Posted by shaned on October 3, 2006 11:20 AM

Some readers may be aware that R & I are opening an art gallery/retail-emporium (tongue in cheek) in Waterford City. We're calling our little venture Manifesto which dictionary.com informs me means
"a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives, as one issued by a government, sovereign, or organization.".
So that's sorted then! It's very exciting to meet new artists, peruse the generally amazing collection of work they've got stashed away and then talk them into letting us sell it in Manifesto. By and large the feedback has been very positive. Last night we attended an exhibition in Waterford by Mercedes Helnwein in Eric Theze's absolutely stunning new restaraunt, La Boheme. La Boheme is based in the same 18th century listed building as Manifesto and I can strongly recommend both the ambience and the food. Stylish, scrumptious and reasonably priced. You really must visit.

Mercedes is the daughter of iconic 70s painter & all-round visual artist Gottried Helnwein. Meeting the child of a personal hero can often be an uncomfortable experience, doubly so when the progeny have embarked on a similiar career path. Mercedes has nothing to fear in any comparison. While her father's work is often provocative, hers has a warm intimacy and youthful vibrancy that shows a stunning technique to good effect. R & I were suitably impressed as we read her long list of accomplishments so you can expect some Mercedes Helnwein originals to appear in Manifesto in the near future. It's so exciting to be opening Manifesto. I'll keep readers up to date with happenings but provisionally, we're hoping to open at the start of November. I can't wait!

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