“As opening nights go, artist Siobhan McDonald could not have hoped for a more spectacular turnout at the launch of her ?Seed? exhibition at the Cross Gallery. In fact, at one point, some of the 100-strong crowd were forced to spill out onto Francis Street – so it was a good thing the weather stayed blissfully balmy. Guests Irish opera singer Sam McElroy, model Sarah Bargus, designer Helen Cody and artists Gillian Lawler and Cliona Doyle were among those sipping white wine, sparking water and Sambuccas as the pored over the 31 paintings. Inspired by her travel through Thailand, the works, executed on both canvas and paper, featured a mixed palette of oil paint, plaster, pigments and beeswax to reflect natural elements. These art lovers obviously liked what they saw, since more than half the pieces were snapped up on the night. A delighted Siobhan could look forward to a well-deserved holiday in Italy. “