Barbara Freeman - A Retrospective
F.E McWilliam Gallery, Bainbridge, Co. Down. BT32 3NB
Exhibition runs 14.06.25 - 27.09.25
A bit of background
Just over a year ago, as I was finishing up my residency in Creative Spark and just before I moved into Bó studios, I contacted Na Cailleacha in search of a mentor. I loved their line on their website;
‘Between us we share well over 500 years of experience of being women, as artists, as curator/writer/historian and as composer’ I thought to myself; what better place to start my search for a mentor.
They very kindly (and democratically) discussed my request at a group meeting and it was felt that Barbara Freeman would be most suited to helping me out with my request. Thank you Barbara, I know you read my blog posts and that means a lot. Your advice has been spot on and you will always be an inspiration. I was delighted to get an invitation to the opening of your Retrospective exhibition and it was wonderful to finally meet you in person.
She, Her, They (2021). When I first met Barbara over Zoom, she very kindly shared with me the background for her piece which was part of a collaborative project with Na Cailleacha for the Bones in the Attic exhibtion at the Hugh Lane Gallery. As an artist, learning to explore and create, no matter the surroundings or limitations, is very important.
The Exhibition
Barbara’s work, which spans decades beautifully undulates between digital and traditional processes like etching, oil, charcoal, video, scans, photoshop and sculpture. There is always a depth and quality to the work which I find absorbing, I am envious of all those colours especially the reds and blues; they pack a punch. But it’s also Barbara’s openness for collaboration and that cross pollination that adds a rounded, richness to the work.
The exhibition could not possibly include everything since the 1960s but the selected works concerning the body, music, time and memory are perfectly curated.
The gallery guides at the F.E McWilliam gallery are very well trained and I was speaking to one of the guides, Margaret, before the opening who was able to give me some great insights into some of the pieces. I particularly liked the story of the etching plates which Barbara found in Rome and used to make the Roma series. Not only are the etchings very beautiful, but Barbara returned the plates to where she had found them once she had finished making prints.
This generosity and reciprocity is something I’m exploring at the moment in my own art practice and if anyone reading this knows anything about the work of scholar, Donna Haraway I would be very much obliged if you could get in touch with me (Donna’s work, specifically her book, Staying with the Truth is part of our current post grad module).
Barbara Freeman - A Retrospective runs until the 27th September at the F.E. William gallery, Bainbridge.
Also if Elisabeth is reading this, it was lovely to meet you too at the exhibition. The podcast I mentioned was The Great Women Artists with Katy Hessel.