oliver currans bio, carlingford race, donegal village art from ireland

A bit of Olivers past happenings here first as we try and get his Bio In order. Way back to 2001 & 2002 & 2003 when Oliver was heading around the USA.   23/10/02
Oliver's work was on display at the Fitzpatrick Hotel in New York City from December 6th to 8th. This was to be a big event for the artist, as it was his first time in the USA with his art & his first solo show outside of Ireland. The show, featured twenty or so paintings, including many of his most recent Famine and "political" pieces.
The artist stated that he nearly got his death with the cold & a flu as the hotel bedroom was unheated, windows were open on his arrival at the room at about one in the morning & a snow blizzard threw flakes into the room, after many attempts to close them, he tried phoneing the desk, but the phone was broke,tired and weary & with the thought of getting lost in the corridors he eventually fell asleep s in his clothes and over coat beneath & rolled up in sheets, the hotel did say sorry, but a long way down the line.

Irish composer and arranger Phil Coulter is seen here with Oliver in In Fitzpatricks after making a supprise visit to what Oliver called a dismal venue, not even a plate of biscuits or a cup of tea was on hand, for such a supposedly top notch hotel I found it a sad place to be, I wasnt even allowed to put a poster in the reception or hall, and so anyone that did come to the show, were not long In going away again because they couldnt find me, the place had a tiny lift to the floor where the exhibition was, finding the lift was the problem for most people even though it was located in the reception, the staff knew nothing about the exhibition and so couldnt advise when asked questions by the visitors. One lady called Fox took nearly an hour finding the art, she came and went twice thinking she had the wrong place. Consequently the exhibition was a dismal flop, I was never so glad to get out of a place Oliver finally stated.

Anyway News on the old curranart web site at the time stated on
26/1/03
That following Oliver's exhibit in New York, more exhibits were offered in the U.S. & were planned - in the Philadelphia area and in Washington, DC.

First was a show in Bethlehem, PA.
Donegal Square. GRANNY McCarthys Tea Room & or the Celtic shop 534 Main St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.
Phone 610 866 3244, Fax 610 861 7667
February 7, Private Invitation
Saturday, February 8 :10am-6pm
Sunday, February 9 : 12-4pm

Next was a showing at The Banshee, a popular Irish pub in Scranton, PA. The details are as follows:
The Banshee, 320 Penn Ave, Scranton, PA, 18508.
Phone 570 969 4248, Contact Pat Rogers
Show times Mar 1st 10am-8pm. Mar 2nd 10am-4pm

Then it was off to the nation's capital, where Oliver was the featured artist in a group exhibit at Jurys Hotel, Washington DC.
This was on March 28, 5pm-9pm
March 29, 10am-6pm
Jurys Hotel
1500 New Hampshire Avenue
Washington, DC 20026
Tel : (202) 483 6000

The Affordable Art Fair was an exhibit that aimed to provide exposure for artists whose works are affordable to the masses. Currently in New York, at around the time Oliver was there. The event was a huge success and well managed. In London 2003 the same people were to run a show there.   it was due to open in March that year but Oliver nor his paintings for one reason or another,never got there.

18/9/02
Lots were going on at CurranArt.com at this stage In Olivers art Infancy !
Three of Oliver's most recent works could and can be seen gracing the pages of 2River.org, the online literary and art journal. Go to the Fall edition of the "2River View", where you can see Seeds for the Famished, Mass on the Rock andLament of the Land, all painted this year and focussing on the Famine theme of much of his latest work.

Several of Oliver's paintings went on display in the Irish art exhibit at the Franklin Center, Philadelphia. 30/7/02.   The exhibit ran from September 12th through November 17th, 2002. This was as said the first time Oliver's paintings have crossed the Atlantic for a show. & If you wer in the neighbourhood, lots stoped by the Franklin Center, Route 1, Media, PA, 19091.Where Olivers work was loved and admired.

October that year was hoped to bring Oliver back to Wexford for the 2002 Festival. His exhibit there in St Iberias In 2001 was praised as one of the best of the "Fringe Festival" offerings, his work litterly brought many of the Lady audience to tears and it was a sell out. The donations to the church during the exhibition reached a high never before seen.

16/4/02
Oliver was also part of a fundraising effort for the Special Olympics in Northern Ireland In his home town of Newry In Co Down . His work will be was on display and he offered one large piece to be offered up for auction on July 8. The image sold for over the estimate. Go to Art.ie for more details.

He was also a featured artist at Celtic.com, a store site where he won artist of the month.