CCI-newsletter-1976-5

NEWSLETTER N o . 5, J a n u a r y - March, 1976, c/o

Royal Dublin Society

Ball's Bridge

Dublin 4

ALL IRELAND CRAFT EXHIBITION 1976 The Crafts Council of Ireland is pleased to announce that in conjunction with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, an Chomhairle Ealaoin, the Ulster Museum and the M^icipal Gallery, the first All Ireland Craft Exhibition will be held in the Autumn of 1976.

The Exhibition will seek to present a picture of the role of the craftworker in contemporary Ireland. The items sought for the Exhibition will be those which emphasise craftwork in an evolutionary sense and encouragement will be given to the submission of pieces which show both creative and technical innovation.

Method of Selection There is an open invitation to any craftworker, normally resident in Ireland, to submit a maximum of three pieces of their work. The preliminary selection will be made from 35mm slides and each entrant is asked to send both a detailed closeup shot and an overall shot of each piece they wish to have considered for exhibition. An international panel will review these slides and will make an initial choice of items to be sent for final selection. This method, it is felt, will enable the widest possible number of craftworkers to participate and will not deprive them of select and expensive pieces of work for a longer than necessary period of time. It will also enable the Crafts Council of Ireland to form the basis of a comprehensive slide archive of Irish craftwork. (At present no such collection exists). Assistance and advice on photography will be available to craftworkers on request.

Ireland

telephone 680645

The Crafts Council of Ireland emphasise that this is not a competition. This Exhibition offers a unique opportunity to Irish craftworkers to present their work to the public generally, to government agencies and educational authorities to whom the craftworker will make continued demands for support. The Crafts Council cannot go out and select items — as indeed it had first been suggested they might, an idea they rejected — because they felt it would be more correct if an international panel chose from the items submitted by the craftworkers themselves.

So craftworkers of Ireland — from Dingle to Derry and Glendalough to Galway — the success or failure of the Exhibition rests with you. You have two months to select and photograph pieces of your work — remember any pieces completed after January 1, 1975 are eligible — and submit your slides before 30 April 1976. Further information: The Hon. Secretary, Crafts Council of Ireland, C/O Royal Dublin Society, Ball's Bridge, Dublin 4.

COMPETITIONS 34th International Competition of Contemporary Artist Ceramics, Faenza, Italy

Selection Panel

This competition will be held in the town of Faenza from 25 July to 3 October 1976. It is held 'In order to encourage the pursuit of new creations, as regards inventiveness, practical utility and suitable techniques'.

Dr Erika Billeter, Kunsthaus Zurich, Switzerland Mr Mo Jupp, Kent, England

The Competition is open to artists, craftsmen, industrial designers, schools and manufacturers.

They will be aided by two Irish advisers:

The participation may be either individual or collective.

Mr Patrick Scott Mr James Warwick

National representations arranged by Ministries or Cultural Associations are welcomed.

The Exhibition will open in the Ulster Museum, Belfast on September 30, 1976 and in the Municipal Gallery, Dublin on November 16, 1976.

The Competition is divided into three departments: a) works of art of single ceramists b) products of everyday use and functional products c) works of students of institutes and schools of art

Slides will be accepted up to 12.00 noon on April 30, 1976 by:

The works selected by appointed Juries will take part in the International Exhibition of Contemporary Artistic Ceramics that is to take place in Faenza from 25 July to 3 October.

The Hon. Secretary All Ireland Crafts Exhibition C/o Royal Dublin Society Ball's Bridge Dublin 4

Completed application forms must arrive before May 15.

The address of the Secretariat is: The Municipal Palace (tel.: 28646) and during the Exhibitions also in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Corso Mazzini 92, tel.: 22294).

Closing date for slides

After the success of Jack and Joan Doherty in 1974 and Anna and Ole Nielsen in 1975 in this competition we are sure many Irish potters will be encouraged to enter.

The Italian Cultural Institute is at 11 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2 and they will give whatever help they can to competitors.

Clare The Clare Craftworkers Association, representing more than 20 workshops in the county, has been busy in the last few months. They have published a guide map showing the location and products of the different workshops in the county and this has been distributed widely.

Miniature Textiles The Second International Exhibition of Miniature Textiles by the British Crafts Centre will be held in London, JulyAugust 1976. The Exhibition will be on an open competition basis with a small International Jury.

Details: The Organiser, The British Crafts Centre, 43 Earlham Street, London.

The Association recently mounted an exhibition in the Crescent Shopping Centre which attracted some 15,000 visitors. The exhibition and ensuing publicity resulted in craftworkers receiving many enquiries and orders not only from Clare but from across the country.

Those interested in crafts in Co. Clare should contact: John Costello, Secretary, Clare Craftworkers Association, Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare.

EXHIBITIONS Festival of Arts and Crafts at Ireland House The annual 'Festival of Arts and Crafts' exhibition will be held at Ireland House, Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 from March 10-20, 1976 and will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm daily.

The exhibition will comprise a wide variety of craft products including silverwork, pottery, coppercraft, woodcarvings and crystalcraft and the underlying emphasis will be on those products of a practical and utilitarian nature.

Daily demonstrations of their work by master craftsmen will be a feature of the exhibition and will afford the general public an opportunity to appreciate the individual skill and creativity which go into the making of a craft product. The 'Festival of Arts and Crafts' will thus benefit both producer and consumer and timed as it is to coincide with the beginning of the new season should prove of maximum marketing benefit to the participants.

Roscommon Slievebawn Co-Operative has initiated a pilot programme with a Community Development Group in Belfast for the training of youth leader homecraft workers. In addition Slievebawn is sponsoring the attendance of two adult youth leaders to the ICA Training College at Termonfeckin in Co. Louth.

Bord Failte, in conjunction with the Midland Region Tourist Authority, have approved a development plan for Slievebawn Co-Operative and will grant aid in 1977 and 1978.

The development scheme will include the building of a Folk House which will illustrate both traditional and contemporary homecrafts and the building of a Functions Barn which will serve not only as a Community Centre but as a training centre for craftworkers and cultural centre for the district.

Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

REGIONAL NEWS Galway Following the meeting of craftworkers held in Galway in December, a steering committee has been formed and plans to establish a craftworkers' association are under way. All those interested in the making, selling, teaching and learning of crafts please contact Mr Charles Lynch, County Development Officer, Galway County Development Team, Hynes Building, St. Augustine's Street, Galway, who is leading the steering committee pending the election of permanent officers.

Wexford An open meeting was held in Wexford Arts Centre on February 18. The Executive of the Crafts Council attended and the meeting was addressed by Mr Frank Sutton, Chairman. Mr John Small, Chairman, Wexford Arts Centre, orchestrated a lively discussion and with the offer of the firm help of Mr Andrew Potter, Administrator of the Arts Centre, we feel sure that in the next issue of this newsletter we may be able to report on the formation of a Wexford Crafts Association.

The activities of this new guild continue to expand. Meetings are held in the National College of Art and Design under the helpful eye of Miss Lillias Mitchell.

On January 23, Miss Muriel Beckett, winner of both RDS and CTT awards talked to the guild about her studies in Wetterhoff in Finland.

Folk Spinning Miss Mitchell attended a study conference on flax spinning in Shrewsbury recently. It is sad to learn from her that the art has died out completely in Ireland. If any reader has any information on this subject perhaps they would be kind enough to pass it on to Miss Mitchell who is gathering it for the records of the Guild — and indeed for the country.

The Guild seeks new members and guarantees to make them welcome.

Irish Society for Design and Craftwork Kerry The Kerry Craft Association now has 48 registered members who are busy planning an exhibition of their work which will be held in Killarney at the beginning of May to coincide with Pan Celtic Week.

The Annual General Meeting of this society will be held on March 9, 1976 at 32 Clyde Road. Miss Angela O'Brien, Hon. Secretary reports. The Society's plans for the coming year include an exhibition to be held in Dublin in August and a lecture series for the winter months.

COURSES

WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL - EUROPEAN SECRETARIAT

Judith Toner Malkiewicz is at present establishing a spinning, weaving and dyeing school and workshop at her home in Co. Wicklow. Classes are available mornings and evenings on Wednesdays. Phone 874447 or write to C/O Toner, Black­ berry House, Blackberry Lane, Delgany, Co. Wicklow.

This office is run in conjunction with the President's — Lord Eccles — office. Mrs Geraldine Kew is there on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and on Mondays and Fridays, the British Crafts Centre, in whose premises the office is, will assist visitors. The correct address is: Worlds Crafts Council The British Crafts Centre 43 Earl ham Street London WC2H 9LD, England and craftworkers who visit London are assured of a welcome.

The weaving course is for beginners. Minimal equipment is required — stretcher bar, frame, needles and yarn.

Tapestry and free-form techniques are taught over a four week period —three hours each class — total twelve hours.

Those wishing to continue onto the four harness loom can enquire.

The spinning and dyeing class consists of basic beginners' spinning on the drop spindle, carding, preparation of wool and theoritical and practical dyeing with flowers, plants and vegetables.

Private classes are available on the spinning wheel.

Large group classes can be organised on week-ends and can include young children.

Later this year Judith Malkiewicz hopes to develop a centre in Delgany where craftsmen can meet, exchange ideas, learn new techniques, teach and show their work. Judith Malkiewicz will make available to her students a variety of books, magazines and slides for private study.

MrSMalkiewicz has recently returned from Los Angeles, California, where she had a craft career for 2/2 years. There she gave many workshops and organised 6 craft fairs in the local community for local craft workers.

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INSURANCE

MEXICO CONGRESS The theme for the World Crafts Council Conference to be held in Mexico in June is 'The Living Crafts — Traditional and Quality'. Travel to Mexico is expensive and there is no charter group going from Europe. Would-be participants are advised to book ABC (Advance Booking Charter) 90 days beforehand to New York and connect with the American Crafts Council charter from there. Further information from the Hon. Secretary, Crafts Council of Ireland, Ball's Bridge, Dublin 4.

An amateur photographic contest with the theme 'Folk Art' (handcraft, music, literature) will be held in conjunction with the Congress. There will be three categories: a) Black and white 11" x 14" b) Colour 11" x 14" c) 35 mm slides of 6 cm x 6 cm

1. Public Liability Insurance With the increased interest in crafts all over the country, and with the publication of such booklets as 'Guide to Crafts in Ireland' (CCI/BFE - March 1976) and 'Guide Map to County Kilkenny Crafts' (Annamult Prints) and the 'Guide Map to Clare Craftworkers' it seems reasonable to assume that workshops and studios can look forward to having many visitors in the coming months.

The Crafts Council of Ireland will be pleased to co-ordinate the Irish entry and we feel that there is now a double incentive for Irish craftworkers to begin to photograph their work.

Slides are required for entry for the All Ireland Craft Exhibition and they can be used for the World Crafts Council Exhibition as well.

May we remind them to check on their Public Liability Insurance so that in the unfortunate case of an accident occuring on their premises, they are properly covered.

POSTSCRIPT 2. Health Insurance The Crafts Council of Ireland is establishing a Group Scheme within the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme. There are decided advantages to being a member of a group — reduced premiums — being the most obvious! Most craftworkers normally work as individuals or in units too small to take advantage of group offers. By organising this scheme the Crafts Council of Ireland are offering practical service to craftworkers. Details from the Hon. Secretary.

3. Pension Craftworkers are normally not eligible for Group Pension Schemes (we know, of course, that craftworkers never really grow old — but it might be nice to 'mature' in comfort!).

Negotiations are under way for the establishment of a pension scheme. If you are interested — and you should be — please contact the Hon. Secretary for details.

We remind you that this newsletter is primarily for and about the craftworker in Ireland. If it is to succeed in forging a communications channel between the individual, the groups, co-operatives and organisations with a commitment to crafts and craftworkers, then singly and collectively you must send details of meetings, exhibitions or events —queries you may have — news of courses and competitions to: The Hon. Secretary Crafts Council of Ireland C/O Royal Dublin Society Ball's Bridge Dublin 4 Member organisations of the CCI will receive copies of the newsletter for distribution to their members. Individuals can request additional copies by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the above address.