The Art of Friendship Exhibition to give "a tiny bit of soul from Longford"

There will be a unique art exhibition in Longford Library from November 29. Called “The Art of Friendship”, this event is a fundraiser to fund gifts for vulnerable children living in war ravaged Ukraine. To date, the group, the Little Steps for Ukraine in Longford, has sent over 2,000 gifts to individual children who are suffering as a result of the ongoing missile and drone attacks on civilian targets. This has been possible due to the amazing support locally for this worthy cause. 

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The exhibition will be launched by well-known local auctioneer John Farrell (Farrell Bros. Auctioneering). Everybody is welcome to enjoy, view and purchase the pieces on display.

The entirety of the proceeds made will go towards this cause. The exhibition contains art created by well known artists living in Ukraine, Ukrainian artists living locally as well as those in London, Malaga and Spain.

Tiernan Dolan, who has helped make this event possible, came to chat in advance to the exhibition about the cause, and how it has been a continuous effort to bring help to children stuck in the war.

“The idea was that we are raising money,” he said. “I don’t like asking for money but I like to give something back, rather than just asking. That was the idea. There are Ukrainians here who are talented and want to contribute, and those in Ukraine who want to donate. Some of the artists are well-known in their country.”

There is an estimate of about ten artists involved in the exhibition. As it is nearing Christmas, Tiernan added that people may want to purchase something for a gift and/or give a contribution for the cause.

“I’m the Irish-Longford side of it, but the Ukrainians themselves buy all the little gifts locally and send them to individual children in Ukraine and liaise with people in Ukraine. Some go to orphanages as they have lost parents in the war. Recently, we got a lovely video from a lady desperate coming up to wintertime and had no coats for the children. What arrived? Two coats! You could see the children literally dancing because they got two winter coats.

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“The children over there are suffering hugely. Some have to have classes in the bomb shelters, homes being targeted. In the last shelling, there were a number of children killed. The children are traumatised as well during conflict. It is to bring a tiny bit of soul from Longford to the children of Ukraine.”

Opening hours for the exhibition will coincide with the Longford Library hours. Viewings will last until November 29 when the exhibition will be taken down, and Tiernan hopes that many people will come to view the pieces.