MLA art exhibition

A display of poems, paintings and photographs highlighted the talents of MLAs and the relevance of art to society as a whole. Peter Cheney sums up the MLA Art exhibition.

Original examples of political art were on display at Parliament Buildings over the summer. Thirty-six Assembly members submitted 44 contributions to the MLA Art competition, organised by Belfast’s Metropolitan Arts Centre.

Danny Kinahan took the overall top prize. His ‘Homage to Basil Blackshaw’ comprises four blocks of colour, with an etching of Parliament Building on each, and is based on Blackshaw’s piece ‘The Barn (Blue), The Barn (Red)’. The piece also took the best painting award.

‘The Peloton of Hope’ by Conall McDevitt was named best poem, edging ahead of Barry McElduff’s ‘Carmen to Carson’. Judges were divided with the final decision made by literature critic Davy Torrens, who owns the No Alibis bookstore on Botanic Avenue.

David McClarty’s photo of Mussenden Temple, located in East Londonderry, emerged as a clear winner in that category.

“We knew when we launched the competition that there was a hidden Heaney or a modest Monet and we’re really pleased with the results,” said MAC Chief Executive Anne McReynolds. The centre saw this as a “fun event with as serious message,” emphasising that art can be enjoyed by everyone and its facilities (to open next March) will raise the profile of Northern Ireland and Belfast.

The MAC decided to run the competition, to thank MLAs for their support as the project took shape, and it plans to start every new Assembly term with a similar exhibition.