Local artist Josephine Geaney will open her new exhibition 'Transforming the Landscape' at Nenagh Arts Centre on September 5, 2025, with historian John Flannery performing the official opening. The exhibition was commissioned by Siga-Hydro and features works inspired by the Silvermines landscape, particularly the man-made lake formed from an open pit after mining ceased in 1993. Geaney's abstract style captures the textures, forms, and atmosphere of the former mining lands, addressing themes of climate change and renewable energy.
This exhibition matters because it highlights how contemporary visual art can engage with environmental and industrial heritage issues at a local level. By transforming industrial remnants into expressive abstract works, Geaney fosters community dialogue about place, history, and identity while drawing attention to the Silvermines Hydro Project's land rehabilitation efforts. It exemplifies the role of local arts centres in presenting socially relevant, site-specific work that connects residents to their landscape and shared memory.