FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            March 13, 2009

SEE THE IRISH THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY THROUGH THE EYES OF CARY, INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

CARY, NC – Two Cary natives, Patrick Bartley and Heath Clayton, have brought the Irish to Cary in a spectacular photography exhibit, “At the Edges of the Day”, now on display through March 24 at Cary’s Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop.  The two-part exhibit features photographs of County Meath , Ireland , taken by Bartley and Clayton, as well as photographs of Cary taken by Andrew Ellis and Andrew Kelly of County Meath , Ireland , which is one of Cary ’s Sister Cities.  The exhibit is part of the Cultural Exchange, a program initiated by the Sister Cities Association to provide artistic, educational opportunities for citizens.  Guests can also meet the two Cary artists during an artists’ reception on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Arts Center .

The exhibition explores the people, places, economy and culture of Sister Cities Cary, North Carolina and County Meath , Ireland as seen through the eyes of the photographers.  Through their display, the photographers illuminate and illustrate the character of the communities.  Bartley and Clayton are members of the Cary Photographic Artists in Cary and Kelly and Ellis are members of the Navan Camera Club in County Meath . 

“We’re pleased to bring these talented individuals together in a cultural and artistic exchange,” said Public Art Coordinator Denise Dickens, who is also a co-curator of the exhibit.  “This project moves the Sister Cities’ goals forward by fostering an exchange of ideas and by opening the doors for friendships with our counterparts in other cultures on a personal basis.”

Following the Cary show, the exhibit will then travel to Navan, County Meath , Ireland where it is scheduled to be shown at Solstice Arts Center July 16 - August 22, 2009 .

This project was funded in part by the Sister Cities Association of Cary, Inc., a community-based 501c3 non-profit organization open to any individual or business interested in promoting and fostering Cary ’s Sister Cities relationships.  The project was supported in part by a grant from the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, TOC Public Art Program, Meath County Council Arts Office, Cary Photographic Artists, and private donations from: VirtualMe, Weststar, and The World Company.

Cary ’s Sister Cities Commission, in collaboration with Sister Cities International, strives to further global understanding and to encourage and assist sister city relationships; through Sister Cities International, Cary is currently partnered with County Meath in Ireland , Hsinchu City , Taiwan , and LeTouquet , France . The Town also has a relationship with Markham , Canada through which economic development and cultural exchanges are promoted. 

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