Stephen Johnston graduated from University of Ulster in 2010 with an award-winning sell-out final show. ‘Perception’ at Artank Gallery, Belfast is his first solo show. Johnston's painting is inspired by nature, inanimate objects and the figurative. His images ‘play on the interaction of these things by taking the ordinary and turning it into the extraordinary’. The subtle realism of these paintings is a vehicle for the artist’s private thoughts, memories and constant questioning of everyday life. But make up your own mind if you are in the vicinity over the Christmas period. Stephen Johnston: 2–22 December
Insight into Islam
‘Making Space’ by Dublin-born Noel Bowler will be the year-end highlight at Millennium Court Arts Centre. The photo show provides a timely exploration of the expansion and coexistence of the Islamic faith in contemporary Ireland. Taken over the course of two years, the exhibition records the adaptive reuse of spaces for the purpose of prayer by Islamic communities here. Bowler’s portraits cast a light on a central quality of Islamic faith – that during sallah (prayer) there is nothing between one’s self and the divine. Devoid of any distinction or ornamentation apart from the ubiquitous prayer rugs, his documentation offers considered insights into the adaptability of modern Islamic communities and the ease with which mundane spaces are transformed. Noel Bowler: 10 February – 24 March
Local talent
This winter the F E McWilliam Gallery & Studio presents ‘Home Grown’ – an open submission exhibition showcasing artists associated with Banbridge District. Many of the works have been created specially for the exhibition. Installation, sculpture, video, painting and drawing will all be represented in what promises to be a notable celebration of local talent. Familiar figures like Dougal McKenzie, Mark McGreevy, Paddy Bloomer, Robert Peters, Jasper McKinney, Kevin McAleenan and Eddie Rafferty are included. The exhibition also highlights emerging talents such as Michael Hanna, Patrick Colhoun, Joanne Proctor and Criostoir. Locals who are making successful careers in England include Jason Mulligan and Lisa Castagner and are likewise in the frame. Home Grown: 9 December – 11 February
Designer art
Queen Street Studios Gallery in Belfast ushers in the New Year with a solo show by Limerick-born artist Allyson Keehan. The main focus of this artist’s paintings is the realistic representation of drapery. Her works are thus richly layered and stylistically complex, as the materials evoke a landscape of colour across the canvas. Recently Keehan undertook a residency in Takt Berlin. She now lives and works in Dublin. Allyson Keehan: 19 January – 18 February
Flesh or fowl?
The work of Dermot Seymour spans three decades. His idiosyncratic take on Irish life combines unflinching realism and symbolic ambiguity. The 1980s – when the surreal collided with the ordinary on a daily basis – saw Seymour (then still living in Belfast), develop and refine his unique style – described by writer Dermot Healy as ‘a circus of the imagination.’ When Seymour moved to the West of Ireland in 1991, the focus of his work shifted to a chronicle of rural life. But paintings are far removed from the romantic Irish landscape tradition. Fragments of plastic fertiliser bags are driven by the wind across sulphurous skies, while animals teeter on the edge of crumbling cliffs or float in undefined space. A retrospective of his work – entitled ‘Fish, Flesh & Fowl’ can be viewed at Golden Thread Gallery shortly. Dermot Seymour: 15 December – 1 February
Thirty years young
‘SPW30’ celebrates thirty years of excellence at Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor, Northern Ireland. SPW is an artist printmaking resource. The facility offers access to both traditional and contemporary printmaking processes. It caters to everyone with an interest in printmaking from the beginner to the professional artist. The forthcoming exhibition at Strule Arts Centre will give a unique insight into the organization’s history and an overview of current activities. A striving for excellence and innovation underpins its activities, as can be gleaned from a perusal of the selected works. SPW30: 2 December – 31 January
