Out of The Blue, an exhibition of work by Regina O’Dea will open in the Old Courthouse, Kinvara, this Friday, July 26.

Regina is based in the Burren and this exhibition portrays some of the quirky and ephemeral scenes she has observed there.

This body of work is a collection of cyanotypes and is Regina’s second solo exhibition with the KAVA (Kinvara Area Visual Artists) group.

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process which produces a distinctive cyan blue print, explains the artist who has a background in craft, model-making and interior design.

It was mostly used by engineers up to the mid-20th century as a convenient way to produce copies of drawings, referred to as blueprints, she adds.

The process was famously used by nineteenth century botanist and photographer Anna Atkins, who was the first person to illustrate a book with photographic images. Using the cyanotype process, she produced impressively detailed blueprints of botanical specimens.

Many of Regina’s images are created using digital negatives of her photographs while others are made via a more experimental process, known as ‘wet cyanotype’.

Regina explains what’s involved.

“When the chemical cyanotype solution is still wet on the paper, you place other reactive materials on the paper –  such as salt, vinegar or soap. These cause  chemical reactions which create interesting and unpredictable effects on your prints.”

She uses this in combination with plant material to create more abstract images.

Out of the Blue will be opened by well-known local artist Patsy Connolly at 8pm this Friday and will run daily 11am-5pm until Sunday, August 4.

All are welcome to the launch and to the Courthouse gallery until August 4.

Pictured: Jesus in the Fridge is among the works being shown at the Courthouse Gallery.