"The mural on the wall of an otherwise hidden alleyway in Waterville was designed to draw attention to a very important phase of the Cill Rialig Project and of particular importance to Waterville and South West Kerry. The use of what was a disused dancehall to exhibit sculpture and paintings from leading artists who had visited the Cill Rialig Retreat, is also an atttempt to focus attention on Waterville as the ideal location for a major Arts Centre comprising both an exhibition space and a concert hall.....The undresigned and the young artist Fionnuala Collins thought long and hard about an "image" that might convey the spirit of Waterville(somewhat virgin in the arts) emerging resplendent from the sea like Bottecelli's Venus.We had no idea it would cause such a stir.It is certainly stopping the traffic(a percanial problem for Waterville much discussed by the local hard working IRD Commitee) and if it stops people in their tracks so they may visit the temporary gallery then our Venus and her pint of Stout will have done us all proud"

Noelle Campbelle-Sharpe

Origin Gallery,Dublin