Pikes, Saint Ibar or Colm Toibin novels might be associated more readily with Wexford: 17th century Russian icons are not. But local artist Brigid Conroy, a transplanted Dub, has pursued a passion for this art form which will go on show during the coming Wexford Opera Festival.
Ms Conroy's foray into this exotic art style is the latest in a series of reinventions she, a nurse by training, has undergone. Born in Chapelizod, she has also been a full-time mother, a nanny, an English teacher, a writer and a bed-and-breakfast keeper.
Her interest in 15th-17th century Russian iconography started when she did a history of art course at Trinity College Dublin nearly 20 years ago. "I wouldn't say it was a spiritual or intellectual compulsion, I just liked the colours and the shapes," she says.
She has adapted and diversified the theme, updating it and exploring the shapes and the mood of such art. "I take a small area on an icon and paint that, concentrating on the particular colours and shapes in one small part of a face." Her works, painted over many months, range in size from around 24 inches by 20 inches to five feet by seven feet.
"With every one, I provide a photograph of the original icon, so the viewer can compare the part of the original with my interpretation of it."
Ms Conroy also designs the frames for her pieces and has them made. "It's expensive for me but I think it's worth it," she says, "although local framers, Masterpiece Ltd, were generous and made materials available to me."
Her show during the opera festival (Oct 19th-Nov 4th) will be held in a shop in Fetitter's Lane, off South Main Street in Wexford town. Many other artists are also taking the opportunity to show their work while national and international visitors are flocking to Wexford for the increasingly popular festival. A "festival fringe" of theatre, music and cabaret joins the artistic explosion.
Becoming an artist was one sort of challenge, Brigid Conroy says. Becoming a public and purchased artist is quite another. "Even finding somewhere to exhibit was very difficult," she says. "Originally I was planning to have a show around Christmas time but by the end of September every exhibition space around Wexford is booked."
Brigid has a grown family, a daughter and two sons, one of whom is a stone sculptor. She hopes to devote herself full time to art, economics permitting.