Take your camera and ‘explore the landscape where you live’, says Jaro Waldeck after Wicklow exhibition

ARTIST Jaro Waldeck has said she hopes her recent exhibit in Bray will inspire others to explore and document the unique beauty of their own local landscapes.

In an exhibition of her photographs of Swedish landscapes, which finished last Sunday at the Signal Arts Centre, the cinematographer and photographer showed off the wild, natural scenes of northern Europe in a series of serene, isolated and often haunting photos.

She captured these images during several months of the pandemic when she was isolating in the Swedish midlands. She said she explored the area at all times of day and night, often spending several hours in nature trying to capture the new stillness that the pandemic had brought.

Now back in Ireland for her exhibition, she said she hopes it moves more people to discover where they live.

"I am delighted with the turn-out today, and happy to be able to show my photography to a wider audience,” Jaro said. “Perhaps it may spark interest in some visitors to want to pick up a camera and explore the landscape where they live. I would like to exhibit my collection this year in other counties (Westmeath is next) and also show it in my home town in the Czech Republic."

‘Swedish Landscapes’ by Jaro Waldeck has ended its show at the Signal Arts Centre, but all pieces can be viewed online and any unsold can be purchased via signalartscentre.ie.

Scenes from Bray itself will be on show at the gallery’s next show, which began on Monday. The Bray Artists’ Circle is the Signal Arts Centre painting group that has been getting together for 20 years. They meet once a week to collaborate and work with everything from oils to watercolour, acrylics and pastels.

Their new exhibition ‘Different Strokes’ highlights a selection of work using many different strokes and mediums. The show will run until February 19, with an openeing reception evening scheduled for Thursday, February 9 from 7-9pm.