CCI-newsletter-1994-76-No13

newsletterR I / M 0

CRAFTS

C O U N C I L

I R E L A N D

Contemporary

Crafts of Ireland

at the Eurovision Song Contest,

25th - 30th April 1994

at the Point Depot Theatre, Dublin

The 39th Eurovision Song

Contest was remarkable not

only for a fine song but for

the team that put together a

truly amazing production of

set design, video "postcards'

and the dance and music

sequence, 'River Dance', all of

which was broadcast to

millions of viewers

throughout Europe.

What could have been more

appropriate than to have the

finest in Irish Craft and

Design as a focal point of the

Eurovillage for the week

leading up to the contest

itself? And it was with pride,

that Cynthia Ni Mhurchu and

Gerry Ryan led visiting

Ministers and delegates to

the Crafts Council stand.

Many of the photographs

shown in the press during the

week had been taken there

and show a varied sample of

the exhibits.

19000 guests of Gay Byrne

and almost as many from the

Larry Gogan show mingled

with thousands of delegates

and journalists from home and

abroad. The Crafts Council

stand was made a focal point

for European television stations

and for photography. Not only

were there items on display but

practical demonstrations took

place each day.

Entering into the spirit of

competition, the Crafts Council

held a competition from the

stand. The entrants had to fill

in a questionnaire about the

Council and with much fanfare

on the mobile drum kit made

by Paul Berg, Shay Healey drew

the winning entry for Peigi

O'Rhairc of Dundrum who won

a hand blown glass vase made

by Killian Schurrmann.

A lot of hard work went into

the making the week one to

remember. The Eurovillage

gave the Crafts Council an

opportunity to bring

contemporary Irish craft to a

new and wider audience.

The Crafts Council of Ireland is

committed to the promotion of

contemporary Irish crafts.

BasketMakers

Exhibition is open to the

public Thursday 5th May-25th

June, 1994.

An exhibition of the work of

Ireland's finest basket makers

exploring and illustrating the

various traditional techniques

of basket making.

Basket makers themselves,

could be described as contained

and self sufficient people. They

grow the 'saileach' or 'sally'

themselves (it is willow in

English), cut and strip it, and

then make the basket

following traditional methods.

Throughout Ireland there are

regional techniques which

make for a good deal of variety

within similar styles of basket.

Norbert Platz is a commercial

maker who specialises in heavy

industrial baskets, picnic

hampers, linen and bread

baskets and fishing creels.

Brian Haslett makes flower and

turf baskets and a longline

fishing basket (a type of basket

that varies from region to

region).

Patricia D'Arcy will show an egg

basket and a hen's nest made

of straw.

Pigeon baskets are the

speciality of Seamus

Mulholland.

Patricia O'Flaherty will show

Illustration - Ursula Mattenberger

beautiful oval shopping

baskets. Makers from both

North and South of Ireland

include: Alison Fitzgerald,

David Moore, Joe Hogan,

Barbara Kelly, James

Mulholland, Martyn Taylor,

Brian Haslett, Joan Freitas,

Norbert Platz,

Catherine Hayden,

Patricia D'Arcy,

Seamus Mulholland,

Patricia O'Flaherty,

Thomas Quinlan.

Crafts CouncilAnnouncements

Focus on Basketmaking

Following the Crafts Council's

exhibition in May/June, a

festival of basketmaking will

take place next October. A

week of masterclasses for

professional and semi-

professional makers will be

held Mon3rd - Fri 7th October,

a conference on Basketry &

Willow Growing on Sat 8th

October, and a week-of

workshops for beginners or

basketry enthusiasts from 10 -

14 Oct.

Speakers & Tutors include Joe

Hogan, Alison Fitzgerald, Irene

Stafford and Tom Quinlan

from Ireland, David Drew,

Colin Manthorpe and Mary

Butcher, Chair of the

Basketmakers Association, U.K.

Both Colin Manthorpe & David

Drew are highly regarded U.K.

Basketmakers whose work can

be found in major public and

private collections.

For all information contact-

Joe Hogan, Loch Na Fooey,

Finny, Clonbur, Co. Galway.

Tel. Evening 092-48241

Forthcoming Crafts Council

Exhibitions

7th July - 27th August

The Avant Garden

Remember "Interiors'? This is

the outdoor equivalent - an

exhibition on the theme of

craft in the garden. The

exhibition will be designed by

theatre & film set designer

Wendy Shea and her assistant

Tracy Stewart. Interested

makers should contact Mairead

McAnallen with up to date

photography of previous

relevant work.

Applications are now

available for the

Business/Design and Pottery

Skills Courses.

For information and

application forms and

information contact:-

Nuala McGrath, Kilkenny office.

GEMSTONES

WORKSHOP/LECTURES

The Jewellery Design and

Production Skills Course is

having a series of lectures by

Douglas Garrod of the

Gemmological Association of

Great Britain during the first

week of October, 1994. Mr.

Garrod is willing to stay longer

and give talks, slide

presentations and hands on

experience to those outside the

course who might express

interest.

Contact: Nuala McGrath,

Kilkenny office.

PHOTOGRAPHING CRAFTWORK

Good photography is vital - for

promoting craftwork and for

the record. The Crafts Council is

investigating the feasibility of

running seminars by a

Crafts Council

Announcements continued

photographer, giving practical

information on how to take

better photographs yourself,

using a 35mm SLR camera, with

an information sheet to take

away.

The Crafts Council has a slide

library at its Dublin office and is

always seeking good quality

slides. As part of the

photography seminar

programme, we are arranging

for the photographer to set up

a studio to photograph

craftwork brought in by

makers. Two sets of slides

would be taken - one each for

the Council and the maker.

We envisage these sessions

being held in major centres

(depending on the level of

interest) and the cost is around

£50 for the set of slides and the

seminar or £15 for the seminar

only.

To help our planning, would

people interested in taking part

please indicate their interest to

Catherine Jordan at the Dublin

office so that information can

be sent directly.

V.H.I. Group Scheme for

Registered Craftworkers

In 1993 a V.H.I. Group Scheme

was established for Crafts

Council Registered

Craftworkers, giving a 10%

reduction in premiums.

Craftworkers who have recently

joined the Council's Register

can avail of the benefits of this

group scheme. See enclosed

details. If you have any queries

on the scheme please contact

Margaret Jones in the Council's

Dublin office.

International Symposium

"The teaching of design in

European crafts"

9th - 11th September, 1994 in

Munich.

Interested parties should

contact:- Handwerkskammer

fur Munchen und Oberbayern

(Crafts Council)

Frau Dr. Barbara Banard,

Max Joseph StraBe 4,

80333 Munchen, Germany.

Tel. 089 5119-244

Fiberarts Guild IWC announces

Fiberart International '95

(9th June-2nd July, 1995) at the

Pittsburgh Centre for the Arts,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Further information contact-

Patricia Kennedy-Zafred, Co-

Director,4302, Woodbine

Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15239.

Tel. (412) 7335986

Royal Dublin Society 1994 EBS

Crafts Competition

Competition and category

awards sponsored by EBS

Building Society.

For further information

contact:- The Arts Department,

Royal Dublin Society,

Ballsbridge,

Dublin 4. Tel. 01-6680866

Summer Workshop in

Silversmithing

Two and three week

residential workshops in

silversmithing and chasing.

Instruction is by Brian Clarke, a

practising silversmith and

teacher of international

reputation.

For further information

contact-Brian Clarke, The Old

Schoolhouse, Ballinaclash,

Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow.

Tel./Fax. (353) 1 404-46385

Workshop Space

Forbairt has a 600 sq ft unit

available at the Donegal Craft

Village, Donegal Town.

For further information

contact- Joe Mctiugh, Forbairt,

Portland House, Port Road,

Letterkenny.

Tel. 074-21155

Workshop/Art Gallery

at Spiddal Craft Centre

available for leasing.

The unit is 100m2 and the art

gallery 200 m2. Financial

support for qualifying new

business ventures will be

available from Udaras na

Gaeltachta.

For further information please

contact- Sorcha Ni Dhonndha,

Udaras na Gaeltachta.

Tel. 091-92011

Crawford Showcase

Stefanie Dinklebach (Ceramic

Artist) at the Crawford

Municipal Art Gallery

until 15th May

Her work is principally

concerned with the human

form - these figures are caught

" to capture moments of

unselfconsciousness".

"Art and Design Matters"

until 23rd May at the Ulster

Museum, Belfast.

This exhibition covers many

facets of design and both

lecturers and past and present

students of the Ulster

University Faculty of Design,

Belfast are represented.

Assembled chronologically it

covers many disciplines

including ceramics, embroidery,

woven and constructed textiles,

metalwork, jewellery and

graphic design.

Mayo Crafts Guide

Published by Foxford IRD

bringing together leading craft

producers in the area.

For further information please

contact-Peter Hynes, Foxford

IRD, Foxford, Co. Mayo.

For Sale

Electric Kiln and Regulator

External Size: 36cm wide x 52crh

high x 58cm deep

Muffle Size:

225x185x340 mm

Selling Price Includes

1. Approximately £400 worth of

Enamels (Opaque, Transparent,

Millefiore etc. Many colours)

2. Trivets and Tools.

(Sieves, Tongs etc.)

3. Copper. (Starter pieces for small

items and samplers)

4. Enamelling Instruction Books x

four

Total value of materials and

equipment above - £1,000+

Selling at £480 or nearest offer

Phone 026-48224

(Macroom, Co. Cork.)

Summer Course in Violin Making

at Crawford College of Art &

Design.

(Monday 4th July-Friday

22nd July)

For information and application

please contact-

William D. Patterson,

Crawford College of Art &

Design, Sharman Crawford

Street, Cork.

Tel. 021-966777

For Sale

Electric pottery kiln - Potclays

6.3 cubic ft. - 3 year old - excellent

condition - £950.

For further information contact:-

P. Jacques,

Clo Connemara West Centre,

Letterfrack, Co. Galway.

Tel. 095-43539 (Late evening)

Position Sought

A ceramics student seeks

apprenticeship with working

potter. Particularly interested in

throwing.

Please contact-

Louise Burke,

24, Bramble Ave,

Boston Spa West Yorkshire,

L523 6PE, England.

Position Sought

Furniture maker seeks

employment in Ireland

Contact-

Peter Schotfeldt

Glashuttenstr 101, 20357

Hamburg, Germany.

Studio Required

In Dublin area (preferably shared)

for ceramic sculptor.

Also requires small kiln

Contact:- James Parkson

01- 4977699

Studio Required

In Dublin area

Looking for studio 350-500 sq ft

with 3 phase available or

possibility to install it.

Contact:- Mark English

do: Crescent Workshop

The ManagementCommittee 1994

Chair Mr. Cyril ForbesVice Chair Ms. Hilary PrattMr. Michael FeeneyMs. Suzanne MayMr. Michael McCrory

Mr. Rudolf Heltzel

Dr. David Shaw-SmithMs. Breda HaughMs. Angela ForteMr. David HargadenMr. Brendan FloodMs. Maureen CairnduffMs. Kaethe Burt-O'DeaMs. Mary JacksonMs. Bernadette Madden

Crafts Council Staff

Dublin

Chief Executive

Craft Development Officer

Administrative Officer

Administrative Assistant

Gallery Administrator

Exhibitions Assistant

Shop Assistant

Christine RossSean O'Farrell

Margaret JonesCatherine Jordan

Mairead McAnallenGreg McAteer

Siobhan Me Donald

The Crescent Workshop

Training and Education Officer Leslie Reed

Supervisor/Information Officer Emer Ferran

Administrative Assistant Nuala McGrath

Thomastown Pottery Skills CourseTrainer Gus Mabelson

The Crafts Councilof Ireland

Dublin

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

South William Street,

Dublin 2

Tel. 01679 7368Fax. 01679 9197

Kilkenny

The Crescent Workshop,

Castle Yard

Kilkenny

Tel. 056 61804 or 62734

Fax. 056 63754

Jewellery Design and Production

Skills CourseTrainer Jane Huston

All information is published in good faith but without research, so please check carefully before committing yourself to work or financial outlay

Please forward all further information to Emer Ferran

The copy date for the next issue is 7th June. The print date is 17th June.