BishopAccountability.org
	Dundalk Priest's Art to Depict Sexual Abuse in the Church Dundalk Democrat November 11, 2009 http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/dundalknews/Dundalk-priest39s-art-to-depict.5811354.jp A FRANCISCAN Friar who grew up in Dundalk is preparing to exhibit his artwork which depicts sexual abuse in the church at an arts festival. According to Friar Father Joe Walsh from Castle Road his artwork is "a visual response to the Ryan Report", a document which revealed widespread abuse in industrial and reformatory schools run by religious orders. Friar Walsh has a degree in Fine Applied Arts from the University of Ulster, Belfast and his installation is set to take centre stage at an arts festival at Multyfarnham Friary in Co Westmeath. Due to open on Friday, November 27 the exhibition is called 'Straying Closer to the Truth'. "We've had an enormous amount of talking about the content of the Ryan Report. Sometimes talk can diminish the reality of it. This is an attempt to move away from words and to use images," he said. "I'm hoping it will touch people and if there is to be a debate that we discuss our perception of children and have a debate on childrens' rights which I think is badly needed." Children across the country will also have the opportunity to participate in the exhibition and are being invited to submit artwork depicting what God means to young people for a competition. All entries will be displayed during the week. The Franciscan Order is currently celebrating its 800th anniversary and some very rare artifacts, manuscripts and silverware will be on display from its long history. "This exhibition represents that point in a process that began in May of 2008 when a number of young artists answered our invitation to join us at the Abbey in Multyfarnham," said Friar Walsh. "Our intention was to engage with creative people with a view to enlarging and enriching our vision for Multyfarnham and for our way of life as friars in the 21st Century. "It would be true to say that the Friars were delighted with the daily meetings and conversations with the artists and the residents were loud in their appreciation of sharing our space and our lives with us." To find out more about the inaugural festival including how to enter the childrens' art competition check out www.closertomulty.ie.
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