#DLharbour200Art - To celebrate the Bicentenary of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the Dublin Painting & Sketching Club’s annual exhibition has a ‘maritime’ theme on display (8-21st May) in the Concourse Gallery, of the County Hall, Dun Laoghaire. Opening times at the Marine Road venue are 10.00 am – 5.00pm daily.

More than 100 artists with 250 paintings (including some 60 paintings with nautical topics) will be on view to the public in what will be the club’s 139th Annual Exhibition. The apt topic depict various scenes of the harbour, which began construction with a single pier in May 1817.

A preview of the exhibition was held yesterday in the National Maritime Museum, the former Mariners Church that overlooks the East Pier. As referred above this 'single' pier formed the original plan for a ‘Place of Refuge’. It was decided to add a second pier that became the West Pier that led to the completion of Kingstown Harbour.

The Dublin Sketching Club (as it was known when founded in 1874) has a pertinent link to the maritime theme, as in the 1890's and early 1900's, a group of artists who were members of the Club formed the Graphic Cruisers Club. They sailed on the ketch 'Iris' out into Dublin Bay and beyond to sketch and paint seascapes.

A number of significant events will be held in conjunction with the exhibition.

A harbour paint-out day for ‘plein air’ artists, open to all artists, to be held on Saturday 13th May and painting demonstrations on ‘marine painting’ on Saturday 20th May.

In addition, an artist at work on a painting, daily during the exhibition, painting critique sessions for amateur artists and exhibition guided tours.

Whyte’s will be offering a painting valuation session during the exhibition.

Full details from the DS&PC click here