Carrick Art Club marks 40 years with special exhibition

The exhibition will be on show until Saturday May 6 and can be viewed on weekdays from 10.00 am until 4.30 pm and on the closing day, from 10.00 am until 2.00 pm.

Carrickfergus Art Club is a meeting place for local amateur artists to meet, learn and exhibit their work twice a year.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s arts and culture co-ordinator Rosalind Lowry joined members for the special occasion.

The club has extended congratulations to prize winners Helen Daniels, Doreen Kirkwood, Pearl Patterson and Wendy McClatchey.

The club holds two exibitions each year and artwork has been on show at other venues such as Carrickfergus Library which hosted a display of winter scenes in December.

Members regularly welcome visiting artists such as Robert McLarnon who demonstrated his vibrant oil paintings at the March meeting.

Members also enjoy painting and sketching at a range of outdoor venues such as Redhall in Ballycarry and Carnfunnock, in Larne, when weather permits.

The club was originally formed in 1976 at a meeting in the Jubilee Hall. It was organised by the arts committee of Carrickfergus Borough Council and attended by two of the founder members of the club Manson Blair and Pearl Patterson.

At that time, the club had 26 members and the original premises at Antrim Street premises were not suitable, so in early 1977, the club acquired a classroom in Sunnylands Primary School where members enjoyed the tutorage of Mr Savage from WEA.

The first exhibition was held in Carrick Town Hall for three days in September 1977.

For many years, the club held held exhibitions in Carrickfergus Library but for the past few years, it has exhibited in the gallery of the Civic Centre.

The club has reached the maximum capacity and has a waiting list but would encourage anyone interested in art to come along to the exhibition and submit their name.