patch. Admission to the Bridewell exhibition will be free, and the buzz will be generated by local people who are deemed to have contributed to the local community.

The exhibition will open in November, and 50 per cent of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Northern Ireland Hospice.

Explaining his choice of charity, Brian says: “The exhibition will be staged in the run-up to Christmas. It is a time when many families struggle and could do with a helping hand. The Northern Ireland Hospice extends this hand to those in need.”

If you would like to speak with Brian regarding the possibility of featuring in Pillars, please call him on 07715 963 465 or visit www.briankielt.blogspot.com