Stopress, CCoI Autumn 2009

AUTUMN 2009 new ceramics award p. 5 generation p. 40

26 Showcase Preparations in Full Swing page 7

News and Reviews P.2

Autumn Greetings from the CEO

P.3

CCoI Welcomes New Chairman,

P.4

Your Contacts and Supports at CCoI

P.5

CCoI Launchs New Ceramics Award GANS meeting in Kilkenny

P.6

2011 Year of Craft

P.7

Showcase Preparations in Full Swing

P.8

Trends at Showcase 2010

WCC - Europe General Assembly

P.10 New Craft Strand…a great success P.13 CCoI Jewellery Graduates 2009 P.14 Launch of Creative Pathways P.16 CCoI at Higher Options 2009 A World of Opportunity for Úna Burke P.17 Cream of Irish Design at 100% Design P.18 RDS National Crafts Competition P.20 Craftmaker in Context - Rob D’Eath

Craft Community News P.22 Exhibitions and Events P.23 GANS Featured Network - Made in Kilkenny P.24 GANS Upcoming Diary Dates P.25 New Galleries and Craft Shops P.26 Craft & Criticism: A Review of Jack Doherty P.28 Extract from a speech by Gerry Crosbie, DESIGNYARD

Opportunities P.30 Dates for your Diary P.31 Upcoming Workshops for Craft Enterprises Call-Out Christmas Market Dublin CCoI / House & Home Student Design Awards 2010 P.32 Showcase 2010 Craft in the Classroom Notice

Advertisements P.33 Advertisements

Exhibitions - NCG P.36 Snapshots Jack Doherty & Organic Geometry RDS Award of Excellence Winning Piece: Smaoineamh (Study Desk) by Diarmuid Murphy

Winners of Future Makers P.39 NCG News P.40 Upcoming Exhibition - Generation

AUTUMN 2009

2

News and Reviews

Greetings

Dear reader, There have been lots of craft activities around

which will take place in Ireland. We are currently

the country since the last issue of Stopress and

progressing our plans for 2011 YEAR OF CRAFT

currently craftspeople and our guilds, associations,

and will be circulating regular updates to all our

networks and societies (GANS) are busy preparing

members and clients with information and

for the upcoming Christmas season. Below is a

suggestions on getting involved in this

brief overview of some of the highlights the CCoI

celebration of Irish Craft. (See page 6).

team has been involved in to support and promote the crafts industry.

In September CCoI hosted the ‘Creative Pathways’ seminar in which key stakeholders in craft education

In August, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, in partnership

participated and we also attended the Higher

with CCoI, launched a new craft strand as part of

Options Fair in the RDS where we launched a new

the official festival programme for 2009. There was

range of information sheets for students entitled

a buzz of excitement throughout Kilkenny, with

‘Crafting Your Career’ - further details on these

craft exhibitions, talks and workshops taking place

events appear on pages 14 and15.

which you can read about on pages 10 to 12.

A GANS meeting was held in Kilkenny in September In September, CCoI travelled to the General

and in October we hosted a regional networking

Assembly of the World Crafts Council - Europe

event in Galway which was very well attended with

which was attended by representatives from 14

participants from Galway, Mayo and Clare. These

craft organisations throughout Europe. The event

events are important networking opportunities

allowed for an open discussion and exchange on

that allow CCoI to gain invaluable feedback on

future opportunities for international collaboration

your priorities with regard to CCoI supports. We

as well as planning for the 2011 General Assembly,

are focused on delivering services that will have maximum benefit for our members and clients, and our staff members are actively working on building up their knowledge of craft with visits to makers studios and a number of lunch and learn events on an on-going basis.

In order to ensure that we are working with current market information, we will shortly be commencing a craft industry survey and will keep you advised on progress with this project. In December we will also be conducting research on Consumer Perceptions of Craft. Last year, 39% of respondents

Paul maloney (ceramics)

said they were interested in buying and owning craft so we hope to see an increase in this figure for 2009.

AUTUMN 2009

3

News and Reviews maureen Lynch (Jewellery)

CCoI Welcomes New Chairman Laura Magahy

Gerry Wycherley’s three year term as chairman came to an end earlier this year. It was a pleasure working with Gerry since I joined CCoI in 2007, and on behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff at CCoI I would like to thank him for his invaluable contribution during his tenure. I am delighted to welcome Laura Magahy as our new chairman.

Laura brings a wealth of experience to CCoI and looks forward to meeting CCoI clients and members over the coming months.

As always, we welcome your comments and feedback on Stopress and the supports we provide to members and clients. We have a busy programme of activities in place over the coming months and we look forward to working with you all.

Wishing you every success with preparations for the holiday season.

Úna Parsons CEO, Crafts Council of Ireland

Laura Magahy, who is managing director of MCO Projects Ltd, will serve as chairman of CCoI for the next three years following her appointment by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment in September 2009.

Laura takes over from Gerry Wycherley whose three year term as chairman ended earlier this year. As chairman of CCoI, she will be responsible for strategically overseeing the growth and commercial strength of the crafts industry in Ireland.

Laura’s experience at board level includes positions as Chairperson, Non-Executive Director and Executive Director across a series of public and private companies.

She is immediate past-president of the Institute of Directors, sits on the boards of the Irish Architecture Foundation and DCU Commercial Ltd. and has served on the boards of: The Arts Council of Ireland; Junior Dublin Film Festival; Graffiti Theatre-in-Education Company; CIE; Dublin Bus; Gresham Hotels Group plc; Dublin Chamber of Commerce; and The Ilex Urban Regeneration Board, Derry.

Laura’s significant cross-sectoral experience includes arts and culture, architecture, project management, transport, hospitality, facilities management, medical, property and urban renewal, and she has particular expertise in charting and implementing strategic organisational change. Laura is a Level A Certified Project Director (Institute of Project Management) as well as a Chartered Director. Laura’s award-winning company, MCO Projects Ltd., provides turn-key building services (architecture, project management, environmental engineering, etc) and specialises in sustainable development and 4D urban planning. She was formerly managing director of Temple Bar Properties Limited.

AUTUMN 2009

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News and Reviews Your Contacts and Supports at the Crafts Council of Ireland: MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & OPERATIONS Karen Hennessy

EDUCATION, TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT Helen Murphy

Karen Hennessy (Head of Operations) Contact for: Membership Services & Operations Direct Dial: T: 056 7796143 E: karen@ccoi.ie

Breda English Mary Whelan

Breda English (Customer Services) Contact for: Customer Service & General Enquiries CCoI Direct Dial: 056 7761804 E: info@ccoi.ie NCG Direct Dial: 056 7796147 E: ncg@ccoi.ie

Helen Murphy (Head of Education Training & Development) Contact for: Education & Training Development Direct Dial: 056 7796156 E: helen@ccoi.ie

Emer Ferran Louise Allen

Mary Whelan Customer & Business Development Co-ordinator Contact for: Business Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796131 E: maryw@ccoi.ie Mary Rhatigan Julie Jackman

Mary Rhatigan Customer Service Assistant (Part-time) Contact for: Registration & Membership Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796140 E: maryr@ccoi.ie

Louise Allen (Education & Awareness Manager) Contact for: Education Development Programmes Direct Dial: 056 7796142 E: louise@ccoi.ie

Leslie Ryan Gus Mabelson

Mary Blanchfield

Julie Jackman (Finance Assistant) Contact for: General Accounts Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796135 E: julie@ccoi.ie

Eimear Conyard Genevieve Murphy

Nuala McGrath (HR & Corporate Services Manager) Contact for: Human Resources & Corporate Services Direct Dial: 056 7796133 E: nuala@ccoi.ie

Eimear Conyard (Jewellery Skills Course Manager) Contact for: CCoI’s Jewellery Skills Course Direct Dial: 056 7796149 E: eimear@ccoi.ie Genevieve Murphy (Education & Training Assistant - Maternity Leave Cover) Contact for: Education/Training Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796134 E: genevieve@ccoi.ie

MARKET DEVELOPMENT Brian McGee

Leslie Ryan (Education & Outreach Officer) Contact for: Education Outreach Programmes Direct Dial: 056 7796151 E: leslie@ccoi.ie

CCoI’s Training Courses Gus Mabelson (Ceramics Skills Course Manager) Contact for: CCoI’s Ceramics Skills Course Direct Dial: 056 7724777 E: gus@ccoi.ie

Mary Blanchfield (Finance Manager) Contact for: Financial & Accounts Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796138 E: mary@ccoi.ie

Nuala McGrath

Emer Ferran (Enterprise Development Manager) Contact for: Enterprise Training Programmes Direct Dial: 056 7796144 E: emer@ccoi.ie

PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Susan Brindley

Brian McGee (Head of Market Development) Contact for: Market Development Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796145 E: brian@ccoi.ie

Nicola Doran

Nicola Doran (Retail Programme Manager) Contact for: Retail Access Programmes Direct Dial: 056 7796153 E: nicola@ccoi.ie Emma McGrath (Retail Executive) Contact for: Retail Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796150 E: emmamcgrath@ccoi.ie

Emma McGrath

Susan Brindley (Head of Public Affairs & Communications) Contact for: Public Relations & Press Enquiries Direct Dial T: 056 7796152 E: susan@ccoi.ie Caroline O’Riordan (Communications & Marketing Manager) Caroline O’Riordan Contact for: Communication Enquiries including: Stopress, Ezine, Images & Press Emma Briscoe Direct Dial: 056 7796141 E: caroline@ccoi.ie Emma Briscoe (Communications Assistant - Part-time) Contact for: Information/Communication Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796136 E: emma@ccoi.ie

Des Doyle (Collector & Craft Tourism Development Manager) Contact for: Collector & Tourism Programmes Direct Dial: 056 7796137 E: des@ccoi.ie Des Doyle

CCoI’s National Craft Gallery Ann Mulrooney (Exhibitions Manager & Curator) Contact for: Exhibition Development Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796132 E: ann@ccoi.ie

Brian Byrne

Ann Mulrooney

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE Úna Parsons

Úna Parsons (Chief Executive Officer) Contact Executive Assistant (see below)

Brian Byrne (Gallery Assistant - Part-time) Contact for: Gallery and Exhibition Enquiries Direct Dial: 056 7796147 E: ncg@ccoi.ie

Mary Dunphy

Mary Dunphy (Executive Assistant) Direct Dial: 056 7796148 E: ceo@ccoi.ie Contact for: Speaking engagements, meeting requests with the CEO etc.

AUTUMN 2009

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News and Reviews

attendees at the september gans meeting in Kilkenny

GANS Meeting in Kilkenny Key Highlights The Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies (GANS) held a meeting on the 25th of September in Kilkenny which was well attended with over 20 attendees from 17 different GANS. A packed agenda covered many topics and also included time for open discussion. Some of the topics included the CCoI Network Support Scheme, 2011 Year of Craft, and craft teaching recognition. The session also provided some very valuable feedback from the GANS into CCoI’s future strategy. The open discussion highlighted the following items; the use of ezines for communications, consideration of the possibility of holding a GANS/Christmas fair, craft fairs, branding and promotion of Irish craft, and the impact of Sale or Return on craftmakers.

The session also included an insightful presentation on the Irish Woodturners Guild by Evan Petty. Going forward the GANS have agreed to increase meetings to three times a year to facilitate more networking and to allow more time for valuable open discussion.

Karen Hennessy (Head of Operations, CCoI) who facilitated the session would like to express her gratitude to all who travelled and took part in the discussions, which made the event worthwhile and enjoyable.

The table below features details on the recipients of the CCoI Network Support Scheme grants 2009

Guilds Associations, Networks & Societies Network Support Allocations 2009 €

Bridge Street Studios Ceramics Ireland Cork Textiles Network Feltmakers Ireland Hands On Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association Irish Basket Makers Association Irish Patchwork Society Laois Craft Louth CraftMark Offaly Crafty South Wexford Craft Network The Design Tower The Fire Station Artist’s Studio West Cork Craft & Design Guild

2,000 1,000 5,000 170 1,000 2,000 800 3,200 2,125 4,000 2,300 3,000 4,000 3,500 2,000 €37,095

Pieces by Jim turner

The winner of the 2009 award was West Cork based ceramicist Jim Turner

Crafts Council of Ireland & Hallward Gallery

Launch New Ceramics Award In September 2009 the Crafts Council of Ireland joined forces with the Hallward Gallery to develop a new award, the‘Crafts Council of Ireland Excellence in Making Award’ aimed at recognising excellence in craftsmanship and design in the Irish ceramics field. It will be awarded each year to a ceramicist selected from the annual Hallward Gallery ceramics exhibition at the Hallward Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin. The award is open to all ceramicists taking part in the show who are registered clients of the Crafts Council of Ireland. Its primary objective is to raise awareness of both the high quality of Irish ceramic work and the diversity of work available to potential purchasers of ceramics.

The winner of the 2009 award was West Cork based potter Jim Turner who has long been recognised as a leading light in the field of Irish ceramics. Pieces from Jim’s most recent body of work were exhibited at the show and attracted the attention of the selectors as they displayed a fresh and innovative approach to creating forms which was different from work previously made. It was not only the scale of the work that interested the selectors but also the extremely seductive, tactile and interesting glazed surfaces combining overlaid glaze and slips, the interplay of which created a richly textured ‘volcanic’ surface. The winning pieces from the series were shown in both black and white glazes and the contrasts and similarities between the forms captured the attention of many of the visitors to the exhibition.

The award was presented to Etain Hickey who collected the award on Jim’s behalf at the very well attended opening night of the show.

The award was presented by the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Collector Programme Manager, Des Doyle who spoke of the rich creativity and skill evident not only in the winning pieces but in much of the work shown as part of the show.

Hallward Gallery 65 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0) 1 662 1482 Web: www.hallwardgallery.com

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News and Reviews 2011 Year of Craft In 2011 the Crafts Council of Ireland will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The organisation was established in 1971 following a visit by the World Crafts Council to Ireland the previous year.

To celebrate 2011 has been designated 2011 Year of Craft. The objective of the year is to promote the craft profession as exciting and commercially viable, and to create public awareness of the wealth of craft that Ireland has to offer both at home and abroad.

For the 2011 Year of Craft, CCoI plans to include a year long event-based programme concentrating on elected themes which will take place throughout the island of Ireland. The focus of these events will be to present craft as exciting and to enthuse and involve young people and their families in craft.

WCC - Europe: Annual General Assembly 2009 The Annual General Assembly 2009 of World Crafts Council - Europe was held in a campus in Sursee (a small town outside of the city of Lucerne) in Switzerland and was generously hosted and organised by the Swiss entity formforum, Switzerland’s largest craft organisation.

Representation was made from over 14 countries including Ireland. A key focus for the CCoI representatives attending was the 2011 Year of Craft, when Ireland will host the WCC - Europe General Assembly which will be a key calendar event for the 2011 celebrations. (See also the 2011 Year of Craft article on this page).

Key craft hot-spots and activities throughout the island of Ireland The key event will be the World Crafts Council (Europe) General Assembly in June 2011 The key message is that craft is exciting, contemporary and engaging Key audiences are primary and post primary students, tourists and consumers of craft

Possible events throughout the island of Ireland will include:

February March June August September November December

Love Irish Craft (St. Valentines Day) Green Crafts (St. Patrick’s Day) Irish Crafts on the World stage - WCC General Assembly Craft Month (concentration of activities) Our Craft Heritage (Heritage Week) Celebrating Craft - Our Craft Icons Gifting Craft - Buy Craft for Christmas

Participation: The Crafts Council of Ireland will be inviting the following groups to participate by including craft-based activities during 2011 which will be promoted as part of the 2011 Year of Craft.

• • • • •

Primary and post primary schools Third level colleges Museums Galleries Craft organisations (Irish and International)

All suggestions are welcome Over the coming months CCoI will be posting regular updates on 2011 Year of Craft on our website and will be sending information via our new online newsletter.

If you have any suggestions please email: info@2011yearofcraft.ie Visit www.ccoi.ie

delegates at the 2009 wcc - europe general assembly, sursee, switzerland

A central discussion for the delegates was on how to create more awareness of WCC - Europe’s activities amongst member countries, and of the potential benefits of European craft organisations sharing information and working and learning together. Attendees were also informed about WCC- Europe’s activity during 2009 - in particular on the WCC Europe Award, European Prize for Applied Arts (where Irish silversmith Eily O’Connell is a top nominee) and on the newly established craft and design fair EUNIQUE in Karlsruhe, Germany. Invited guest, was Mrs. Usha Krishna, India, President of the WCC - World.

The election to the Board of WCC - Europe took place and the 2009 appointees were elected.

The 2010 General Assembly of WCC - Europe will be held in Turkey in 2010 and plans include to incorporate a number of craft and tourism related activities to coincide with this event.

The WCC - Europe is one of the World Craft Council’s five regional branches (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America). It presently has members in 22 European countries. Its key objectives include: The promotion of design-led crafts and applied arts in Europe, building up an international network of contacts in these fields and collecting and spreading information through its activities.

To promote awareness of the WCC-Europe and its activities, CCoI will distribute the WCC-Europe online newsletter to all its clients over the coming months.

For further information on the WCC-Europe visit: www.wcc-europe.org

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News and Reviews

Showcase Preparations in Full Swing Overheard on a bus in Dublin recently: “Me ma says I can only go out once a week now, on account of there’s a renaissance on”. A slip of the tongue - renaissance and recession - but there’s a grain of truth in that slip: when times get tough, creativity flourishes. And Irish creativity is at the centre of Showcase which takes place at the RDS from 24th-27th January 2010. The Creative Island incorporating a Trends Area (see pages 8/9), brings together the very best of Irish makers and designers in a dedicated, specially designed space at the top of the Main Hall. Featuring over 60 CCoI members, it’s a celebration of the very best Ireland has to offer home and international buyers.

showcase 2008

New Approach To reflect a new approach, Showcase has a new modern identity being applied across all marketing material. Check out the new Showcase website; it has up to date information on exhibitors, show highlights, travel information and latest news.

Visit: www.showcaseireland.com

www.showcaseireland.com

Exhibitors can upload their own details, including their show catalogue entry. Good quality photographs will be featured in the Gallery - one of the most frequently visited sections of the website - and exhibitors are encouraged to send these directly to: kellie.fitzgibbon@ expo-events.com

Promotional Opportunity If you have a ‘good news’ story - announcement of new product launches, new business gains, or other developments buyers will be interested in, tell us about it and we can feature it in the News section of the Showcase website.

Contact: maryj@ccoi.ie New Product Awards will again feature this year. Details will be announced on these, and other awards, by December.

textiles by Heather Finn

Attracting Buyers Showcase took a stand at the NACTA (North American Celtic Trade Association) show last year and is working closely with Enterprise Ireland to attract international buyers to Showcase. Travel costs have been identified as a real barrier for buyers.

To address this, special travel incentives are being offered this year to buyers, with the ‘renaissance’ further driving down costs.

Exhibitors are being invited to nominate buyers they wish to see at the show. Please send the names of specific buyers (not just the store name) and contact details to louise.mcloughlin@expo-events.com and they will be included in the offer information sent to buyers.

If you haven’t already booked your stand - now is the time to do so.

Contact John or Kellie on 01 2958185 for prices and locations - or see the Opportunities on page 32 for more information.

We look forward to welcoming you to Showcase in January.

The renaissance has begun!

Hope & Benson

ceramics by sinead Lough

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News and Reviews ‘Trends are central to ensuring products are consumer led, therefore increasing the potential of orders’

Trends at Showcase 2010

Expect the Unexpected Trends compiled by Eleanor Harpur (Stylist) and Emma McGrath (CCoI’s Retail Executive)

ORGANIC GEOMETRY, TIMEBANDS, WITCHCRAFT, PLAYTIME Trends took a prominent placing at Showcase 2009. They were successful in promoting product and creating drama. Buyers loved seeing products brought together in such an inspirational environment.

Trends are a key element and tool used at European shows like Formex and Maison. Trends are central to ensuring products are consumer led, therefore increasing the potential of orders. The concept of trends may be off putting; however it is important to remember that some knowledge of trends can stimulate creativity and help focus any new concepts you may have to produce new craft products. In addition buyers use trends as a valuable tool in merchandising, branding and ultimately sales.

We defined the Trends for Showcase 2010 by looking at what a trend means and secondly what influences them.

1. A Trend is spotting products that stimulate creativity and inspiration for buyers.

2. What will differentiate Showcase Trends with other European shows is the following: • • • • •

Environment Economy Culture Ethnic Diversity Style of Trend Reporting

‘Each theme is accompanied by a narrative, a fashion inspiration, an interiors inspiration, a pattern and pantone colour board’ We are excited to present the overall concept for the Trends at Showcase 2010 and the 4 themes within. Each theme is accompanied by; a narrative, a fashion inspiration, an interiors inspiration and a pattern and pantone colour board - all of which will be available to download in full via the Showcase website at: www.showcaseireland.com/highlights

embracing new technology with soft rigour. Add creative energy and a willingness to experiment into the mix and you can expect the unexpected.

To be in tune with the prevailing trends and the mood of the times, Irish designers and craftmakers will create products that stand the test of time, objects that reveal the secrets of natural and unnatural worlds. The essence of creativity is to play with and rejoice in the unexpected.

ATTENTION EXHIBITORS: Product wanted for the Inspirational Zone at Showcase At Showcase 2010 an Inspirational Zone will be prominent. Therefore in the lead up to the Show, we will be sourcing products from Craftmakers to feature. We look forward to the new and wonderful products that Craftmakers will be bringing.

Exhibitors with product for consideration for the Showcase Inspirational Zone, please note the following: Presenting Trends at Showcase

Trends for 2010 will be presented at Showcase in a number of ways: • Up to three seminars on different aspects of trends will be presented at Showcase.

• There will be a special display of trends at the entrance feature in the main hall, featuring products from the show that demonstrate particular trends.

• Showcase has a professional merchandiser who will be looking for products that give expression to the trends identified.

How products are identified for inclusion in the Trends Area at Showcase 2010

Products will be identified from the images submitted for the photo Gallery on the Showcase website and from the applications of makers who are selected for Creative Island as well as from searching the websites of exhibitors in advance of the show.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SHOWCASE EXHIBITORS If you feel your products are ‘on trend’ please email your suggestions to: Mary Jennings, Showcase Manager

maryj@ccoi.ie

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED In times of flux and change, creativity thrives. Thrown back on our own resources we seek new answers to new problems.

Creative ideas and new trends emerge by drawing inspiration from our rich cultural heritages, our fragile eco system and from

Further information will be posted on the Exhibitor section of the Showcase website www.showcaseireland.com

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News and Reviews

Below is a brief overview of each theme showing an image representative of each of the inspirational, colour and pattern boards.

The overall concept is ‘EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED’

The four distinct trends within the concept are as follows:

Organic Geometry Stretch, morph and bend objects into seemingly surreal shapes. Give the appearance of volume without weight.

Featherweight padding. Mimic nature’s hidden structures of organic geometry to give the appearance of fluid lines and sculptural forms. Deceptively simple, folded layers appear and disappear with a lightness and flexibility.

Look for that extra dimension that morphs and deceives.

Things are never quite what they seem, like dark glamour.

Expect the unexpected.

Snow

Ice

C4 M2 Y18 K0

Steam

Latex

Cement

C21 M18 Y20 K3 C11 M10 Y24 K1 C5 M16 Y22 K0

Truffle

C0 M17 Y34 K62 C8 M7 Y7 K98

Timebends Timebends zooms back and forth, crossing and recrossing thresholds of past, present and future. The intricate detailing of Art Nouveau and Art Deco and folkloric embellishments are honoured and recreated in shiny surfaces and high tech coatings. Cultural patterns and classics are reconfigured in riotous collages. The mood is flamboyant, sensuous, with a touch of oriental opulence. Expect the unexpected.

Oak

Copper

Lavender

Fern

Midnight

Claret

C22 M45 Y75 K8 C33 M64 Y98 K24 C36 M54 Y47 K25 C57 M48 Y80 K45 C72 M100 Y77 K40 C42 M80 Y76 K52

Witchcraft Fading, delicate light, the bewitching hour. Everything is blurred, undefined, hybrid, Tricks of man-made animal skin, hair, fur and feathers mimic the mythic, camouflaged creatures of the forest. Traditions are treasured. Imperfections embraced. Rituals revived. The vintage and recycled celebrated. Time to go back to our origins. Layering, loose yarns and light weaves cast a spell for young romantics and free spirits. The future peeps in with craft and technology creating a neo-natural look. Expect the unexpected.

Green Mist

C10 M1 Y33 K0

Veneer

Taupe

Moss

Amber

Flannel

C15 M37 Y66 K4 C30 M39 Y59 K15 C55 M47 Y96 K43 C24 M67 Y93 K11C61 M57 Y95 K72

Playtime Let’s play. Forget doom and gloom. Create and give expression to new icons - with a playful twist. Colour explodes in chemical reactions, in the graffiti of street culture, in high tech beauty. All the rules are cast aside and everything is in play. Precise patterns are laid alongside more graphic styling. The city speaks, the city plays. Expect the unexpected.

Wool White

C5 M2 Y33 K0

Absinthe

C31 M9 Y70 K1

Graffiti

Flame

C0 M18 Y100 K0 C4 M70 Y92 K0

Red Glow

C2 M93 Y91 K0

Enamel

C93 M44 Y16 K4

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News and Reviews

The partnership with Kilkenny Arts Festival was established to co-create a programme that would highlight and celebrate the huge quality of Irish craft talent visible in Ireland.

L-r: damien downes (Kilkenny ar ts Festival director) and Úna Parsons (ceo of the crafts council of ireland) at the official launch of the craft strand

craft on display in castle Yard, Kilkenny during Kilkenny ar ts Festival

New Craft Strand at

Kilkenny Arts Festival 09 a great success CCoI’s partnership with Kilkenny Arts Festival in the first ever craft strand was a great success. Kilkenny Arts Festival is Ireland’s longest running arts festival and the partnership was established earlier in 2009 to co-create a programme that would highlight and celebrate the huge quality of Irish craft talent visible in Ireland.

Kilkenny Arts Festival, Craft Strand curator Angela O’Kelly and the CCoI combined forces to produce a memorable series of events for the duration of the ten-day festival. Some of the key objectives in establishing a craft strand were to further highlight the creativity of Irish craftspeople living and working both in Ireland and abroad and also to provide opportunities to encourage all the audiences that attended the festival to engage with craft.

Having all of the craft activities that were part of the festival recognised under a separate ‘strand’ was a significant achievement in the first year of operation of the agreement and placed the craft strand on a similar footing to other strands including visual arts and classical music and literature.

The Craft Strand comprised of several activities throughout the city including two National Craft Gallery exhibitions; a retrospective of Irish born, UK based potter Jack Doherty and

‘Object’ a show that explored the relationships between works from the Arts Council collection and craftwork from Irish makers. The main headline show created and curated by Angela O’Kelly was ‘Sterling Irish’ which celebrated the work of Irish makers living and working abroad. This show was very well received and was held in the Castle Yard Galleries at the rear of the National Craft Gallery thus allowing visitors to visit both the exhibitions and see the huge diversity of work on show. Many of the makers in the Sterling Irish show were present for the opening and in many cases it was the first time they had exhibited in Ireland and that the Irish public had an opportunity to see their work.

In addition to the above there were many other events including kids craft events each day, and featured talks between the participating makers and the curators.

Piece by claire curneen, sterling irish

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Other notable events were the exhibition of new work from Gillian Freedman at Rudolf Heltzel Gallery, Workhouse Studios artists at Red Aesthetic Gallery and the debut exhibition of work from members of MADE in Kilkenny - a new collective of designer makers in Kilkenny. (See

News and Reviews page 23 for more information on this new network). The festival was blessed with good weather; one of the best days of the year was the exhibition day of the openings and a huge crowd gathered in the Castle Yard to hear the opening speeches and to see the craft on display.

There were significant numbers of visitors to all the exhibitions during the duration of the festival.

Des Doyle, CCoI’s Collector & Craft Tourism Development Manager

An exciting range of craft went on show in the National Craft Gallery and in the grounds of the Castle Yard

textile ar t by maeve coulter member of the made in Kilkenny network

Craft had a very visible presence in the heart of Kilkenny during the Arts Festival - the green space in the Castle Yard featured colourful large scale work by a number of makers who had been selected through open submission for Bloom 2009 in Dublin earlier this year.

This bright parade led into the National Craft Gallery exhibition spaces, which featured a solo show by acclaimed Irish potter Jack Doherty (see pages 26 and 27 for a review) in one gallery, and Object, a group exhibition, in the second gallery.

Object was curated by Brian Kennedy, and featured work from the Arts Council Collection juxtaposed with contemporary Irish craft.

Kennedy’s various roles as an abstract printmaker, curator and collector resulted in an exhibition that managed to be both a thoughtful exploration of the shared ground between art and craft in terms of the tenets of abstraction, and was also a highly personal one. Kennedy organised and grouped the work in the exhibition around central themes of form, colour, mark-making and material construction, with no demarcation between art and craft object. The subtle gradations of colour that formed the textured surface of Ciarán Lennon’s painting D.6 found a perfect counterpart in the thick, painterly glaze of Cormac Boydell’s charcoal-black ceramic vessel. Elsewhere, Frances Lambe’s Shiny Oval with Indent struck up conversation with the similarly scaled bronze, Funnelling the Dish by Eilis O’Connell in which the importance of contrast and form to both was clearly evident. Throughout the exhibition, similar dialogues were evoked - from the angular articulation of Stephen O’Briain’s chair and the sculptural forms of Michael Warren and Corban

Walker, to the interest in basic or elemental symbols shared by Nigel Rolfe and Neil Read. All in all, a most absorbing and indepth exhibition.

Beyond the National Craft Gallery, Sterling Irish (which was a key part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival Craft Strand Programme of Events) was housed in a new exhibition space within the Castle Yard. Curated by Angela O’Kelly, this was the flagship craft exhibition of the Kilkenny Arts Festival. It brought together a number of talented Irish makers who are now based in the UK and gave audiences an opportunity to see work that is seldom exhibited in Ireland.

Although featuring an eclectic mix of disciplines from glass to metal to textiles, the work shared an exuberance and an experimental approach that revealed a depth of research and skill. James Toal’s mesmerizing and ornate glass panels with richly swirling black interiors, CJ O’Neill’s quirky, conceptual plates that spoke of domestic aspiration, Grainne Morton’s exquisite miniature trees with magnetized and jewel-like leaves and flowers and Coilín O’Dubhgall’s remarkable patinated copper vessels were particular highlights in a very strong grouping.

With so much work on display (and exhibitions such as MADE in Kilkenny and Gillian Friedman literally around the corner), the August opening was a celebration of the quality and diversity of

Piece by gráinne mor ton, sterling irish

work by michelle maher at Kilkenny ar ts Festival

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News and Reviews contemporary Irish craft, and hundreds attended the celebration. Kim Mawhinney, Head of Art in the National Museum of Northern Ireland opened the event and paid tribute to the work and the makers involved.

The day was wonderfully rounded off by a Pecha Kucha (an event which enables debate to flourish amongst creative enthusiasts) and involved a number of those participating including the makers and curators. Contributors were invited to respond to the theme of how their work or exhibition related to the ‘Bigger Picture’; Helena

Gorey, Collections Manager of the Arts Council and a noted painter in her own right, spoke on the way in which the Arts Council Collection was lived - and interacted-with in their Dublin offices; Brian Kennedy explored the many visual crossreferences of the work in Object, Jack Doherty presented a visual history of his last eighteen months setting up the kilns and processes in the Leach Potteries, and the way in which his new surroundings influenced his current work, and Gus Mabelson (MADE in Kilkenny) compared the working processes of the students on the CCoI Pottery Skills Course with production in China,

based on their recent trip there. Angela O’Kelly also prepared a presentation on the way in which the makers in Sterling Irish bucked the ‘shamrocks and shillelies’ stereotypes of Irish craft. Taken together, the presentations gave a provocative and absorbing window into issues relating to contemporary craft, as well as being a very warm and enjoyable occasion.

Ann Mulrooney

National Craft Gallery Exhibitions Manager and Curator

Kids Get Crafty During Kilkenny Arts Festival The Castle Yard was buzzing with activity during Kilkenny Arts Festival when over 200 young crafters joined in the National Craft Gallery’s children’s workshops.

The workshops which were based around the gallery exhibitions Sterling Irish, Object and Jack Doherty were set up to develop an awareness about craft, to engage young children in the art of making and to attract people into the Castle Yard and the gallery during Kilkenny Arts Festival.

Over the course of the week children had the chance to work with professional designermakers, using a variety of materials and were supported to create their own original craft pieces. The workshops gave more opportunity for children and their parents to experience and interact with the exhibitions at the NCG and to learn more about the processes involved in creating craft.

Jewellery designer Claire McAllister looked at issues of sustainability by creating jewellery pieces from recycled, found and food objects in her workshop aptly called re- jewellerate.

After looking at the work of Gráinne Morton in Sterling Irish exhibition the children used everything from paper and pasta to plastic to create wearable pieces of art.

The Object exhibition, curated by Brian Kennedy was a great source of inspiration for the children. Artist Rachel Burke and maker Caroline Ryan teamed up to explore the possibilities of form, colour and construction in this workshop called ‘Object of the Imagination’. This exhibition which looked at the creative approaches shared by makers and artists juxtaposed 18 pieces from the Arts Council of Ireland’s collection of contemporary art with craft from a number images above: children having lots of fun in the castle Yard during Kilkenny ar ts Festival

of private collections. The children visited and discussed the work in the Object exhibition then developed a series of 3D keepsake boxes.

The Clay Café was a very popular choice for children and parents. Following in the footsteps of celebrated potter Jack Doherty, young potters made a series of different vessels. Facilitated by CCoI ceramic skills students Rosemaire Naughton and Helen Faulkner, the children were busy on the pottery wheels throwing pots and learning some of the techniques of the master potter from the Leach Pottery in St. Ives in Cornwall.

Artist Jean Conroy and Jenny Dunne led the very successful Responses Space during the week. This workshop was very much led by the children themselves as they got to choose a piece of work that they enjoyed.

Gus Mabelson’s ceramic Birdhouse that was exhibited in the Sculpture Garden during the festival was a popular choice and inspired a whole range of alternative sculptural pieces and birdfeeders for the garden using willow and wool.

The Kilkenny Arts Festival Workshops were the first in a series of initiatives that will be run by the Crafts Council of Ireland at the National Craft Gallery as part of their education outreach programme.

Leslie Ryan

CCoI’s Education and Outreach Officer

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News and Reviews

This year’s graduates have created a truly exceptional body of work that will propel them into an exciting future.

cathal Barber - Student of the Year 2009

L-r rudolf Heltzel (Jeweller), eimear conyard (ccoi Jewellery skills course manager), cathal Barber (course graduate), michelle doyle (course graduate), Kevin mcdonald (course graduate), and Úna Parsons (ceo of ccoi)

CCoI Jewellery Graduates 2009 Loretta Haughey

Kevin mcdonald

Veronica roden

thomas riordan

michelle doyle

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s Jewellery and Goldsmithing Course situated at the Castle Yard in Kilkenny has built a reputation for producing highly skilled graduates capable of making a valuable contribution to the industry. The quality of jewellery exhibited at the National Craft Gallery by this year’s graduates was no exception. The intensity of training in jewellery and goldsmithing techniques equips the trainees with the skills and industry knowledge to enter into employment or further training with a realistic outlook.

Year one focused on the rudiments of their craft; year two pushed them to develop and perfect their skills. Their high level of achievement was evident in the quality of work on display in the graduate exhibition.

A project entitled Working with a Client gave the trainees a real world perspective on producing pieces to commission. Each trainee was given a specific project brief with precious metal and budget limitations and deadlines for production and delivery dates. This project produced stunning pieces of jewellery in silver, 18ct gold and gemstones, providing a valuable experience and an important insight into business.

Course Manager Eimear Conyard feels that the combination of traditional skills, craftsmanship and innovative thinking in design are key to commercial success.

This year "graduates have raised the bar," she said. “They are an inspiration to the new cohort of trainees, showing the level of skill and design which can be achieved on this two year unique course."

This year’s exhibition told the story of process and maker. Pieces were displayed alongside drawings and design work, indicating the initial inspiration and design process. The exhibition format was chosen to show the gallery visitors the level of trainee involvement in the creation of these pieces.

“Our graduate exhibitions provide a valuable opportunity for students to experience the exhibition process at a very professional standard as well as giving an audience a window into the high levels of skills and workmanship that students develop on the course” says Ann Mulrooney, National Craft Gallery Manager.

gregory Lafford

marie thérèse walker

Whilst the 2009 graduates have set out in challenging times, a number have already secured full time employment in Irish based jewellery companies. Some are furthering their knowledge in goldsmithing practices and one graduate has already completed a work placement with a master model maker in the UK. CCoI is delighted to welcome a new cohort of twelve students who started the jewellery course on September 21st and looks forward to providing regular updates on the group’s progression over the coming year.

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News and Reviews

‘The study [Creative Pathways] presents the first comprehensive picture of craft education and training in Ireland ..’

Launch of Creative Pathways - Report and Seminar In 2008 the Crafts Council of Ireland commissioned a review of craft education and training in Ireland. The purpose of the review was to identify where craft education and training was taking place in Ireland, identify the principal stakeholders involved and guide CCoI in developing its strategy around education and training for the future.

An expert advisory group was established and

Ireland and provides a number of points for

Hibernian Consulting was commissioned to

debate and discussion on how to further

work with this group in preparing the study.

develop craft education and training, how to

The study involved extensive consultation

increase general awareness about its role

with a number of institutions and individuals

and importance, and how it may be used to

involved in the provision of craft education

influence national policy in the area of craft

and training in the forms of meetings, focus

and creativity.

groups and the use of questionnaires to compile the relevant data.

In order to disseminate the findings of In July 2009 the Minister for Education and

Creative Pathways to a wider audience of

Science Mr Batt 0’Keeffe T.D. launched the

stakeholders and to provide a forum for

study entitled ‘Creative Pathways’.

discussion on the key findings of the report a seminar was held in Kilkenny in September

The study presents the first comprehensive

(see page 15).

picture of craft education and training in

L-r: minister Batt o’Keeffe, Helen murphy (ccoi Head of education, training & development) and gerry wycherly (former ccoi chairman)

L-r: minister Batt o’Keeffe, Úna Parsons (ceo of ccoi) and Jim dunne (ccoi Board member)

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News and Reviews

Creative Pathways Seminar, Kilkenny Castle, 2009 The Education, Training and Development team at CCoI hosted a seminar to discuss the key findings and themes that emerged from the Creative Pathways report on September 10th in Kilkenny.

The seminar was well attended and attracted over 70 participants who came

Presenters and discussion panel members with the ccoi education, training and development team at creative Pathways seminar, Kilkenny castle

from a range of educational institutions; national policy bodies and other cultural

careers in craft and the type of training

A full copy of the Creative Pathways

organisations involved in craft education

that craft graduates may need to set up

report and an executive summary of the

and training as well as a large number of

a craft enterprise. The seminar was an

report can de downloaded from the ccoi

craft practitioners.

opportunity for those interested in craft

website www.ccoi.ie

education and training to meet and network The day involved a variety of presentations,

and feedback was extremely positive.

For further information contact:

some case studies, panel discussions and a short film. Key themes that were presented

Presentations from the seminar along with

Helen Murphy, Head of Education,

included the importance of exposing our

footage from the presentations and panel

Training & Development

school going children to craft activities,

discussions will be available to download

T: 056 7796156 E: helen@ccoi.ie

how we increase overall awareness about

from the CCoI web site shortly.

The Summary of the Key Findings

•

CCoI needs to develop partnerships with providers at primary, secondary, further and third level education to ensure links between each sector, provide career development paths and develop our next generation of makers

•

Information on all craft education and training opportunities needs to be made available to all craftspeople

•

Programmes provided by the further education and third level sectors need to reflect both the craft discipline and the business and enterprise skills needed to develop craft on a commercial basis

•

There are gaps evident in the provision of craft education and training and further research may be required to determine the nature of future courses and programmes to ensure they reflect best national and international practice

•

Consultation with key stakeholders on the concept of a developing

•

Excellence Clusters nationally for Craft Education and Training needs to take place

•

CCoI needs to ensure that crafts form part of the national curriculum at primary and second level

•

Teacher education and support is critical to promoting and developing craft education

•

A strategic alliance between the Crafts Council of Ireland and one or more third level institutions should be agreed to jointly develop third level and continued professional development opportunities

•

•

CCoI should develop a forum to influence national policy in craft education and training and communicate the importance of developing skills such as innovation and creativity to the wider economy A partnership approach to training with national providers including the County and City Enterprise Boards and FÁS to ensure that craft enterprise is receiving appropriate levels of support

Taken from CCoI’s ‘Creative Pathways, A Review of Craft Education & Training in Ireland’ - Executive Summary, page 5.

This publication is available to download from www.ccoi.ie

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News and Reviews Crafts Council of Ireland at

This year Brenda Aherne from Electronic Sheep made a presentation each day to over 400 students about her career in the fashion industry while textile artist Logan McLain gave live demonstrations of embroidery using his PR-620 Digital Embroidery Machine. For the three days of the event Logan found himself surrounded by throngs of students who were amazed at the design process and technology involved.

Students got to design their own small embroidery using the software on his laptop and then watch as the PR-620 Digital Embroidery Machine realised their designs in stitch in just a few short minutes.

Live demonstrations and talks combined with plinths displaying contemporary craft and the use of 3rd level students from different colleges to talk to interested students contributed to the success of the Crafts Council of Ireland stand this year.

This years winner of the CCoI ‘FLIP’ competition was Shauna Carrick, Muckross Park College, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

For further information contact:

Louise Allen CCoI’s Education Awareness Manager E: louise@ccoi.ie T: 056 7796142

Logan mcLain demonstrating at Higher options

Higher Options is the main forum for third level study options and career choices for Irish students. The conference attracts in the region of 25,000 students, guidance counsellors and parents over the three-day period. This is the second year that the Crafts Council of Ireland has taken a stand at the event and feedback has been extremely positive. Information about career options and where to study craft in Ireland was distributed to over 2500 students during the event.

Guidance counsellors welcomed the information in the newly designed ‘Crafting Your Future’ career sheets and commented on the significant rise in interest from students and adults returning to study.

Higher options 2009

Higher Options, 2009

A World of Opportunity for Úna Burke Following on from her success at the Crafts Council of Ireland Future Maker Awards 2009, Úna Burke has seen a phenomenal rise in interest and recognition of her unique leatherwork. Úna, a graduate of ‘Limerick School of Art and Design’, has recently completed an ‘MA in Fashion Artefact’ at the London College of Fashion. She has developed a completely new method of leatherwork construction through in-depth research, and produced a collection of emotionally charged pieces, each of which is visually captivating and technically challenging.

Since winning her Crafts Council of Ireland Award, Úna was invited to attend Milan Fashion Week in late September where her portfolio was on display in the Vogue Talents area as her work was chosen by Vogue Italia to feature in their ‘Talents Issue’, in September.

She has also been asked by the organisers of COLOGNE CATWALK to show work at ART.FAIR 21 in October. This was followed by a trip to Namibia for a fashion photo-shoot and the shooting of a short film. The film and images from the shoot will be on display at a gallery exhibition in Zurich at the request of photographer, Andreas Waldschutz. The short film will also be entered into "A Shaded View on Fashion Film" (a Fashion Film Festival based in Paris and presented by Diane Pernet), in June/July 2010.

Úna Burke pictured with her work at the Future makers showcase in the national craft gallery

As well as all of this Úna was shortlisted for the IDI Design Awards 2009. Her work is on display at the National Craft Gallery as part of the Generation exhibition October 31st - January 10th 2010 which features the work of over 30 upcoming Irish craftspeople and designers.

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News and Reviews Cream of Irish Design at 100% Design, London

For the first time a collective of Irish design work was on exhibit at the prestigious international design show ‘100% Design’ in London under the banner Cream of Irish Design . The network is made up of 9 designer-makers who work in various mediums and include; Shane Holland - Design Workshops, Duff Tissdall, Furniture, Bushy Park Iron works, Gabriel Furniture, Garvan de Bruir Design, Glasshammer Studios, John Lee Furniture, Patricia Murphy and Farm21. The reaction to the group’s presence was extremely

positive and the stand proved to be one of the highlights of the show.

Cream of Irish Design is supported by CCoI.

Garvan de Bruir

Portfolio on Francis Street, Dublin

Garvan de Bruir pictured with Duncan Stewart at the launch of his ‘open weekend’ at his studio showroom in Co. Kildare.

On preview was a selection of his work, to be included in the 100% Design Show in London and also his winning entry at the recent RDS, National Crafts Competition.

A reception held in the recently opened craft gallery Portfolio on Francis Street in Dublin drew a variety of guests including many craftspeople and craft networkers. Also at the event was Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of the Crafts Council (UK) who was in Ireland that week to meet the CCoI team.

For more information visit www.deBruir.com

For more information and images visit www.exquisitepieces.com

L-r: Brian mcgee (ccoi Head of market development) with anthony cleary (Unleaded) garvan de Bruir (Furniture designer) with duncan stewar t

L-r: maureen and Laurence Benezra (Proprietors of Por tfolio on Francis street) with rosy greenlees (executive director, crafts council (UK)

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News and Reviews The RDS National Crafts Competition is organised in association with:

RDS National Crafts Competition Winners 2009 The recent RDS National Crafts Competition in association with the Crafts Council of Ireland was a huge success attracting over 500 applications from craftspeople across Ireland. This prestigious competition now in its 41st year boasts 20 categories with a prize fund in excess of €30,000. Open to craft workers and designers in Ireland and Irish craft workers based abroad it is one of the largest competitions in Europe. The RDS National Crafts Competition celebrates the traditions of craft and craftspeople in Ireland while promoting future generations of makers. The Crafts Council of Ireland would like to congratulate all of the 2009 award winners.

For further information on the RDS National Crafts Competition Visit www.rds.ie/arts or contact Sarah Ross, Arts Development Executive T: 01 240 7255 E: sarah.ross@rds.ie

Results - RDS National Crafts Competition 2009 RDS Major Prizes RDS Award of Excellence Smaoineamh (Study Desk), Diarmuid Murphy RDS Award of Excellence (Reserve) Untitled, Seamus Cassidy RDS New Entrant's Prize Smaoineamh (Study Desk), Diarmuid Murphy RDS Graduate Prize Neckpiece, Justyna Truchanowska RDS William Smith O'Brien Perpetual Challenge Cup Bridal/ Christening Shawl, Clare O'Keeffe RDS Arts Committee Acquisition Denis Brown, Work from the 1,000 Wishes Series

Category Prizes 1. CERAMICS Functional - 1st prize: Mandy Parslow, Elongated Vessels (3 total) Contemporary - 1st prize: Nuala O’Donovan, Teasel - Stretched 2. FELTING 1st prize: Justyna Truchanowska, Neckpiece 2nd prize: Eleanor Roche, Cappelli Dolci 3. GLASS 1st prize: Alison Lowry, Triptych of Life 2nd prize: Catherine Keenan, Eye Candy, Dark Pink and Blue diarmuid murphy - overall Prize winner, award of excellence

4. GOLD, SILVER & ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS Precious Metals - 1st prize: Kevin O’Dwyer, Architectural Coffee Service Alternative Materials - Not Awarded

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eily o’connell (Jewellery)

News and Reviews 5. JEWELLERY Precious Metals - 1st prize: Eily O’Connell, Jewellery series Alternative Materials - 1st prize: Justyna Truchanowska, Neckpiece

Special Sponsored Prizes

6. IRONWORK / METALWORK 1st prize: Seamus Gill, Podform 2nd prize: Not Awarded

COMPANY OF GOLDSMITHS OF DUBLIN AWARD 1st Prize: Eric Robinson, Cable Rings 2nd Prize: Cianan Doyle, Sake Set

7. WOODTURNING 1st prize: Seamus Cassidy, Untitled 2nd prize: Seamus Cassidy, Untitled

COUNTRY MARKETS Ltd. Medal Patricia Lamb, Table Runner

8. WOOD & STONECARVING 1st prize: Stuart McGrath, Ceiling Boss 2nd prize: Aileen-Anne Brannigan, Black is Back 9. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 1st prize: Andy Keeling, Ninja 2nd prize: John Harrison, Tenor Guitar 10. ROD, RUSH, STRAW & ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS 1st prize: Bob Johnston, Willow Coffin 2nd prize: Elaine Burke, Vessel IV 11. LEATHERWORK 1st prize: Elaine Waters, Dog Harness 2nd prize: Wendy Stephens, Leather Neckpiece

CERAMICS IRELAND AWARD Nuala O’Donovan, Teasel Stretched

CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND AWARD Garvan De Bruir, Bow-fronted Bookcase Elaine Burke, Vessel IV Nuala O’Donovan, Teasel - Stretched Patricia Belford, Girli Concrete GLASS SOCIETY of IRELAND AWARD Alison Lowry, Triptych of Life ELEANOR DE LA BRANCHARDIERE AWARD Patricia Lamb, Evening Bag GUILD OF IRISH LACEMAKERS AWARD Patricia lamb, Table Runner

12. FURNITURE 1st prize: Diarmuid Murphy, Smaoineamh (Study Desk) 2nd prize: Garvan De Bruir, Bow fronted bookcase

IACI MURIEL GAHAN SCHOLARSHIP - Nominees Gail Mahon, Ink and Spill (Group 1) Wendy Stephens, Leather Neckpiece Catherine Keenan, Eye Candy, Dark Pink and Blue Garvan De Bruir, Bow-fronted Bookcase Michelle McCarroll, Papillon

13. KNITTING & CROCHET 1st prize: Clare O’Keeffe, Bridal/Christening Shawl 2nd prize: Jurate Tiskute, Snowflake

€500: Seamus Cassidy, Untitled €250: Brendan Hogg, Leinster House and Droichead Nua

meabh warber ton (tapestry)

IRISH WOODTURNERS GUILD AWARD Port Lorire

14. WEAVING Hand-weaving for Fashion or Furnishings - 1st prize: Deirdre Collins, Africana Tapestry - 1st prize: Meabh Warberton, Poplar 15. PATCHWORK & QUILTING Traditional - 1st prize: Terri McNeill, Trip Around the Milky Way Contemporary - 1st prize: Anne Fleeton, Waves Justyna truchanowsta (Felt/silver neck Piece)

16. EMBROIDERY Traditional - 1st prize: Patricia Lamb, Pair of Cushion Covers Contemporary - 1st prize: Andrea Hayes, Docklands 17. LACE 1st prize: Patricia Lamb, Table Runner 2nd prize: Lucinda Jacob, Birds, Fish, Frog and Fly 18. PRINTED TEXTILES Hand techniques - 1st prize: Anne Kiely, Elemental Digital Print - 1st prize: Aoife Ludlow, Rossiya

LILLIAS MITCHELL AWARD Not Awarded MÁIRÍN O'BRIEN FLEGG MEMORIAL AWARD Traditional: Patricia Lamb, Pair of Cushion Covers Contemporary: Andrea Hayes, Docklands NATIONAL CRAFTS FAIR OF IRELAND AWARD Catherine Keenan, Eye Candy Dark Pink and Blue THE DUFF TISDALL FURNITURE DESIGN AWARD Diarmuid Murphy, Smaoineamh (Study Desk) THE TRADITIONAL LACEMAKERS OF IRELAND AWARD /Perpetual Trophy Patricia Lamb, Evening Bag THE IRISH PATCHWORK SOCIETY AWARD Terri McNeill, Trip Around the Milky Way

19. MULTIMEDIA TEXTILES 1st prize: Patricia Belford, Girli Concrete- Stitched Concrete 2nd prize: Not Awarded anne Kiely (digital Print - Hand techniques)

20. CALLIGRAPHY & LETTERING Paper - 1st prize: Denis Brown, Pangur Bán Other Media - 1st prize: Denis Brown, Three Works from the 1000 Wishes Series

RDS National Crafts Competition Prize Winners Travelling Exhibition - Key Dates Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Co. Cork, November 5 - 23, 2009 National Crafts & Design Fair, RDS, Dublin, December 2 - 6, 2009

andy Keeling, musical instruments

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News and Reviews This is a series of articles where the work of a craftperson registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland will be featured along with the Guild that supports them and or retail outlet that carries their work. If you would like to be considered for selection in future issues of Stopress, please email: stopress@ccoi.ie

Craftmaker in Context

by Cornelia McCarthy

“I have a feeling….that Irish people are starting to look at craft products again in a positive, appreciative way”….

Rob D'Eath - Potter When you look up Rob D'Eath’s biography on the Crafts Council of Ireland's website he states “I love to throw”. When you visit his workshop you see from the variety and quantity of stock that he has, that he does indeed throw a lot. And when you browse around the Sliding Rock Gallery it is evident that he is passionate about and loves all ceramics, including work by some of his ex-students whom he has watched develop when teaching them in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.

His own throwing started after travels to far off places in his early twenties, He came in contact with Korean ceramics in a museum in Jakarta and was “blown away by its rugged beauty”. Further travels in the Far East showed him a huge array of talent and making on every street corner.

He was, and still is deeply moved by the 'needs must' approach to craft - if you need something for daily life, you simply make it. Returning home to England he came in contact with the work of Bernard Leach, Michael Cardew and Shoji Hamada. This cross-cultural, English and oriental mixing of traditions and styles, cemented his flirtation with clay and a full blown love affair with making pots began.

He abandoned his third level studies in science and enrolled in Art College in Southampton and was taught by the influential Malcolm Pepper.

After gaining his diploma he set up a pottery with a fellow student. Together they learned about running a business.

Rob saw the highs and lows - from the

satisfaction in throwing for a living and selling work to customers to the kiln meltdowns and struggles for orders.

He became aware of his own ability to remain calm and professional in running a business. He also found the self-sufficiency of running his own crafts business attractive. This is a lifestyle and philosophical stance with which he is very comfortable.

At that time the GMIT was looking for a person to teach Ceramics and Rob secured the part time position. He moved to Galway just as a small premises became available on Quay Street, around the corner from the, soon to be established, Judy Greene pottery, and he set up Pot Luck . Through a bizarre but completely organic process, Rob ended up with the lease on a rambling bicycle and pet shop in Quay Street which resulted in his pottery outlet for four years becoming Galway’s city centre must-see destination for domestic and international tourists. In 1984 the lease was up in Quay Street, and so Rob moved to the Údarás na Gaeltachta funded and recently opened Ceardlann craft village in Spiddal , and became one of its original residents.

Currently the other village residents are Máire Ní Thaidhg (Weaver), Gearóid Ó Murchú (Printer), Ger O'Rourke (Artist), Dave McCarthy (Leather Maker), Eric Byrne (Jeweller), Julian Checkley (Candle Maker), a music shop run by musician Paul Vignoles, a craft supplies shop and the Builín Blasta (tasty loaf) Café.

‘Returning home to England [Rob] came in contact with the work of Bernard Leach, Michael Cardew and Shoji Hamada. This cross-cultural, English and oriental mixing of traditions and styles, cemented his flirtation with clay and a full blown love affair with making pots began’.

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News and Reviews

‘The formula for Ceardlann is to have ten studios, each with a specialization in a custom built attraction in the heart of the Gaeltacht’…. If you feel that craft villages have a bit of a reputation for tourist souvenirs and Oirish products, and being frozen in time, the gallery that Rob runs upsets this apple cart’ The formula for Ceardlann is to have ten studios, each with a specialisation in a custom built attraction in the heart of the Gaeltacht.

The only non-craft outlet is the café/bakery, which is a good draw for locals and visitors to the village. The site is magnificently situated directly across the road from a beach and overlooking one of Ireland's most famous and beloved sights, Galway Bay. On a rainy day it’s wild and grey and on a sunny day, breathtakingly beautiful.

Many craftspeople would give their eyeteeth for this base. A dedicated studio with retail facilities, neighbours who make work that is complementary but not similar (there are never two potters or two jewelers etc.,). Not forgetting facilities that include a substantial car and bus park, a tasty café and a road that will lead many the day-tripper or serious explorer on the ring of Connemara out to Clifden and onwards.

Big, frequent and legible signage on your approach makes it impossible not to find.

And did I mention the stunning scenery…?

If you feel that craft villages have a bit of a reputation for tourist souvenirs and Oirish products, and being frozen in time, the gallery that Rob runs upsets this apple cart. He gives emerging and established ceramic artists and potters a window to the world. He considers it a privilege to sell work by other craftspeople and clearly enjoys the discussions with them and the customers about the work, inspiration and ideas.

Rob combines teaching at the GMIT with the responsibilities of the gallery and the studio in the Ceardlann, where he is assisted by his current apprentice. The gallery and the pottery are open seven days a week so there is a big commitment to select for the outlet, stock it and staff it. Somewhere in the midst of all this there is a home and family. Getting the balance right is what we all try to do.

What's next for Rob? He mentions that he would like to take the time to do a residency rob d’eath with Kathleen standen (ceramicist)

and concentrate on his making. College, home and business pressures make it difficult to make this a reality right now. However, it seems to me that he has found other ways to stimulate his creativity while staying put. The gallery, this production range, his teaching and his involvement in local arts initiatives keep him totally immersed in the arguments and contemporary dialogues about and around craft and craftsmanship.

He says that the summer was mixed and sales were down by about 25% until RTÉ’s Nationwide ‘Craftworkers and artists in Spiddal’ appearance on 31st July this year, to mark 25 years in production in Ceardlann. “There was a good response to the programme and sales were strong for the month. The power of the media! The new range has been well received and I have orders for sets in that range as I ran out of stock” said Rob. Following up on this, Rob is hoping to show his range in January 2010 on the Galway Enterprise Board stand at Showcase, Ireland’s leading craft and gift trade fair. Rob is involved in assisting the development of new craft and art based businesses in order to create employment potential in the area. Along with organisations like the Western Development Commission he and others are in the process of setting up a project which will provide studio studio space and workshop equipment for young makers to develop their practices.

“I have a feeling, which is just an instinct, that Irish people are starting to look at craft products again in a positive, appreciative way.

This viewpoint will be greatly assisted by the craft awareness initiatives and promotional campaigns that the Crafts Council of Ireland will be rolling out for the next few years” says Rob. In his 50th year in 2002, Rob ran the Berlin city marathon with Tony, the Spiddal postman. He did it because he loves running and it was a personal goal in this personally significant year.

Rob is a craftsman with a skill for making, for

teaching and getting people excited about the creative process surrounding clay. Whatever he takes on he does with passion and commitment.

Article by Cornelia McCarthy, a project manager who works with creative businesses.

Sliding Rock Contemporary Ceramics Gallery Opened in 2006, this gallery run by Rob D'Eath features the work of craftspeople working with clay in Ireland. All year round, work by recent graduates rub shoulders with greats such as John ffrench, a frequent exhibitor, and Christy Keeney. Large-scale conceptual work by Katherine West sits close to the pure and sculptural thrown porcelain of Sara Flynn and decorative wall pieces by Thomas Wollen. He has dedicated exhibitions twice a year.

This summer an exhibition of work by Nanette Ledwith and Kathleen Standen took place and was opened by Úna Parsons, CEO of the Crafts Council of Ireland. The most recent exhibition featured new ceramics by Alan Boyle and bog wood sculpture by Ronnie Graham.

Rob D'Eath Sliding Rock Contemporary Ceramics

Spiddal, Co. Galway Tel: 091 553376 Mobile: 086 1923969 Email: robdeath@hotmail.com web: www.slidingrockceramics.com Ceardlann: Spiddal Craft and Design Studios

An Spidéal, Co Galway Tel: 091 553376 web: www.ceardlann.com Main website for Údarás www.udaras.ie

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Craft Community News

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

michael moore (ceramic sculptor), ‘third wave’ - ceramics

emmet Kane (woodturner) ‘gráinneóg’ - ebonised elm burl with dyed peaks

michael moore and emmet Kane with charlie mccreevy (european commissioner) at the Frozen Fire opening

Frozen Fire at Farmleigh Michael Moore (ceramic sculptor) and Emmet Kane (woodturner) at the opening of their new exhibition 'Earth Spun, Frozen Fire' in Farmleigh Gallery opened by the European Commissioner, Mr. Charlie McCreevey. This exhibition marks the culmination of several years work for both makers who are both internationally recognized masters in their respective crafts.

Joy ezeilo and Kemafo nonyerem chikwe at the opening of Frozen Fire

This exhibition ran from the 3rd September - 18th October 2009 Farmleigh is an OPW-managed heritage property.

Illustrating Lamb Peadar Lamb recently held a preview of his most significant and prestigious commission to date in the John Dunlop Building, Marina Commercial Park, Cork.

The preview was opened by Mary McCarthy, Director of the National Sculpture Factory which marked the last time this 100 sq. ft contemporary stained glass will be seen in Ireland before it reaches its final destination across the Atlantic in New York City later in the year - the last leg of an incredible 2-year journey to become the subject of a new television documentary.

In 2005, Clementina Santi Flatherty, a New York art patron, witnessed Lamb’s unique stained glass work first-hand in Dublin at Oscar Wilde’s House (the restoration she herself co-funded), and now she has commissioned Lamb to create the new façade for the renowned Irish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan, famous for delivering the great Irish playwrights of the 20th century to American audiences; Friel, Beckett, Behan, O’Neill to mention but a few.

Lamb’s own personal narrative is as colourful as the great Irish plays he depicts in this great work.

Grandson of the painter Charles Lamb and great great-grandson of Ford Maddox Brown a celebrated pre-raphaelite artist of the 19th century; his parents, both actors, performed alongside the greats of Irish theatre and his siblings who also work in the creative arts, it would seem he was always destined to make this new evocative work.

For further details visit: www.peadarlamb.com new work by Peadar Lamb (stained glass)

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Craft Community News Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies (GANS) This section of Stopress will feature a different member each issue and also a diary of up-coming GANS events, that we are notified about (see page 24).

This issue’s featured Network is

MADE in Kilkenny MADE in Kilkenny was officially formed in early 2009 following eighteen months of group gatherings and informal meetings. It was set up to foster excellence in crafts in County Kilkenny, to encourage the growth of the professional craft industry and to promote the county as a shopping destination for authentic handmade craft in Ireland.

MADE consists of 26 members who are highly skilled, professional designer/makers, earning a living from their craft Kilkenny has long had the reputation for being a hub of creativity and MADE in Kilkenny contributes to this. MADE consists of 26 members who are highly skilled, professional designer/makers, earning a living from their craft, based in Kilkenny city or county and who are in business for four or more years.

MADE in Kilkenny launched in August 2009 with an exhibition themed 'Kilkenny 400' in Butler House, which was part of the craft strand of the Kilkenny Arts Festival (see page 10 & 12). The exhibition was a great success, and was very well received by the local community and visitors alike and also gained a lot of local publicity.

A dedicated craft trail brochure (which includes a map of all the members) was also launched at this exhibition as part of Trail Kilkenny - a Kilkenny Leader Partnership initiative which promotes a variety of activity trails encouraging people to explore and discover all that County Kilkenny has to offer.

Going forward, MADE in Kilkenny plan to hold an annual exhibition in conjunction with the Kilkenny Arts Festival.

To further promote the network, a website (www.madeinkilkenny.ie ) has also been launched which is an online version of the brochure. One of the key objectives of this site is to enable visitors planning to come to Kilkenny to do some online research and familiarize themselves beforehand with the abundant of craft on offer and craft studios that are available to visit in Kilkenny.

At present the group are planning a 'pop up shop' in Kilkenny city centre for Christmas. With so many empty retail spaces in the city they are using this opportunity to strengthen their brand and expose it to a wide audience of shoppers in December. A key objective of the group is to develop, strengthen, expand market share, and create new markets while influencing the development of ‘craft excellence’ in the county.

The Group meet on a monthly basis with a core group meeting in between.

MADE in Kilkenny will be open for new applications in 2011. To date the group have received funding from Kilkenny Leader Partnership and Kilkenny Enterprise Board.

MADE in Kilkenny Group: Chairperson: Rosemarie Durr Core Group Members: Christopher Heltzel Ray Power Bernie McCoy Carl Parker Larry Kinsella Aileen-Anne Brannigan For further information email info@madeinkilkenny.ie The MADE in Kilkenny brochure is available to download from www.madeinkilkenny.ie

L - r: moth to a Flame - candles, rosemarie durr Pottery, Jerpoint glass, Jane Huston - Jewellery, gus mabelson - ceramics and maeve coulter - textile artist

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Craft Community News

Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies (GANS) Upcoming Diary Dates Name of Network: CIT Crawford College of Art & Design Event: Open Day Date: Saturday November 21st Time: 10:00 - 16:00 Location: CIT Crawford College of Art & Design, Sharman Crawford Street, Cork Email: Kevin.gill@cit.ie Website: www.cit.ie

Name of Network: RDS Event 1: RDS National Crafts Competition Prize-winners Travelling Exhibition Date: November 2 - 23, 2009 Location: Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Co Cork.

Event 2: RDS National Crafts Competition Prize-winners Travelling Exhibition Date: December 2 - 6, 2009 Time: 10.00am-10.00pm/ 10.00am-7.00pm (Saturday & Sunday) Location: National Crafts and Design Fair, Main Hall, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 For further information contact: RDS Foundation Arts Department Name of Contact: Sarah Ross Email: arts@rds.ie Website: www.rds.ie/arts

Name of Network: Cork Textiles Network Event 1: “The Long Note” an exhibition of textiles inspired by Music (Opening Event 25th November 2009, Time 6pm) Date: 23rd November - 18th December 2009 Time: Mon - Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am - 5pm Location: Cork School of Music, Union Quay, Cork Event 2: Colour and Form in Textiles- A 2 day festival of textiles Lectures and workshops from Ireland’s and Britain’s leading contemporary textile artists. Early booking ensures a place in your chosen workshop.

Download a registration from www.corktextiles.com.

Name of Network: MADE in Kilkenny Event: Guerilla shopping for crafts - look out for a MADE in Kilkenny 'POP-UP' retail outlet in Kilkenny city this Christmas season Date: 7 days a week in December up to Christmas Location: Kilkenny city centre Email: info@madeinkilkenny.ie Website: www.madeinkilkenny.ie

Name of Network: Irish Patchwork Society Event 1: Members retreat in An Grianan Competition will be "Love and Romance" for those attending the weekend.

Artists featuring include Ferret and Ineke Berlyn.

Date: 12th - 14th February 2010.

Location: in An Grianan Event 2: Loose Thread Quilters Exhibition Date: January 11th - 16th 2010 Location: Newtownabbey Borough Council Office, Mossely Mill, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.

Irish Patchwork Meetings are held throughout the country in seven different locations. Dates for all meetings are posted on our website www.ips.ie. New members are always welcome to come along to see what is happening.

For further Information: Name of Contact: Breege Watson - Chairperson, Irish Patchwork Society Phone no: 087 8382411 Email: admin@irishpatchwork.ie Website: www.irishpatchwork.ie

Name of Network Irish Woodturners Guild Title of event Gorey Chapter Annual Seminar featuring - world renowned turner and artist Binh Pho also renowned turner Nick Arnull Date: 6th March 2010 Time: 9am to 5pm Location Gorey - venue to be advised Name of Contact: Brendan Tracy Phone no: 087 6400609 or 0402 31250 Website:www.irishwoodturnersguild.com

Date: 6th & 7th March 2010 Time: Sat 6th: 8.30am-5.30pm, Sun 7th:10am-4pm Location: Colaiste Stiofain Naofa,Cork For further information: Name of Contact: Carmel Phone no: 086 6095656 Email: ctn@oceanfree.net Website: www.corktextiles.com

To submit a GANS upcoming event to Stopress: Contact Mary Whelan, CCoI, T: 056 7796131 E: mary@ccoi.ie or email information direct to stopress@ccoi.ie

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Craft Community News

New Galleries & Craft Shops

Contemporary Irish Design

Salamander Gallery Lisburn Road, Belfast Salamander Opening Brings a Unique Irish Arts Experience to Northern Ireland The Salamander Gallery officially opened its doors in September 2009 in an unusual and spacious Victorian Chapel Hall within the prestigious Lisburn Road shopping area in Belfast. The exhibits are installed in a spacious and quirky two storey victorian church hall providing an unusual backdrop to enhance the whole visual experience.

What sets this innovative gallery apart is its diverse range of high quality ceramics, contemporary basketwork, wooden sculptures, glassware, paintings, etchings, books and textiles from the leading artists across the island of Ireland. The inclusion of International pieces adds that extra level of interest.

Portfolio on Francis Street Portfolio on Francis Street opened its gallery doors to the public in Summer 2009, and is dedicated to showcasing beautiful pieces of Irish-made furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles and art in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

For further information contact: Portfolio on Francis Street 67-68 Francis Street, Dublin 8 T: 01 453 7124 E: portfolio@ireland.com W: www.exquisitepieces.com

Brainchild and owner of the new gallery, Peter Wheatley - Smith comments: “Until now Irish ceramics and contemporary basketwork have been poorly represented in Northern Ireland despite leading the world in levels of design creativity and production. It is this very diversity of artwork on display that really separates out the Salamander gallery - catering for the art lover and collector alike.”

Adding her support to the new venture, Elaine Riordan, Chairperson of Ceramics Ireland said: “At long last the Salamander Gallery now provides Irish ceramicists with a spacious and unusual outlet to exhibit their work and highlight their individual creativity in Northern Ireland - exciting times!”

For further information visit: www.salamandergallery.co.uk

Glór Café and Crafts Shop, Causeway Link, Ennis, Co. Clare Supporting Irish Art and Craft, the Glór crafts shop is the latest feature to the stunning GLÓR music centre in Ennis, Co. Clare.

Representing artists working in ceramics, glass, basketry, paper, wood, textiles, leather and jewellery, Glór’s new crafts shop offers the very best in design, contemporary craft and visual art.

The collection showcases the quality and innovation of Irish craftworkers, established and new.

Irish made crafts by over 40 artists, including Alison Fitzgerald, Cathy Dodrill, Cormac Boydell, Joe Hogan, Joe Lawlor, Karen Morgan, Karl Harron, Jane Seymour, Away With the Fairies, Ann Connolly, Irish Cottage Candles, Cathy Prendergast, Mel Bradely, Susan Sex, Maggie Cashman, Raymond Kingham, Sara Flynn & Terry O'Brien.....and many more.

For further information visit www.glor.ie

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Craft Community News

Through the ‘Craft Community’ section of Stopress, the Crafts Council of Ireland is happy to facilitate a FORUM AREA for constructive debate amongst craft enthusiasts. The views in this forum are therefore the views of individuals and are not necessarily the views of the Crafts Council of Ireland.

Craft & Criticism: Critical Writing on Crafts

A Review of Jack Doherty at the National Craft Gallery 2009 by: Michael Moore, Reader in Fine and Applied Art, Ceramics, University of Ulster

‘I saw the hand of the potter mark the surface. It was a ribbed tool that left a streaking comb-like tear into the clay. A signature mark I felt, both of the maker and of the soda firing process …..’

chawan, stoneware

Jack Doherty’s Ceramics returned to the

was immediately taken by the robust quality

Courtyard of the Crafts Council of Ireland

of the round Bowls, with hues of yellow,

for his solo exhibition, which began in

green and orange, perhaps not what one

August 2009. They returned in the sense

presumes to expect from the often contrary

that in 1971 Doherty joined the then named

material of porcelain. Yet their robustness

Kilkenny Design Workshops and made

did not deny them elegance, and the finger

Ceramics within sight of the building that is

print that the process of soda firing imparts

now the National Craft Gallery of Ireland. So

on clay surface as it terrorizes that surface

in moving forward through nearly forty years

during a firing. These works to me seemed

of Doherty’s career as a potter and educator,

to be survivors. But not in a defeated sense,

one cannot but remark on his achievements.

more that they had emerged from the

Chair of the Craft Potters Association,

ferocity which fire and soda can impart

Lecturer of Ceramics at Royal Forest of Dean

combined, with dignity, to create absolutely

College, Committee Chair of ‘Ceramic Art

bespoke forms and surfaces.

London’, to mention just three.

However I recalled I had seen this before.

Yellow Bowl, Porcelain

This exhibition is a focus on his practice as

Not these exact warrior vessels but the sight

a potter. So to step into the National Craft

of Jack Doherty’s making process while he

Gallery is to step into the world of a Studio

presented at the Aberyswyth Clay festival in

Potter laying bear his new work, developed

Wales earlier that summer. Again it was just

over many years to the point where one

through a gap in another crowd thronged

encounters the object, refined, resolved

around his work, I saw the hand of the

and intimate. Three tall collared vessels in

potter mark the surface. It was a ribbed tool

Stoneware flanked by two large round Bowls

that left a streaking comb-like tear into the

in porcelain were what came into sight. I

clay. A signature mark I felt, both of the

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Craft Community News

‘These works to me seemed to be survivors.

But not in a defeated sense, more that they had emerged from the ferocity which fire and soda can impart combined, with dignity, to create absolutely bespoke forms and surfaces.’ wide conical Bowl, Porcelain

maker and of the soda firing process that

to blue bowls in porcelain, dispersed beside

would no doubt in time, find these calligraphic

warmer, darker stoneware vessels, lids and jars

Doherty’s intimate understanding of function

marks and settle there in, to create the touch

with a coarser surface and tactile appeal. Yet

and living with the object made by one’s own

that remains to mark the makers impression on

for example consider the one hundred piece

hand. As Doherty now leads the Leach Pottery

these vessels, jars and bowls.

‘Youomis’ wall mounted series. These seemed

in St. Ives, I sense there is a real forward vision

absolutely radient in their deep brown, white

in these vessels, bowls and jars, that perhaps

and orange hues, pulsing in colour.

peep out from the top floor of the pottery, the

This body of Ceramics seemed like they had been made by someone very used to living with

This brings me back to my point about

very floor where one finds Doherty’s own

and using the objects he makes. There was an

Clearly function is of high importance to

studio. A glimpse of the sea reflected in the

intimate understanding of function evidenced

Jack Doherty, defining in his catalogue four

cool copper greens and blues of the porcelain

in the proportions of these forms and pots

distinct areas of interest in: ‘drinking’, ‘sharing’,

made therein.

described by Martha Donaghy as “quietly

‘display’ and ‘storing’ (2). This indicates a sense

demanding attention” (1). Doherty understands

of community that supports the curation

Michael Moore

the world inside a kiln, where in advance the

or layout of this show, where works constantly

Reader in Fine and Applied Art, Ceramics

maker knows perfectly where to leave marks

relate to each other, through form, light

University of Ulster.

and cuts and indentations, and layers of clay

and shadow.

colour, all of which the soda will faithfully detect and embellish. I believe it is that ability

Towards the front of the gallery, cooler

References:

to anticipate where these reactions occur

copper porcelain jars and bowls such as

1. Jack Doherty, exhibition catalogue, National Craft

that stood out so strongly in this collection

‘Conical Bowl 16’ emitted something of a

Gallery of Ireland 2009, ISBN 978-1-906691-09-7,

of vessels.

calmer contemplative function. I wondered

p 4, para 2, line 2.

had climate been considered. Doherty’s

2. Jack Doherty, exhibition catalogue, National Craft

One witnessed very clear moods in the works in

studio is coastal, seasonal, facing the

Gallery of Ireland 2009, ISBN 978-1-906691-09-7,

this exhibition. Cool copper greens and yellow

Atlantic Ocean.

p 10, para 2, lines 9-10.

Editor’s Note: In 2009 the Crafts Council of Ireland launched an Annual Critical Writing in Craft Award, in association with the Irish Arts Review. The winners of this new award is featured in the 2009 Winter edition of the Irish Arts Review.

For further information visit www.irishartsreview.com For updates visit www.ccoi.ie

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Craft Community News “The life blood of every business is Sales, it is like blood in the veins - no blood no life - no sales no business” says Gerry Crosbie of DESIGNYARD

Extract of a speech delivered by Gerry Crosbie (DESIGNYARD) at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny At the opening of ‘Breaking Out’ - an exhibition which celebrated a new generation of talented and innovative designer-makers working in Ireland, which ran until 31st January 2009.

gerry crosbie delivering a speech at the national craft gallery, Kilkenny

gerry crosbie (director of designYard)

A common topic of conversation at dinner parties over the past number of years has been property and property prices and which continent you should buy your holiday home on.

In recent times it has changed to discussing how the young people of today will not be able to cope with the downturn. I think we see here today that they are coping very well.

As a lot of my time over the past 15 years has been spent up and down the boreens of Ireland, searching out new and exciting work, it is particularly pleasing to see such a fine collection of work here in one venue. I think you will all agree that the work here speaks for itself.

So, what I would like to talk about are the steps to ensure that these artists go on to establish successful businesses doing what they love most.

Before setting out you do need to ask yourself a few important questions:

• Am I prepared to put in the hours in the early years? Long weekends at Trade Fairs etc • Am I prepared to make the financial sacrifices? Maybe do a part-time job after a day in the studio • Can I take risks?

• Can I cope with the insecurity of being self-employed?

The good thing about starting up in the present climate is that the only way is upwards.When I started in business in the early nineties the economic climate was similar to the present one.

It was a time when most people had to leave the country to get a job, interest rates were very high, bank managers were ultra cautious.

We set up the business and 15 years later we are still around. The last I heard of the bank manager was of him trying to explain to tribunal lawyers in Dublin Castle about some dodgy loans he gave out. So the moral of the story is - don’t be put off, take on board all the free advice you can get and avoid the ‘can’t do’ merchants.

So back to how you get sales: To achieve sales you need to market yourself and your work. Marketing is jargon for letting as many people as possible know about what you do.

Starting out you are unlikely to have a budget for marketing but there are lots of ways in which you can market yourself at little or no cost.

Examples include:

The life blood of every business is Sales, it is like blood in the veins - no blood no life - no sales no business. So the question is how do I sell my work?

Before I address that question can I say that I would highly recommend being your own boss, it gives you great freedom and job satisfaction.

To get started I planned to purchase a shop unit in Christchurch in Dublin. When I approached one bank manager he told me “you won’t last 6 months, there is nothing going on there, only Jury’s Inn, you won’t make a profit selling Contemporary Irish Craft in this environment.”

This opinion was coming from a guy sitting behind a desk who probably thought woodturning was a new board game.

• Make sure that all your friends are aware of what you are doing and selling

• Register with the Crafts Council of Ireland and get to know your local Enterprise Board Officer • Join you local Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Network group etc.

• Promote yourself in the local media- learn how to write a Press Release

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• Get your leaflets in to as many public places as possible - your hairdresser, your dentist/doctor, your local library etc.

• Go after sales from people you give business to - They all have to buy wedding presents • Select the galleries/retail outlets in which you want to have your work and go and talk to the Owner/Buyer. Don’t compete with your local gallery by selling work at wholesale prices in the local fair or market

• When you get your work in, build the

• • • •

relationship with the sales staff in the Galleries, make sure they understand the techniques and the inspiration for your work. No harm to tell them about the perspiration as well.

Just like musicians do keep the buyers updated on your ‘Next Album’ If your work is suitable, go after the corporate gift buyers Avail of every networking opportunity that arises The most important one of the lot is to look after your customers when you get them - it’s a fact that it costs 5 times more to get an order from a new customer than it does to get a repeat order from an existing customer.

Craft Community News We went to Showcase in the RDS the next morning and by the following Wednesday evening we had an outlet for our product in every town in Ireland, North and South.

Coming back to the theme of the Exhibition - Breaking Out, there is a responsibility on all of us, both in the public and private sector to be more proactive in promoting this industry.

I often wonder why is it that the Craft/Design sector is treated differently to the Art World?

For example, the Crafts Council of Ireland has been responsible for spreading the Gospel of Irish craft and design to places like Sofa and Philadelphia, where we have won many awards. But you don’t read much about these successes in The Irish Times which devotes whole pages every week to the Arts: A few questions I would raise:

• Does the Media need to be made more

Marrying artistic merit with the new commercial realities each piece will retail at €100 and each work will be in a limited edition of 100 pieces.

between the two sectors?

Until Thursday 19th November

• Why have we a dedicated Minister for Arts and not for Craft and Design?

This industry has the potential to solve a lot of problems for Government in the years ahead. With modern technology and communications, there is the potential for artists:

Luck played a big part in my first venture.

Ireland, thereby taking the pressure off our clogged up urban areas • to contribute greatly to the Social Fabric of Irish Society - local industry has a boomerang effect - Post Offices, Banks, Convenience Stores etc.

with a nose and a mouth and when you put it in water, the grass grew out of its head. We launched it at an Ideal Homes Exhibition in say September/October, and got a poor response.

We did the markets with it for the Christmas period and got a fairly good response but our dilemma was how we were going to get it out to the wider public, having no funds to do marketing or advertising. We rang the Late Late Show and asked if they would include our product in the special Enterprise Late Late Show which was coming up the following week. We were told to send it in but there was no guarantee that it would be shown.

Showcasing new high quality contemporary sculpted pieces, bespoke jewellery and wall art by emerging and established artists

aware of the Industry?

• to work in their own communities • to create much needed jobs in rural

We developed a novelty product called the

JEWELLERY & CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

• Why is there such a funding imbalance

In starting out there is also an element of luck.

Little Grasscal. It was in the shape of a head

DESIGNYARD

Curator: Dara O Neill

100 @ DESIGNYARD Sets out to marry artistic merit with the new commercial realities This special exhibition features flawless sculptures, hand made bespoke jewellery and wall pieces - all new creations from established and aspiring artists, retailing at €100 and each exclusive piece will be in a limited edition of 100 pieces.

Gerry Crosbie Director of DESIGNYARD

This exhibition is the brainchild of curator Dara O Neill who explored ways of promoting Irish design and sculpture in a more economically savvy light. “The concept involved assisting and guiding artists in developing the artwork within the price range while maintaining a strong design and contemporary feel’.

DESIGNYARD GALLERY 48-49 Nassau Street, Dublin 2. Ireland.

Tel: +353 1 4741011 Fax: +353 1 6713469 E-Mail: info@designyard.ie www.designyard.ie

General Manager of DESIGNYARD, Ann Sevastopulo says artists are becoming more and more market aware in the downturn and are creating pieces to match desired budgets.

“This Exhibition gives art and design enthusiasts a more ‘pocket friendly’ option when searching for that unique wedding, birthday or Christmas gift. These creations have been turned from inspirations to affordable bespoke gifts for loved ones.”

So I leave you to ponder those questions.

This is where the luck came in.

Just as the Late Late was about to finish there were 3 trolleys of goodies wheeled into the studio, Gay Byrne showed a few items from the first trolley and just as he lifted our Grasscal from the second trolley, the floor manager shouted, “Cut now, we have got to go, we have got to go to News” but Gaybo ignored him and proceeded to cut the hair on the Grasscal as the credits rolled. The girl beside me whose invention was on the third trolley was in tears.

Celebrating 17 years in business this year, the high end gallery two years ago moved to 48-49 Nassau Street. With a €1.5 million investment the 2,800 sq foot, listed building has been stunningly yet sympathetically redesigned by Soon Interiors Belfast, marrying historical integrity with high end design and facilitating public access, for the first time in many years, to four of the five floors in this special building.

For further information contact:

Ann Sevastopulo (General Manager) - DESIGNYARD T: 01 4741011 E: ann@designyard.ie

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Opportunities

Dates for your Diary

Opportunities...Opportunities...Opportunities...Opportunities

*Please note: The Winter issue of Stopress will be published on 15th December 2009.

OPPORTUNITY DIARY DATES

BY/ON/CURRENTLY

Suggestions for Inclusion in Trends Area at Showcase 2011 (see p. 8) Submissions - Good News Stories for Showcase (see p. 7) Submissions Showcase Awards - New Product Award etc., (see p. 7) House & Home/CCoI Student Design Awards (see p. 31) Coppinger Row Christmas Market, Dublin (see p. 31) Information/Advice on Exhibiting at Showcase (see p. 32) Facilitator’s Register of Interest for Craft in the Classroom (see p. 32)

ASAP ASAP Details TBA in November by 26th February 2010 by 13th November 2009 ASAP ASAP

WORKSHOPS (For more information see p.31) Selling Craft & the Role of Branding in Challenging Times Costing & Pricing Your Product Effectively

on on

19th November, Kilkenny 26th November, Kilkenny

NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY (NCG) EXHIBITIONS 2009/10 For more information contact ncg@ccoi.ie or log onto www.ccoi.ie NCG, Castle Yard, Kilkenny Generation (p. 40) On the Edge

on on

31st October - 10th January 2010 16th January 2010 - 21st March 2010

on on

2nd - 6th December 2009 24th - 27th January 2010

on on on

22nd - 26th January 2010 7th - 11th February 2010 19th - 22nd February 2010

For NCG Touring Exhibitions visit www.ccoi.ie

SHOWS IN IRELAND 2009/2010 National Crafts & Design Fair, RDS Dublin Showcase 2010 (Ireland’s Creative Expo), RDS, Dublin

INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR DATES 2009/2010 Maison et Objet, Paris Birmingham Spring Fair Inhorgenta, Munich

For more information on the above events: T: 056 7761804 or E: info@ccoi.ie

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Opportunities

House and Home/Crafts Council of Ireland

Student Design Awards 2010 Calling all student designers! Do you fancy yourself as a 21st Century Eileen Gray?

Could you be Ireland’s answer to Terence Conran?

Then don’t just sit on your laurels, enter the House and Home/Crafts Council of Ireland Student Design Competition and bag yourself €1,000 in cash and a trip to the design fair most suited to your area of design, as well as relevant mentoring and support.

For more information and to download an entry form visit: www.houseandhome.ie Enquires can be made to: awards@houseandhome.ie Product Design ideas must be submitted by post to House and Home by Friday, 26th February, 2010 Actual designed product must be submitted by Tuesday, 31st March, 2010

Upcoming Workshops for Craft Enterprises CCoI has put together a series of workshops specifically designed to meet the needs of makers and practitioners in the craft industry. Workshops will cater for groups of up to 20 participants and involve facilitator input, interactive activity, group discussion and presentations.

Please see below for details of upcoming workshops.

Selling Craft & the Role of Branding in Challenging Times 19 November, 10am - 5pm, Kilkenny • • • •

The role of branding in building craft sales The relationship between marketing, branding & sales How does your brand affect sales?

Steps in building a craft brand

This workshop will be led by Siobhan O’Dwyer of threesixty.ie, an expert in market positioning, branding and creative communications. Included will be the craft brand story of Irish Design Shop.com and Rosemarie Durr Pottery.

Costing & Pricing Your Product Effectively 26 November, 10am - 5pm, Kilkenny • • • • •

How cost, price and customer needs are related Costing effectively Overcoming cash flow difficulties Minimizing your overheads & other weaknesses How I cost and price my craft effectively - Craft Enterprise Case Study

This workshop will be led by Marian Mc Donald, an expert in product costing and development of craft enterprises. A case study on Alan Ardiff Jewellery will be presented by Siobhan O’ Riordan.

Workshops are at a special price of €30 euro with limited capacity allowing for one to one mentoring.

To book and for further information contact: Genevieve Murphy, Education & Training Assistant T: 056 7796134 E: genevieve@ccoi.ie

CALL OUT NEW CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Coppinger Row Market, Dublin seeks Craft Traders Closing Date: Friday 13th November at 1pm (This notice is included here to assist in the promotion of this opportunity to our online readers only. Please note, in advance of receipt of the hardcopy of Stopress by post, all CCoI clients were sent an email notifying them of the earlier online publication date of this issue).

Dublin City Council will provide: • Key city centre outdoor space for trading in one of the core retail areas of the city centre.

• 2m by 2m white outdoor canopy with sides and weigths and themed signage with the traders name, company etc.

• Power Supply - generator or mains depending on requirements • Marketing and publicity for the event as part of the Winter programme of events for the city • Toilet facilities with the co-operation of the management of the Powerscourt Centre.

• The support of DCC administration staff and our Casual Trading and Assistant Casual Trading Officers in addition to a liaison person from Magnum Event • Management who are assisting DCC with the production of the Winter Programme.

• Traders will be required to pay a fee of €30 per day i.e. a total fee of €180 for the 3 weekends. This payment is not required until they have been selected.

Trading Days: Saturday and Sunday from Saturday December 5th to Sunday December 20th from 11am to 7pm.

Traders will be subject to a selection process. This selection process will be carried out by DCC in partnership with the Powerscourt Centre, Dublin City Bids and the Crafts Council of Ireland.

TO APPLY: Complete an Event Trading Application Form (available from the Crafts Council of Ireland Website www.ccoi.ie or by contacting Mary Weir at the address below) and submit to: Mary Weir, Event Manager, Dublin City Council, Events and Street Trading Unit, Ground Floor, Block 4

All traders must carry their own insurance.

For further information: T: +353 (0)1 222 2242 E: events@dublincity.ie

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Opportunities

SHOWCASE 2010 CAN YOU AFFORD TO MISS IT? Showcase 2010 is on the horizon and already buyers are planning their visit to the show by logging onto www.showcaseireland.com and researching what exhibitors will be featured. The site is filled with key information, news stories and images from exhibitors - offering additional opportunity to promote your business.

A series of new initiatives to attract buyers and add value to the show, combined with a reduced exhibitors rate means that there has never been a better time to exhibit.

Craft has been given key prominence at the show with the exciting new Creative Island area in Main Hall and a strong craft presence on the Balcony and in Hall A. And there are more opportunities than ever to raise your profile to buyers through initiatives such as the Showcase

website, the catalogue and the planned trend area (details of which are on page 8).

For information or advice on exhibiting at (or indeed returning to) Showcase contact: Emma McGrath at 056 7796150 E: emmamcgrath@ccoi.ie Also see Showcase news on page 7.

NOTICE: Craft in the Classroom Evaluation Review 2009 Since 2005 Craft in the Classroom has worked with over 2000 children in 8 counties across Ireland. The programme is extremely popular and successful. In order to ensure continued growth and to maximise the potential of Craft in the Classroom the CCoI is currently undertaking an evaluation review of the programme.

Craftspeople and stakeholders who have facilitated or have a vested interest in the programme will be contacted as part of this process.

Craftspeople interested in participating in craft based programmes at primary level are encouraged to register their interest by emailing: education@ccoi.ie

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33

FOR SALE

Advertisements Taurus 3 Ring Saw with spare blade and grommet set. new

STUDIO SPACE WANTED

condition. the Kiln is a 30 cubic foot front loader. external: 66 inches long, 68 inches high, 51 inches wide.

(newtownards co. down). please contact Karl on

Wanted: Studio space /studio share for ceramicist in

T: 07979365829 or

Limerick/Limerick area. Contact

E: info@theglasstudioireland.com

Clare T: 087 9721274

internal: 36 inches long, 40 inches high, 30 inches wide. it is a cromartie sc 710 (3 phase). cost: €1,000 including furniture.

Contact Rob Monaghan, M: 086 6002877 or T: 01 4935891

Michelle M: 086 1626503

Kiln, Wheel and Workshop Door electric kiln, small, single phase €700 (internal dimensions

linen/Flax (L. Brown) x7, 100% linen/Flax (natural) x5, 100%

STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE

stratford potters wheel €600, (10ft x 8ft) €900. For further information contact E: mollyspottery@gmail.com M: 087 6306348

STAND AVAILABLE

Come and join the market on the mall. the

Linentoe (thick Yarn) x2 (V. L.

westport Food and craft market

selling them altogether, only, they are most suitable for weaving, although they could be used for knitting (most of the yarns are quite thin) Contact E: catcronogue30@hotmail.com

resident artists. More info and specs W: www.lacatedralstudios.org E: lacatedralstudios@yahoo.com

Farmhouse For Sale/Rent /Artists Workshop Spaces.

3 Bedroom farmhouse on 3.5 acres of land with 4 stone built outhouses.

Desk Spaces Available To Rent, redspace desk spaces suiting

opportunity to convert into studio

artistic and creative practices are

workshop spaces. Land suitable for

available to rent at redspace in

polytunnels situated 10 minutes from

dublin 1. redspace / the Joy gallery,

castlecomer, co. Kilkenny.Contact

is a non-profit art, music & technology

Gabriella Eviston M: 087 7578255

facility located on rutland Place at

E: Gabriellaeviston@gmail.com

the top of o'connell street, dublin

was set up to support local food and craft producers to enable them to sell their goods co-operatively and it has a variety of stalls every saturday stretched along the picturesque tree lined carrowbeg river in the centre of westport town. as an incentive to

€125 per month) includes 24/7

Fantastic Studio Opportunity! For craftsperson

printing/scanning facilities, storage

(ceramicist or other discipline) at

and access to common areas

access, wireless internet access,

earthworks ceramics studio &

(kitchen area & lounge). For further

gallery, thomastown, co. Kilkenny.

information or to arrange a

studio space shared with two other

viewing please contact:

ceramicists in a fully equipped

E: hello@redspace.cc

ceramic studio available to rent commencing october 2009. Very

attract mayo craft producers to the

affordable workspace with gallery

market during the final trading

/retail outlet in a beautiful location

Fabric Spray, Stencil Spray, Upholstery Spray Fabric spray

months leading up to christmas we

with river view. ideal for a ceramicist

will charge only €25 per day for each

or craftsperson / artist. For

can be used to make great designs

new stall applying. all stallholders will

further information phone

on t-shirts, cushions and upholstery.

require current market traders

Earthworks T: 056 7724714 or

Use stencil spray for great effects on

insurance. We welcome anyone

E: earthworksceramicstudio@gmail.com

hats and jackets. Upholstery spray is

interested to contact Brenda

W: www.karenmorganceramics.com

perfect for your sofas and soft

Maloney. Secretary T: 098 64014

W: www.carolinedolanceramics.com

furnishings. no heat setting and non

or Jan Simmons. pRO T: 098 56761

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

RiseCreatives offering Web space & Support PR for craftspeople. risecreatives underwent a redesign last year and we are delighted to announce that we have launched our new site. we

toxic. For more information visit W: www.fabricspray.ie or

access, communal space, great

1. the available desk space (rent:

Viscose (ecru) ivory x1 (L. cone), cones) total €141(ono) i am

window, optional wi-fi, 24hrs/7days

T: 087 2753944

Linen/Flax (L. green) x1, Viscose Floss twist (white) x1 (cone), rayon

a large floor-to-ceiling industrial

multi-purpose space available to the

50cm d x 40cm w x 40cm h),

Yarns for sale: tussah silk (bleached wild silk noir) x7, 100%

the studio is self contained with own door, features great natural light with

creative environment and a

Large glass workshop door

Brother industrial overlocker €300 Contact

small production companies, craft/ design studio or still life photography.

£490. will accept £245 if collected.

Kiln For Sale excellent

dublin 8. ideal as an office space for

contact Bob on M: 087 2369569

A studio space is immediately available at la

or T: 045 883510

catedral studios off thomas street,

are now offering three plans to members. members of risecreatives also benefit from our marketing and promotion of the site. we actively

AUTUMN 2009

34

Advertisements market and promote the risecreatives website driving visitors,

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

potential buyers, gallery owners, employers or sources of commission

Kozo Studio and Gallery art

available on request. For further

workshops in co. Kilkenny. For

information please contact

upcoming workshops and courses

Mel Bradley M: 086 3712927

contact tunde toth (or visit the

area, from which members can

Exhibition: A Seed of Truth, 14th - 29th November 2009, Venue: Gallery space at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Dublin. an exhibition

manage their web space and access

inspired by the life and work of

our resource centre of information

ernest douglas. the exhibition is the

and articles. For further

work of textile artist Liz Brown

information on the benefits of

and visual artist Jane Locke. the

joining RiseCreatives visit our

show promises to be a fascinating

website W: www.risecreatives.com

exploration of ernest douglas’

or contact Nina at M: 087 2703890

experiments through felt

dyeing, weaving, silk paper making, rag

and mixed media.

rug making, feltmaking, jewellery and

to the site, where they can easily view our members’ work in their individual web spaces or in our studio. we also have a new members’

E: phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie

Foundry Residency: Metal Casting Opportunity scottish

T: 01 677 0095 W: www.heritageireland.ie

website below). also available: individually designed and tailored

Millinery Workshops

workshops, demonstrations, artist's

For more information on

presentations for pre-organized

upcoming workshops see website:

groups, arts venues, schools, arts

W: www.linasteinmillinery.com

events, corporate clients...etc. please

T: 098 28449

contact Tunde Toth for details,

E: linasteinhats@eircom.net

advice and the full programme: W: www.kozogallery.com E: tundetune@gmail.com M: 087 2543362

Leitrim Sculpture Centre Upcoming Course:

beadwork. For more information

coldworking For Finishing glass/

or T: 098 21888

sculpture workshop (ssw) provides

metal (5th-6th dec) For more

residencies and training for visual

information on courses please

artists who wish to research ideas, experiment with new techniques or develop existing skills and are

WORKSHOPS /COURSES

Derryaun Crafts, Near Westport, workshops in spinning,

see W: www.derryauncrafts.com

contact T: 071 9855098

Bronze casting workshops,

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie

h2studio, Kilbrittain, the workshops

W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie

are run with self made equipment

inviting artists to apply for foundry

using a unique combination of pre

residencies. For more information

historic and modern methods. Helle

please visit W: www.ssw.org.uk

Feltmakers Ireland will be holding their ever popular annual

Glenn Lucas Woodturning

Helsner is a specialist in pre historic

or contact Simmone to discuss

Basic & Beyond workshop in Lucan,

new specialist clinics on: 5th

bronze casting and has run

a self-funded residency:

co dublin on January 23rd 2010.

december 2009 and 30th January

workshops in ireland, denmark, UK

E: office@ssw.org.uk

it is a great opportunity for anyone

2010. also classes run throughout

and america. the courses are

T: +44 (0)1464 861 372

interested in feltmaking to get a taste

the year, with beginners 4th saturday

suitable for all levels as small groups

every month. For further

ensures individual attention. the

information contact:

foundry is also fully mobile and

forms please see

E: glennlucas@eircom.net

h2studio will travel to run work-

W: www.feltmakersireland.com

T: 059 9727070 M: 086 2766841

shops. For more information please

W: www.glennlucas.com

contact E: hellehelsner@gmail.com

of the wide variety of feltmaking techniques and styles. For more information and application

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

T: 021-4708950 M: 086 3256689

Agent Required selling to gift and craft trade designer irish greeting cards from original range of watercolours. For further information contact: W: www.jenniwhite.ie T: 023 8841388/086 170 3635

W: www.h2studioart.com

Life drawing sessions with no tuition are being held in a georgian room in temple Bar on

"Gatehouse Gallery" Textile Workshops, drogheda,

tuesdays from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

co. Louth. mel Bradley and rachel

Cork Printmakers are

tinniswood are holding a series of

currently enrolling for the following

sessions cost €16 each or €65 for four weeks. tea/coffee served during 15 minute break. drawing boards and rotating models provided. Please

textile workshops at the "gatehouse

adult education courses: Photo

gallery". these workshops are

etching with collography (28 & 29

bring own materials. Limited places.

designed to cater for the beginner

november) introduction to Fabric

all levels welcome. To reserve a

and intermediate levels. "textile

screenprinting: (5 & 6 december)

place please call Kate on

christmas decorations" sat 12th

For more information on course

T: 087 2823319

dec, 10am-4pm. master classes are

content or to book a place, please

AUTUMN 2009

35

contact Cork printmakers at:

Advertisements Bank of Ireland

T: 021 4322422

Robb Bradstock, Six Degree Productions,

E: courses@corkprintmakers.ie

coolavokig, macroom co. cork. short videos made to help promote craftspeople. robb has been a craft

TRAINING & COURSES

potter for the past 30 years and

made about the west cork

Build and maintain your own website on our 2-day website workshop training course. By the end of the course, you will have your own website hosted live on the internet. create, edit and manage your

craft and design guild with Jeremy irons can be found at

E: paula@databasyx.com W: www.Databasyx.com

/an_inspired_gathering_2008.html For further information contact T: 026-40172 or visit W: www.sixdegreeproductions.com

Web Design - great work deserves a superb website. Let us design a website for you that represents your skill at its best.

Wicklow County Enterprise Board offer a wide variety of high quality business training courses to both start up businesses and existing

The Crafts Council of Ireland is delighted to announce a superb opportunity for its members through the forthcoming Bank of Ireland Show Your Business Week - Christmas Special.

Bank of Ireland, as part of its National Enterprise Programme will be hosting the special Show Your Business Week from 7th-11th December 2009.

Innovative and creative businesses are invited to 'show and sell' in Bank of Ireland branches.

W:www.sixdegreeproductions.com

content. only €820. Contact paula Crawford T: 086 242 9800

Christmas Special!

has been making films for the past 6 years. details of a film he

2-Day Website Workshop

‘Show Your Business Week’

For further information contact:

It aims to have more than 1,200 businesses set up stalls, display their goods and services and demonstrate their production and creative methods.

Contact your local branch of Bank of Ireland to reserve your place in this week. It will operate on a first come first served basis, so get in early! (Note: Due to space restrictions some branches may not be able to participate).

Bank of Ireland will publicise this event throughout local and national media. There will also be media present at many of the branches throughout the week.

For further information visit the Opportunities section of: www.ccoi.ie

T +44 (0)28 9756 5681 or E: graphics@mckeedesign.co.uk W: www.mckeedesign.co.uk

Advertising in STOPRESS is free and is welcomed. For latest opportunities log on to: www.ccoi.ie/directory Email: stopress@ccoi.ie

businesses in the county. For further information see W: www.wicklowceb.ie/training or T: 0404 30800 if you would like to speak to a member of our staff.

CRAFT FAIRS/ STANDS AVAILABLE

Blackrock Craft Fair the second Blackrock craft Fair will take

SUPPLIERS

place on saturday 21st & sunday 22nd november 2009 in Blackrock,

Point Village Market opening spring 2010. Vsc events joins forces with the point Village & dcc to stock dublin city’s parlour full of goodies. the market will run from 8am - 4.40pm saturday and sunday every week. For further information or to download an expression of interest form see: www.vscevents.ie

co dublin. stallholders will come

Photographic studio based in dublin's city centre (temple Bar).

Portable studio also available. reasonable rates. Product shots a speciality. For further information see: W: www.aindreasscholz.com T: 085 1417563

together to sell handmade crafts including handbags, christmas cards, children’s clothes, mosaics and artwork. If you are interested in booking a stand at this fair please contact Belinda E: belinda@urban-junction.com

12 Days of Christmas Festival returns to dublin’s docklands from saturday 23rd december to wednesday 23rd december. For more information or to download an application form: see www.vscevents.ie

or for more information and to download an application form see

Irish Village Markets are

W: www.blackrockcraftfair.com

the country’s largest privately run market and festival operators. From wednesday to sunday each week, a variety of markets take place in

various locations around Leinster.

For further information please contact: Tara Dalton T: 01 2841197 W: www.irishvillagemarkets.com E: info@irishvillagemarkets.com

International Operators Market & Street Traders (IOMST) the one stop guide to markets and events in ireland. we aim to list every market and event in the country together with all the relevant information you need.

For further information or to find a market or event near you see W: www.eventsmarketsireland.com E: info@marketguide.ie T: 01 8302271

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36

Exhibition Snapshots - NCG

JACK DOHERTY EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY

Jack doher ty (ceramicist) with family and friends

ann mulrooney (ncg exhibitions manager and curator) presenting Kim mawhinney with a Jack doher ty bowl

Jack doher ty (ceramicist)

L-r: Lucy mccaffrey (consultant) and Leslie reed (Former ceo of crafts council of ireland)

L-r: Jack doher ty and mar ta donaghey (curator - Jack doher ty)

round Bowl by Jack doher ty

Kim mawhinney, Head of ar t at national museum nor thern ireland (opening the event)

AUTUMN 2009

37

Exhibition Snapshots - NCG

OBJECT EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY

marcus o'mahony (ceramicist)

ceramics by neil read

michael moore (ceramicist)

Frances Lambe (ceramicist)

emmet Kane (woodturner)

L-r: audrey whitty (national museum of ireland), Brian Kennedy and Jennifer gough (national museum of ireland)

neil read (ceramicist)

angela o’Kelly, (mixed media - Jewellery)

AUTUMN 2009

38

National Craft Gallery - News

Winners of Future Makers 2009

student award: Zbigniew strezebonski - wedge Furniture

student grant: dearbhla nĂ­ ailin - grennan college

(L-r) thomas riordan, Kate mur tagh sheridan, Florence Harmellin, rachel swan, Helen Faulkner, claire mcalister, Helen moore, emma Bourke, sabrina meyns, Una Burke, Karen morgan (ear thworks ceramics studio), dearbhla nĂ­ ailin, oonagh anderson (ear thworks ceramics studio), Zbigniew strezebonski

Practitioner grant: Florence Harmelin - textiles/weaving

residency/training: Helen moore - Ulster University

research & development: emma Bourke - ncad glass

student award: Una Burke - London college of Fashion

student grant: Helen Faulkner - ccoi ceramics skills

AUTUMN 2009

39

National Craft Gallery - News

News Highlights ann mulrooney

Dear Reader,

August was a spectacularly busy month for the team at the National Craft Gallery, with three exhibitions - Jack Doherty (see a review on page 26) and Object, plus an exhibition of large scale outdoor work - all opening concurrently with the Kilkenny Arts Festival (see pages 10-12). The gallery also ran a number of events over the week, with a

stacking chair, 2000 - american Black walnut by stephen o’Briain

talk by Object curator Brian Kennedy on his working process, a pecha kucha event and daily gallery talks and children’s workshops. Visitor numbers topped 11,000 for the week, and audience response was overwhelmingly positive.

We recently opened our autumn exhibition, Generation. This is a joint venture with the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI), and features work shortlisted for the IDI Graduate Awards and the Irish Arts Review/Crafts Council of Ireland Emerging Maker Award.

The next exhibition On the Edge a stunning selection of contemporary glass from Ireland and South West England will run from January 16th to March 21st 2010.

Ann Mulrooney Exhibitions Manager and Curator National Craft Gallery

work by tim and sean dunleavy for generation exhibition, Photographer roland Paschhoff

Peter Fulop, 2007 - Handbuilt and woodfired ceramics

ribbed Pot stoneware by Jack doher ty

AUTUMN 2009

Upcoming Exhibitions - National Craft Gallery

40

Generation Piece by cianan doyle Photographer : roland Paschhoff

31st October 2009 - 10th January 2010

National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny An opportunity to see some of Ireland’s most promising, emerging makers and designers under one roof.

An exhibition representing the first-ever collaboration between the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Institute of Designers in Ireland to showcase the very best new designers and makers Piece by Laura caffrey Photographer : roland Paschhoff

on the island of Ireland. Generation is an exhibition of new work shortlisted for two prestigious awards - The Irish Arts Review/Crafts Council of Ireland Emerging Maker Awards and the Irish Design Institute Graduate Awards.

Traditionally, the disciplines of craft and of design have been very separate. Generation aims to explore the common ground between the two disciplines and re-assess the traditional view of where design ends and craft begins.

Generation includes 33 of Ireland’s most promising future makers and designers as selected by a jury across a range of disciplines such as interior architecture and interior design; furniture, glass & ceramics; fashion & textiles as well as lighting

Curated by Derek McGarry.

Gallery opening times are: Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5.30pm Sunday 11 am - 5.30pm

FOR NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY NEWS TURN TO PAGES 36 - 39

About the Crafts Council of Ireland The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) is the main champion of the craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality, design, innovation and competitiveness. CCoI’s activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland.

All notices and advertisements are published in Stopress for general information purposes only, at the risk of the advertiser and at the discretion of the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI). CCoI make no representations or warranties about any of the information contained in any notice or advertisement and accept no responsibility for the accuracy of any information contained in a notice or advertisement.

Advertisements in Stopress do not indicate endorsement by CCoI. It is the responsibility of the reader to check that goods and services are described fully and accurately.

CCoI expressly excludes liability for direct or indirect consequential loss

or damage which may arise in respect of Stopress or purchase of the goods and services. CCoI does not accept any responsibility for or necessarily endorse the views expressed by third party contributors to Stopress.

All copyright, database rights, trade mark design rights and any other intellectual property rights whatsoever in Stopress are, owned by and the property of CCoI. Crafts Council of Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny t: 353 56 7761804 f: 353 56 7763754 e: info@ccoi.ie www.ccoi.ie

The publication date for the next issue of Stopress is 15th December 2009.

Advertising in STOpRESS is free and is welcomed. Submissions for articles from craftspeople and those interested in craft are also always welcome. please contact: STOpRESS, Crafts Council of Ireland t: 056 7761804 e: stopress@ccoi.ie While every care has been taken in the compilation of this Stopress, the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors or ommisions.

design: dynamite, kilkenny

Piece by nuala ní Flathúin Photographer : roland Paschhoff

and visual communication.