Purple Raven is an intimate art gallery tucked away in a country lane in Crowenstown just outside Delvin.
It has become a meeting place for the Delvin community and showcases the work of local artists. The gallery is owned and run by Crowenstown native, Hazel Revington-Cross who has built a welcoming environment for her customers.
“My biggest inspiration is to have a community of people that will support each other. It’s not for the money, I can tell you,” she told Topic.
Hazel was working as a catering manager and living in Limerick when she had her first child. She decided to move back to Crowenstown and wanted to do something at home that also gave her the freedom to mind her son and decided to open a garden centre. She received help from Dave O’Shea who owns the Chimera art gallery in Mullingar in the early days. Dave had a key role to play in the birth of Purple Raven.
“One day he came in and saw a piece of art that I had done — and I had hidden all my art up until then. He said ‘why aren’t you trying to sell some of your art’,” Hazel recounted.
Surrounded by potted plants, the seed was sown for an art gallery and the garden centre gradually morphed into Purple Raven. What was once a shed for tools and plants became a showroom for local artists as the garden centre became a car park. Hazel began displaying local art works along with handmade crafts and Purple Raven has “kept evolving and growing” ever since according to the artist. Community is at the heart of the gallery and many of the featured artists are Delvin natives.
“Some of the artists were customers when I had the garden centre. Jonathan Van Baumann is living in Delvin but I originally met Jonathan when he would come in to buy plants. He became one of the artists.”
Spirituality
Hazel said she has also introduced a “spiritual aspect” which includes meditation and drumming circles. Groups can take part in relaxation sessions and sound baths. Hazel’s approach is informed by her eclectic experience with spirituality.
“I would be very spiritual but not necessarily religious. I’ve kind of dipped my toe into all types of things from Buddhism, a little bit of witchcraft, pagan practices — all sorts,” she said.
Hazel said she was inspired to introduce sound therapy during the lockdowns. Purple Raven already offered drumming circles but she decided to ramp up this aspect of the business. The Crowenstown native said they use drums to create vibrations which the group sends out as “a big wave of love into the community”.
“It’s a huge addition and a really positive one as well,” said Hazel.
Peace, love and unity
She said Purple Raven has “all the hippie stuff” for sale including knitwear, woodcarvings, pottery, candles and spiritual items. Hazel said these spiritual items are Purple Raven’s “bread and milk” which includes incense, crystals and Florida water.
The words peace, love and unity are printed all over Purple Raven and these are the pillars propping up the gallery. An outdoors area beside the gallery gives visitors a chance to meet up with others and chat. Hazel said it also helps to “get rid of the snobbery associated with art”. She said some people feel “intimidated” to discuss art because they feel they may not know enough. Purple Raven aims to make art accessible for all and Hazel’s customers love the atmosphere she has created.
“They absolutely love it. It’s a community we have. We have people from all backgrounds and all walks of life.”
“People just want to be around like-minded people. Especially since the lockdowns. If that taught people anything it was that we need other people.”
