In full swing....

Well the exhibition is up and running, and the opening was wonderful. The press commented the next day that they have never seen the gallery so crammed at an opening. Huge thanks are due to Grizel Hart of the museum at 7 Castle Hill, who did a wonderful job of publicising and catering. The speech by Bryan Wintermeyer of the Heritage foundation was great too, reminding those in attendance of how vital it is to preserve our heritage areas, not just because of sentiment, but because it is these areas which give character to to what would, without them, be just another ugly industrial city, and are therefore vital for tourism. Ironically, later in the evening, who should pitch up but Irish Slumlord Ken Denton! He has bought up 70% of the buildings in Central, and let them go to ruin, renting them out mostly to Nigerian pimps and drug dealers, and hugely contributing to the degradation and escalating crime in the area. With him was his very pregnant "fiance", cousin of Nelson Mandela's ex wife Winnie. (This despite the fact that his wife, to whom he is still married, is living back in Dublin, unaware of what has been going on, until informed recently by our local press.) I was tempted to ask him to leave, but did not want to ruin the evening with a confrontation.

The following day I popped in to see Tossie, from the other gallery I told you about, only to discover that the exhibition she offered me is starting on the 4th March, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
Anyway it has been a good motivator, and I have been painting like a madwoman! Will have lots of new work to show you soon.... (but not much time for posting or visiting!)