Lighthouses provided the unofficial theme at the unveiling of an exhibition at the Cross Gallery in Francis Street on Tuesday evening. Artist Kate Byrne explains that her husband, John Gore Grimes, is unable to attend because he is on the Grainne Mhaol "inspecting lighthouses". His commitments keep him in the Atlantic, somewhere off Clew Bay, and away for the opening of a show from six artists who all graduated from the National College of Art and Design last year.
Byrne is expecting her sisters, however - Marie Keegan, Bernie McGabhann and Tess Byrne - and watches out for their arrival. Then her in-laws arrive: Celia Scott, and her son and daughter - John and Katharine Scott. Ciaran Benson, professor of psychology in UCD, and his archivist daughter, Leah Benson, are also here.
Lighthouse link number two is found in the work of artist Fidelma O'Neill, who is with her family - senior counsel Hugh O'Neill and their daughters Sally (18) and Jennifer (14) as well as son George (12). Her collection, entitled "Warning signals series", features her photographic work of the machinery in the lighthouse at St John's Point in Co Down.
The other artists exhibiting under the collective title of "Artpoint" are Paul Guven, Brian Hannigan, Anthony Collins and Coilin Rush. John Hunt, of Limerick's Hunt Museum, "goes on stage" to open the show and encourage everyone to come back to view the artists' work for a second, quieter time.