WAS it the delicious aroma from battered fish delivered from Mortell’s or the prospect of the catch of great art that drew crowds to Roches Street last week?
Either way, launch night to Roches Street Traders Arts Festival packed out the Serendipity venue for the opening auction and exhibition.
What set this arty party apart was this live auction of about 13 donated works for which Limerick School of Art and Design’s Mike Byrne worked the gavel, raising almost €2,000 within the hour.
Serendipity shoe shop owners Elaine and Vincent Cronin welcomed the big turnout including Mayor Kathleen Leddin, City of Culture co-ordinator Karl Wallace, beneficiaries Daughters of Charity’s Brenda Noonan and for Mid-West Parkinson’s, Una Anderson-Ryan with chairperson Billy Rice, festival chair John Sadlier and curator for the works spread over 36 sites, Hugh Lilburn.
“Anything not sold on the night – we have a reserve on some pieces – returns for sale and we accept bids in envelopes on them,” Hugh told Limerick Post. “As for the other sales, the split will be 75 per cent to the artist and 25 to the charities. For 2014 and City of Culture we will link in with Limerick Art Society to put a new spin on the show.”
Guest of honour Karl Wallace praised the festival as being a “totally Limerick event between the artists and the traders and having been of good benefit to the street for many years and the charities”. For him it invoked the ideal private and public model of partnership, something to look ahead to in initiating art schemes for his own brief.
The City of Culture co-ordinator revealed how he had witnessed his own father suffer from Parkinson’s Disease for 12 years before he passed away and then paid tribute to the “incredible service provided by Mid-West Parkinson’s – it is great to see what a resource is being offered to the community”.
Roches Street Traders Art Festival is current until September 21; ParkMagic is donating €2,000 of free parking to street to encourage footfall.
