Improvisations at Kenny Art Gallery

Improvisations,  an exhibition of new paintings by Fran McCann will be opened at the Kenny Gallery this Friday, September 5, at 6pm. The event will be formally launched by Supermac’s founder and managing director, Pat McDonagh.

Fran McCann is an expressive painter whose dancing musical and mythical figures emerge from vibrant backgrounds in a style reminiscent of Jack Yeats.

A self-taught artist, who emerged from Belfast in the 1960s, McCann learned to draw to impress his schoolmates.

But he attracted the ire of some schoolteachers who thought that his dyslexia would prevent him from excelling in any area.  However, he got a lucky break when draughtsman John Luke recognised his talent and took Fran under his wing.

Northern Ireland’s Troubles saw McCann and family move to Australia, where the trowel replaced his pencil, brush and palette knife.

His return to Ireland marked a new  beginning in his relationship with art.

When Fran McCann began to express himself artistically again after returning home it was with paint rather than through drawing. He found that painting with a knife was the most immediate and direct way to express his ideas.

McCann is also a gifted saxophonist, and images of musicians often enter his paintings.  Although a keen observer of the world around him, his paintings express an inner world of emotion rather than a naturalistically rendered reality.

Improvisation will run at The Kenny Gallery until October 2.