We have launched our new websites recently. Upgraded you could say but streamlined for easy reading. Visitors can subscribe to our blog there as well. That way we can keep people posted as to what is happening at the studio and the state of affairs in Derry. Also on the websites are specific directions to finding us and we have taken leave to draw attention to our very popular presentations on our work. These brief talks are tailor-made for tourists who want to investigate The People’s Gallery by themselves and need some information as to what the murals are about. Art students of course are thrilled to learn about the actual painting of the murals. We explain all by very rare footage and slides. They also get to see our magnificent gallery. Admission to the studio is free and booking is very easy via the websites or by phoning the studio. This information can be printed out from the tours site :http://www.freederrymurals.com.

 It is all very simple really. The sacred vacated art at the time of the Enlightenment because It generally doesn’t hang around where It is not wanted,…  even before that indeed, when humanism reached its apogee at the end of the Renaissance and man got too big for his boots. The sacred, being what art was meant to serve, having been  banished from the universe, the art world and the shrewdies who run it had nothing left but aimless inventiveness (Picasso et al) to worship and gimmickry or novelty which is where art has pitched its tent for the foreseeable future. On the back of that of course is ego-mania, the very fuel of our cultural demise. The artist now elects to walk in the Messianic sandals brandishing his brushes of self-delusion with utter conviction aided and abetted from the wings by Moneybags and his disciples in the manner of Don Quixote being egged on by his faithful dependent Sancho Panza. Ergo, your successful ‘artist’ today is an ego-maniac hell bent in upsetting people with the novel or the plain revolting in order to make a name for himself and to keep his enablers and himself laughing all the way to the bank. Your granny’s fireside embroidered hankie is closer to the true meaning and purpose of art than Mr.Hirst and his ilk with all their overpriced vacuous doodles. Whatever else you may think of our humble offerings we at least didn’t fall for any of what masquerades as ‘contemporary’ art.  Now,… I must retire…. for a contemporary coffee.

“What goes into these huge brick wall murals? “The People’s Gallery” is a look at what went into the creation of twelve murals inside of Derry done by the arrangement of three artists: Tom Kelly, Kevin Hasson, and William Kelly. These murals have become major tourist attractions, and the reasons behind their creations as well as how they were created are discussed at length. Featuring full color photographs, “The People’s Gallery” is of interest to any collection focused on public art and murals.”

MBR Bookwatch: May 2009. Reviewer John Taylor.