Stopress, CCoI September/October 2008

23

p. 4 IrIsh craft at orIgIn, London

IrIsh speakers announced p.10for sofa 2008

It features the work of 27 different craftspeople as

they pay tribute to a person or organisation that

inspires them. (See page 23). The Crafts Council

of Ireland also organised and facilitated a craft

workshop for children between the ages of 4 and

6 as part of the arts festival children's programme.

Based on the idea of creating a 'mini-me', the

workshop, which took place in the NCG was

thoroughly enjoyed by the participating children.

Cormac Boydell, one of those taking part in Image

of Longing also had a solo show in the Rudolf

Heltzel Gallery. Renowned for his brightly coloured,

roughly hewn ceramics, Boydell’s new work was on

a smaller scale. Richly gilted, his pieces were

displayed in spot-lit glass cases. Glittering under

the lights like precious jewels manage to combine

a delicate elegance with daring craftsmanship.

Another artist from Image of Longing also showed

new work in the city. Ceramicist Peter Scroope

opened his studio to the public, where they could

see his beautiful hand built sculptural vessels.

Scroope’s new work sees him introducing colour

to his simply shaped, finely textured pieces.

As part of Kilkenny Arts Week, The Kozo Studio &

Gallery in Thomastown presented an exhibition of

visiting ceramic artists and featured work from

the USA, England, Wales and Ireland. This bright

and airy space was the perfect venue to display

groundbreaking ceramic art and to experience a

dynamic and diverse range of ceramic practice. It

included work by Kira Campbell, Jim Turner and

France Lambe.

Kira Campell’s porcelain ‘monsters’ are fragile,

plaintive creatures. Fantastically eerie, these small,

almost comical, hybrids are skillfully crafted with an

astonishing attention to detail.

News and Reviews

P.2 Craft at Kilkenny Arts Festival

P.3 New Book ‘Peter J. Brennan’

Regional Outlets - Update

P.4 Irish Craftpeople at Origin

Skillnet sends Donegal Businesses to 100%Design

P.5 Joseph Walsh’s new Exhibition

Denis Brown at the InternationalCalligraphers’ Conference

P.6 Craftmaker in Context - Rory Conner

P.8 RDS National Crafts Competition Winners Announced.

P.9 Craft Month NI - A Success!

P.10 Glenn Lucas - Research Missions Report

P.11 SOFA - Irish Speakers Announced

Ceramics Ireland International Festival

Craft Community Forum

P 12 Craft Community Forum

Craft Community News

P.13 New Members at CCoI

Ceramics at the Hallward

P.14 New Craft Portal on www.discoverireland.ie

Opportunities

P.14 CCoI at Higher Options Fair, RDS

P.15 CCoI @ Ploughing Championships

Autumn Mentoring Programme

P.16 Exposing Craft, Emerging

Makers Seminar

Exhibition Design & Curatorial Skills Seminar

P.17 Research Missions - Call Out for Submissions

Showcase

Advertisements

P.19 Adverts & Listings

Exhibitions - NCG

P. 22 Image of Longing Opening

P.23 Image of Longing Review

P.24 RDS National Craft Competition

Exhibition

Breaking Out

Continued on page 2

Craft at Kilkenny Arts FestivalImage of Longing at the National Craft

Gallery was one of many exhibitions

showcasing contemporary Irish craft during

Kilkenny Arts Festival. The exhibition was

curated by Martha Haveman and Karel

Betman of Galerie Beeld & Aambeeld in

the Netherlands.

Sharon Ferguson

News and Reviews 2

Kilkenny Arts Festival has long established itself as a leading event for the visual arts.

Following on from this year’s rich display of contemporary craft, it’s certain to be seen as an

important showcase for cutting edge craft from Ireland and overseas

Jim Turner’s simple shapes are brought to

life with his wonderfully textured surfaces.

Layering paper clay to construct these

organic vessels the tactile, distressed surface

gives some of his pieces the appearance of

archaelogical finds. Frances Lambe, who can

also be seen in the National Craft Gallery,

works with heavily grogged terracotta,

white stoneware and porcelain. Her

sculptural pieces, simply displayed,

resemble undulating life forms.

The Kozo Gallery was one of the many

galleries based in Thomastown who took

part in the Ceramics Ireland International

Festival, during the weekend of September

5th to 7th. (See page 13). Earthworks, who

have just celebrated their 1st year birthday,

also had a rich variety of work on display

(see page 11).

Over in Grennan Mill, Nicola Henley’s large

artworks, inspired by birds in motion, have

taken on a bolder, darker feel. Printing and

painting on the surface of dyed calico,

Henley then adds texture by adding gold

pigment, Japanese paper and silk stitching

to the surface. One of her outstanding

pieces was ‘Gull Passage I, II and III’ a huge

triptych capturing the wild energy of the

West Clare coast. In a second gallery space

Henley was also showing smaller, framed

pieces. Many of these subtle works on

paper, also inspired by the movement of

birds, were made during a recent residency

in Cill Rialaig in Co Kerry.

Also in Thomastown, Elaine Riordan’s first

solo show, Bridge, took place in the

Berkeley Gallery. Working with imprinted

porcelain paper clay, Riordan creates

detailed city scapes. This new work was

inspired by the skyscrapers of New York

and Brooklyn Bridge. Riordan made clever

use of the gallery space, conveying the

urban scene with plinths vaulting over one

another, while others loomed with mini

cities perched on top.

Willow woodlouse, ceramic rabbits and

painted hares, Jerpoint’s Animal Kingdom

showcased work by some of Ireland’s

leading craftspeople. An upbeat and

enjoyable exhibition, visitors were treated

to animal-themed pieces by artists such

as Heike Kahle, Alan Ardiff and Geoffrey

Healy. Standout pieces include Kathleen

Leadbetter’s playful glass blowfish and

birds of paradise and Neil Boyle’s large

scale white ceramic rhino and bear.

Castlecomer Estate Yard has established

itself as a hub of contemporary craft in

Kilkenny. Not surprisingly they had some

wonderful work on show during the

Festival. Furniture maker Duncan Russell

had some beautifully elegant pieces

displayed. These included an eight foot

long oak cabinet, cut through with a rich

walnut streak. Polly Minett of Paper Works

collaborated with printmaker Debra

Bowden to create a series of simple yet

striking Japanese woodblock prints on

handmade paper. Both artists base their

practice on traditional Japanese art forms

and their combined skills led to a wonderful

contemporary take on these ancient art

forms. While finally, textile artist Maeve

Coulter lined the walls of her studio

with a series of charming prints and

some striking fabric and stitch town

and landscapes.

Kilkenny Arts Festival has long estabished

itself as a leading event for the visual arts.

Following on from this year’s rich display

of contemporary craft, it’s certain to be

seen as an important showcase for cutting

edge craft from both Ireland and overseas.

This year also marks the first year of CCoI's

involvement as a sponsor of the festival and

is looking forward to the development of a

closer partnership with the festival for 2009.

Large Image: Francis LambeTop: Elaine RiordanBottom: Duncun Russell

Continued from page 1

News and Reviews3

New Exhibition of Life & Work of Peter J. Brennan opens at Rothe House

The exhibition was launched as part of the

Ceramics Ireland’s bi-annual International

gathering in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny,

and will continue for a period of six months.

Encouraged by local historian Michael

O’Dwyer, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society

at Rothe House invited Helena Brennan, to

set up an exhibition to record Peter Brennan’s

time (more than twenty years) in Kilkenny.

During that austere period Peter encouraged

people by establishing art and pottery classes,

art exhibitions and societies. He also set up

The Ring Ceramics Studios Ltd. in 1945 with

both the financial and gallery help of Dublin

art dealer Victor Waddington.

The exhibition also features a mock-up of

the old studio showing many of the methods

used, with tools and moulds, illustrating the

wide range of production methods undertaken

by Peter in Kilkenny, in producing his colourful

range of hard fired earthenware.

The exhibition is accompanied by a beautifully

illustrated book, compiled by Helena Brennan

(Peter Brennan’s widow), as a companion

to the exhibition and it tells the story of

those early days of studio pottery in Ireland.

Priced at €10, the book is available to

buy from gal lery bookshops, Easons

at www.amazon.com and at

Rothe House.

For further information, contact

Roisin McQuillan, 056 7722893, or

email [email protected].

An exciting new exhibition showcasing the life and work

of artist potter Peter Brennan during his time in Kilkenny,

from 1941 to 1962, was opened by Audrey Whitty, Curator of

Ceramics at the National Museum of Ireland, in Rothe House,

Kilkenny on Friday 5th September 2008.

Less than two months after its launch by Brian Cowen, Core - OffalyWestmeath Crafted Design in Ballinahown, Co. Westmeath is getting agreat reaction from visitors and media alike. With the coffee shop nowopen the outlet has a real buzz about it and Ballinahown village, whichalso boasts the new Celtic Roots Studio is making a name as the craftdestination in the region.

The next regional outlet to be developed under the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) programme is based in Listowel, Co. Kerry and plans are coming along for a launch ofthe outlet in late Autumn/ early Winter.

The two existing regional outlets, Leitrim Design House and Louth Craftmark werefundamental in influencing and informing the development of the CCoI pogramme.Sharing a common ethos of presenting high quality, customer-driven local craft in a professional and contemporary retail environment, all three of the existing outlets(Leitrim, Louth and Core) along with new outlets as they launch, form a national platformthrough which to promote quality Irish craft throughout the country.

Look out for events and activities that will be taking place in the outlets over the comingmonths - including fashion shows, customers events, exhibitions and much more.

Peter J. Brennan by Helena Brennan - Book Cover

Peter J. Brennan by Helena Brennan - Inside Spread

Promotional Stylised Photoshoot for CORE, Photographer: Neil Hurley

Craft Regional Outlets - Blazing a Trail

News and Reviews 4

Six registered craftspeople of the Crafts Council of Ireland have

been selected to exhibit at the upcoming London Craft Fair, Origin

2008, taking place at Somerset House, from the 7th to the 19th of

October 2008. There will be a diverse range of high quality Irish craft

on show with the selection including work by Rachel McKnight, Roger

Bennett, Sara Flynn, Beth Moran, Inga Reed and Hope & Benson.

For the second year running, Rachel McKnight

appears at Origin. Her range of new work

experiments with laser cutting resulting in

new intricate designs, particularly lace. Rachel

enjoys working with alternative materials and

is driven by both those materials and strong

graphic shapes, these give her the inspiration

for her jewellery.

Woodturner Roger Bennett has recently

launched a new series of wall-hung pieces,

disc shapes of dyed sycamore, inlaid with

dots of silver wire. These pieces have evolved

from his woodturned jewellery, which like his

bowls, are coloured and inlaid with dots of

sterling silver and 18-carat gold.

Sara Flynn has a love for the process of

throwing, an ongoing relationship with

porcelain and a fascination with the theme of

the vessel. All Sara’s work is fired in a gas kiln

to 1280° centigrade, offering a variety of

colours and finishes ranging from complex

blacks and vibrant reds to cool and subtle

greens and whites.

Beth Moran works in fine silks, she makes

large pieces which can be used as wall

hangings, curtains or throws. Beth’s work is

concerned with colour and pattern, each

piece being unique in its application of both.

Inga Reed has been making jewellery in Ireland

for over thirty years. Inspired by structural

composition, surface detail and making skill,

currently much of her work is decorated with

embossed patterns. Inga was awarded the

Crafts Council of Ireland Craftsmanship

Award 2008 earlier this year for a large oval

brooch, inspired by the seed heads of plants

in embossed silver and ornamented with tiny

golden dishes.

Finally, Hope and Benson combine shape,

colour, texture and embellishment to create a

range of handbags that are unique and yet are

also commercially viable. They enjoy pushing

the boundaries of design into the field of

art, creating bags as sculptures that are about

visual stimulation as much as practical use.

OriginThe London Craft Fair

A group of ten design-based businesses from across

Donegal are currently being selected to travel to the world’s

leading contemporary design event, 100%Design,

which runs form 19th to the 21st September 2008.

Coinciding w ith London’s Design Week and London FashionWeek, 100% Design prov ides a showcase for the latest in cutting edge design in furniture, architecture, l ighting, tex tilesand interiors. Last year, the international event attracted over35,000 v isitors and design firms from across the globe. TheDonegal Design Directorate Skillnet is selecting the businessesto participate in a subsidised ‘best practice’ delegation to theshow, hoping to repeat the success of last years v isit.Skillnet is an initiative of Donegal County Enterprise Board,

it was set up to promote the value of good design t o local,

micro and small businesses. In just over 18 months theDirectorate has signed up over 80 local design businesses asmembers, delivered training in areas such as product design,branding and organised best-practice v isits to Paris, Milan and London.

"100% Design is the highlight of the design calendar for any one w ith an interest in design in Europe”, says DonnaMcFadden, new Programme Manager fo r the Donegal DesignDirectorate Skil lnet. “There is no other show that has the same mix of architects, product designers and manufacturers and highly innov ativ e new comers”.

For more v is it www.skillnets .com,

www.100percentdes ign.co.uk

100% Design, London10 Design Businesses to be selected for ‘Best Practice’ visit

Large Image: Rachel McKnight Top: Inga Reed, Bottom: Roger Bennett

5 News and Reviews

Internationally recognized as a world leader

in the field of lettering art, Brown has won

numerous awards for his innovative and

diverse body of calligraphic work. At the 2008

conference, entitled Letters Mingle Souls,

Brown debuted his full length production of

calligraphy as a performance art, producing

large scale calligraphic works using various

backgrounds and media. Brown's performance

was accompanied by music and specially

designed video projections of writing and

calligraphy, producing an extraordinary

multi-layered dynamic.

Brown uses huge self-made pens, brushes and

unique tools and draws on classical traditions,

combining them with the fields of street art,

painting and performance art. His performances

play upon the dynamic interactions between

sound and vision, word and image, classical

and avant-garde and manual and digital.

Words emerge and submerge in abstract

gestures, some choreographed and others

improvised, to self-composed music. Held in

July of each year, the International Caligrapher's

Conference attracts an international body of

artists specialising in print, script and lettering.

Denis Brown Performs at the International Calligrapher's Conference Chicago 2008Denis Brown, winner of the Crafts Council of Ireland's Bursary Award

2006 premiered his new performance, The Music of Ink, Reclaiming

the Barcode as Calligraphy at the 2008 International Calligrapher's

Conference held in Chicago earlier this year.

A new strand of Joseph Walsh’s work sees the

creation of art works which explore concept,

techniques employed and execution, rather

than functional purpose; this is work which

brings a new scale and complexity to the

study of a concept. The first large scale art

installation entitled ‘In Aer’ was created in

2007 and this major work will be represented

at the show by a video, photographic and

graphic presentation.

A lecture series will also take place in

conjunction with the exhibition. These

lectures, will not only focus on Joseph Walsh’s

work, but also on Irish contemporary applied

arts in general and presentations will be given

by; Audrey Whitty, Curator with the National

Museum of Ireland; Brian Kennedy, Curator

with the National Craft Gallery of Ireland and

Joseph Walsh.

‘Realisations’ will take place at the American

Irish Historical Society, 991 Fifth Avenue, New

York from October 17th to November 2nd

2008.

For further information contact Frances

McDonald, t: +353 21 477 1759 or

email: [email protected]

Jospeph WalshSolo Exhibition in New YorkIrish designer and artist, Joseph Walsh presents his first major solo exhibition of work from October

17th to November 2nd at the Irish Historical Society in New York. Entitled ‘Realisations’, the exhibition

representing the most significant collection of his work created over the last 10 years.

Large Image: Rachel McKnight Top: Inga Reed, Bottom: Roger Bennett

Joseph Walsh

Denis Brown

News and Reviews 6

Craftmaker in Context by Cornelia McCarthy

This is the first in a series of articles where the work of a craftperson, registeredwith the Crafts Council of Ireland will be featured along with the Guild that supportsthem and a retail outlet that carries their work. If you would like to be consideredfor selection in future issues of Stopress, please email [email protected].

Rory Conner - Cutler

Rory Conner‘The desire to have a bespoke knife commissioned to individualtastes is growing. 80% of my business is commissioned work’

Many knives are used for ceremonial purposes, from the dirk at Scottish ceremonies to the samuri sword. InIreland, the ceremonial knife ranges from the bridal cake-cutting affair to the Sunday roast carving-set wedding or retirement gift. Orders for specialistknives, with materials chosen with careadd meaning to these important events.

Outdoor pursuits such as hunting andfishing require extraordinarily big knifesthat have the most amazing handles,blade decoration and sheaths. Thebowie knife design is the domain of theserious knife collector who will add anIrish knife to his collection of Alaskan,Finnish or Arab designs.

‘The desire to have a bespoke knife commissioned to individual tastes is growing. 80% of my business is commissioned work,’ notes Rory Conner,one of only three professional cutlersworking in Ireland today.

‘I can really exercise my imagination andhave great scope and fun with materialswhen making for this niche market. One recent client wanted a tiny relicembedded into the handle of a commissioned bowie knife. The objectwas a piece of World Trade Centre glass,a gift for a US marine friend about to goto Afghanistan'. (All commissioned kniveshave a serial number and customer detailsare recorded).

Whatever his customers are looking for,Rory has a large amount of disciplines todraw from when constructing a piece.The process starts with design and theclient brief. Next comes the obvious metalwork. Rory’s understanding of metallurgical matters needs to be

extensive - cutting metal, forging, shapingand hardening so that it lasts a lifetime.The handle shape and material has to bedecided and discussed - it is normallyexotic wood but could be stone, resin orgem-encrusted. Whatever it is, this mustbe treated so that it won’t crack and willbe stable when attached to the blade.The appropriate rivets are chosen anddesigned into the blade and the final polishing completes the knife.

Packaging and knives have always gonehand in glove - normally a sheath for a personal knife and a box for a presentation of a set. Rory’s workshop isfull of tools and machines to do all thesetasks. There are sanding belts of varyinggrits piled high, dozens of boxes and traysof tiny rivets, rolls of leather skins andmetal sheets and rods everywhere - shiny,dull, thick, thin, plain, powdered and rippled.

Although Rory does most of the workhimself, he contracts others for their specialist crafts. He has a Cork-basedleather shoe-maker who makes beautifulleather sheaths for special orders and toRory’s design. There is a cigar box makerin Northern Ireland who makes walnutand rosewood boxes that house steakknives fit for a King. Various jewellershave worked with him over the years onspecial commissions where engraving,stone setting and silversmithing are incorporated in his knife design.

Finding people to collaborate with is noproblem as he has a very good network,mainly provided by his participation in theWest Cork Craft and Design Guild andyears of exhibiting at craft fairs. The Guildmeets regularly and Rory comments that‘it’s great to meet like-minded people

What do a prison officer, a gourmet

chef and a witch all have in

common? Each is a customer of one

of Ireland’s only three professional

cutlers. Add to this list of customers,

a Bantry vet, a freemason, a flock

of outdoor pursuit enthusiasts,

a pot of amateur chefs and the

artist Damian Hirst…and I am

just getting started.

Rory Conner at his studio in Bantry, West Cork

News and Reviews7

O’Kanes Craft ShopChristine Nichols opened O’Kanes Craft Shop in 1980 in thepicturesque fishing village of Bantry. Since then the shop hasbeen dedicated to showcasing the work of Irish craftspeople.

Local cutler Rory Conner has two cases of his work displayed prominently

in the shop. With the exception of a selection of Birkenstock shoes,

everything in Christine’s shop is handmade, authentic and Irish. She has

delivered Irish choice to her customers for a generation and despite all

the choices in the market, she still can.

O’Kanes Craft Shop, Glengarriff Road, Bantry, Co Cork. t: 027 50003

The West Cork Craft & Design GuildRory Conner is one of 20 makers that are part of the West Cork

Craft and Design Guild. This association, now over 10 years in

existence, represents artists and craftspeople working in the

West Cork area through a website and an annually produced

booklet, the perfect size for your glove compartment when

touring in West Cork.

Their patron is Jeremy Irons who lives locally. With a successful exhibition

programme behind the group, they are now looking to build and run a

state-of-the-art, eco-building in the Skibbereen area. Here they plan

to exhibit both work by their own members and the work of other

associations and groups. They also hope to develop a diverse programme

of courses and workshops in a variety of craft disciplines.

In a further development, craft producers in Co. Cork who formed The

Cork Art and Design Group two years ago are about to commission a

feasability study, looking at the entire craft sector with a view to employing

a Craft Officer for the area. This is being carried out with facilitation and

funding from Cork County Council and with financial support from the

three Cork County Enterprise Boards

To submit for selection to be part of the WCC&DG check out their website, www.westcorkcraft.org or contact Alison Ospina t: 028 21890 e: [email protected]

Cornelia McCarthy is a consultant and Project Manager working with creative businesses.

Rory Conner’s Studio, Bantry, Co. Cork

Supporting and Representing the Craftmaker

with similar creative businesses. The socialaspect is very important for me as I am workingon my own all day. I also collaborate with othermakers on various jobs. Working towards exhi-bitions is good for me.’

Learning to make a knife can take as little asfive minutes, but can take up to 20 years honing the technique and developing the skill.Rory’s initial interest and aptitude for metal-work was followed by some time in Californiawhere he worked with a knife-maker. Theworld of speciality knives was opened up tohim, however he decided not to pursue thisniche market solely as he has always beeninterested in creating beautiful knives that can be part of everyday lives.

A number of small batch ranges are featured inRory's work. The most popular of these is hischeese knife, a batch of specially designed

blades, forged in Spain, with the handles,assembly and finishing taking place in the WestCork workshop. Selling through a number ofspecialist gourmet shops, on-line and from hisworkshop, this is ideal for the gift buyer andcomes in a sturdy wooden box with RoryConner’s name on the lasercut lid.

Clearly enjoying the process of product development, Rory is now developing a cheeseboard with a local woodworker to sellwith his knife and a locally made ceramic butter dish to accompany the new butter knife he has developed.

With such a wide range of products and customers, Rory’s work requires a range of listening, probing and learning skills, whichhave allowed him maintain a cutting edge andhas resulted in his position today as one ofIreland’s leading cutlers.

Rory Conner, Handcrafted Knives,Ballylickey, Bantry, West Cork.w: www.roryconnerknives.com t: 027 50032

Christine Nichols

News and Reviews 8

The recent RDS-National Crafts Competition in association with TheCrafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) was a huge success attracting over 500applications from craftpeople across Ireland. CCoI has a long history of association with the RDS, in 1971, it was established under the auspices of the RDS. The renewed partnership between CCoI and RDSoffers positive mutual benefits, synergies and possibilities that willbenefit future generations of craftspeople. (Winners names marked with an asterix

denote purchases for the Crafts Council of Ireland Craft Collection).

Winners of the RDS National Crafts Competition Announced

National Crafts Competition 2008 Winners :

David McGrail1st Prize Category 21.1 Calligraphy & Lettering - Paper.RDS Award of Excellence (Winner) - €7,000 and California Gold Medal. The Library Prize - €250

Joe Hogan1st Prize Category 10. Rod, Rush, Straw & SimilarMaterials. RDS Award of Excellence (Reserve) - €3,500

Mary NeesonCategory 6. Ironwork / MetalworkRDS New Entrants Prize 2008 - €1,500

David McCaul1st Prize Category 5.1 Jewellery - Precious MetalsRDS Graduate Prize 2008 - €1,500

Marie Crean1st Prize Category 13. Knitting & CrochetRDS William Smith O’Brien Perpetual Challenge Cup

Christy KeeneyCategory 1.2 Ceramics – Architectural & DecorativeRDS Committee of Arts Acquisition

Petra Schradi1st Prize Category 1.1 Ceramics – Functional CeramicsIreland Award - €500

Christy Keeney1st Prize Category 1.2 Ceramics – Architectural & Decorative

Mark ScallanCategory 1.2 Ceramics – Architectural & DecorativeIACI Muriel Gahan Scholarship Nominee

Brigitta Varadi1st Prize Category 2. Felting*Crafts Council of Ireland Purchase Award

Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann2nd Prize Category 2. Felting

Karl Harron1st Prize Category 3. GlassDublin Art Glass Award - €700

June O'Gorman2nd Prize Category 3. Glass

Niamh Mulligan1st Prize Category 4.1 Gold, Silver & AlternativeMaterials - Precious Metals. Company of Goldsmiths ofDublin Award - 1st Prize - €1,000

Catriona ByrneCategory 4.1 Gold, Silver & Alternative Materials - Precious Metals. Company of Goldsmiths of DublinAward - 2nd Prize - €500IACI Muriel Gahan Scholarship Nominee

Suzanne Rogers1st Prize Category 4.2 Gold, Silver & AlternativeMaterials - Alternative Materials

Rachel McKnight1st Prize Category 5.2 Jewellery - Alternative Materials

Alan Ardiff1st Prize Category 6. Ironwork / Metalwork

Jonathan Ball2nd Prize Category 6. Ironwork / Metalwork

Seamus Cass idy1st Prize Category 7. WoodturningIrish Woodturners Guild Award - €500

Thomas McCosh2nd Prize Category 7. Woodturning

Thomas P. Ryan1st Prize Category 8. Wood & Stonecarving

Edward Domican2nd Prize Category 8. Wood & Stonecarving

Paul Dooley1st Prize Category 9. Musical Instruments

Reggie Goodbody2nd Prize Category 9. Musical Instruments

Anne Harrington Rees2nd Prize Category 10. Rod, Rush, Straw & Similar Materials

Rois in Gartland1st Prize Category 11. Leatherwork

Trisha Bonham Corcoran2nd Prize Category 11. Leatherwork

Thomas Kay1st Prize Category 12. Furniture

Peter Ranalow & John Ryan2nd Prize Category 12. Furniture

Andrew KirraneCategory 12. FurnitureDuff Tisdall Furniture Design Award

Stephen RyanCategory 12. FurnitureNational Crafts & Design Fair of Ireland Award - €1,500IACI Muriel Gahan Scholarship Nominee

Jurate Tiskute2nd Prize Category 13. Knitting & CrochetIACI Muriel Gahan Scholarship Nominee

Beth Moran1st Prize Category 14.1 Weaving - Hand-weaving for Fashion or FurnishingsCountry Markets Ltd. Medal

Annie DibbleCategory 14.1 Weaving - Hand-weaving for Fashion or FurnishingsLillias Mitchell Award - €650

Terry Dunne1st Prize Category 14.2 Weaving - Tapestry

Margaret Patton1st Prize Category 16.1 Patchwork & Quilting - Traditional

Ann Fleeton1st Prize Category 16.2 Patchwork & Quilting - Contemporary

Logan McLain1st Prize Category 17.1 Embroidery - TraditionalMáirín O’Brien Flegg Memorial Award - €1,000IACI Muriel Gahan Scholarship Nominee

Nigel G. Cheney1st Prize Category 17.2 Embroidery - ContemporaryMáirín O’Brien Flegg Memorial Award - €500*Crafts Council of Ireland Purchase Award

Lyndsey McDougallCategory 17.2 Embroidery - Contemporary*Crafts Council of Ireland Purchase Award

Elizabeth Quain1st Prize Category 18. LaceGuild of Irish Lacemakers Award - €250

Mary O'Neill2nd Prize Category 18. LaceEleanor De La Branchardiere Award - €1,200

Patricia LambCategory 18. LaceTraditional Lace Makers of Ireland Award

Kamila Bartuzi1st Prize Category 19.1 Printed Textiles - Hand Techniques

Liz Nilsson1st Prize Category 19.2 Printed Textiles - Digital Print

Laura Ennis1st Prize Category 20. Multimedia TextilesIACI Muriel Gahan Scholarship Nominee

Kate Lennon2nd Prize Category 20. Multimedia Textiles

David McGrail ‘Intangible’

News and Reviews9

August Craft Month NI 2008 A Resounding Success!Last month people joined a silver trail of world-class exhibitions,saw Indian folk art ‘as it happened’ and produced their owndesigns using ‘tie-dye’ and ‘raku’ craft techniques.

Úna Parsons and Gerry Wycherly, CEO and Chairperson of the Crafts Council ofIreland visited Northern Ireland for the event and were thoroughly impressedby the diversity of the programme and the quality of the craft on display.

Organised by Craft Northern Ireland, this month-long celebration of craftopened on the 1st of August with a packed calendar of over 30 events taking place across Northern Ireland. The festival, simply called ‘August Craft Month’, offered everyone an opportunity to experience craft and to join in and get some hands-on experience of craft making.

Having had particular appeal for tourists, this wide-ranging programme of events was supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Joe Kelly,Director of Craft NI noted "that this partnership represented a major step in developing important links between craft and tourism."

Research Mission ReportGlenn Lucas visits the Utah Woodturning Symposium, USA

In May 2008 Glenn Lucas attended the Utah Woodturning Symposium, this trip was partly funded

by the Craft Council of Ireland’s Research Missions Scheme, which funds up to 50% of the cost of

attending a craft/ design show abroad. Glenn reports on the positive experiences and many benefits

he enjoyed on this trip.

The reason I attended the show was tolearn from the presenters, learn new techniques and network with the delegates and the organisers.

The Utah Woodturning Symposium is thelongest running woodturning symposiumin the world. It has been running for 29years and participants select from over 110 demonstrations given by some of the best International woodturners. The presentations have something foreveryone, from the experienced professional, to the absolute beginner. I got to meet with some of the teachers there and listen to their different approaches and hear their recommendations. This was very useful as I am currently opening my own ‘studycentre/ school’ and this opportunity gave me the chance to hear about current best practice and also to becomefamiliar with the pros and cons of juggling teaching with running a professional production business.

The symposium was an exceptionally well-run event, with all visitors being made to feel very welcome by the Festival Director and other organisers.There was a genuine eagerness to listen and give feedback and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with other woodturners from all over the world, many of whom have reached the pinnacle of their careers as teachers and as artists.

The work that I brought with me was also very well received, at the delegatesexhibition and auction my native Irishbeech salad bowl was much sought afterand was sold in the end for a bid of $425!I am confident that in the process of setting up a centre, I have a core list ofworld-class wood-turning teachers andguest demonstrators who will continue tocommunicate with me and would behappy to accept an invitation to Ireland to both demonstrate in my centre

and to enjoy the quality Irish craft anddesign that Ireland has to offer.

Downing Street Silverware

Glenn Lucas

News and Reviews 10

The lecture, entitled Enhancing Nature: Wood & Colour will be given by

the Collectors of Wood Art and Bennett will join other important artists

from all over the US, who will be discussing their work. Another member

of the Irish contingent at SOFA 2008 has also been invited to deliver a

key lecture during the fair Jennifer Goff, Curator of Furniture, Musical

and Scientific Instruments at the National Museum of Ireland will give a

lecture on modernist developments in Irish furniture from the turn of the

20th century through to the present day.

SOFA is a key international event for contemporary craft and applied art.

Last year a record 35,000 people visited Navy Pier to see work by some

of the world’s most important dealers and galleries. This is the third year

running that the Crafts Council of Ireland has attended the event and

2008 promises to be another impressive outing, with 23 of our leading

craftspeople showcasing their work. 2006 and 2007 saw some of our

artists gain international representation while others saw their work

added to major American collections. For contemporary Irish craft in

general, it has been a huge success. The opportunity to showcase our

beautifully designed and crafted work on an international stage has paid

huge dividends. Influential gallerists, collectors and critics have been

introduced to high-end Irish craft and the artists who created it. So

positive was the response, that some of them travelled to Ireland earlier

this year to visit artists studios and workshops around the country.

For more information please visit

www.sofaexpo.com or www.ccoi.ie.

Irish woodturner Roger Bennett has been invited to participate

in a significant lecture as part of Chicago’s Annual Exposition

of Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art (SOFA) taking place from

the 7th to the 9th of November this year.

Ceramics Ireland International Festival- A Great SuccessThe annual Ceramics Ireland International Festival, which took place on September4th to 6th in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny was a great success for participating artists and visitors alike.

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s Ceramic Design and Skills School played host for what was a dynamic,informative and entertaining event. Demonstrations, slide shows, lectures, exhibitions, firings, trade standsand entertainment all took place in the grounds of this beautiful old mill on the banks of the River Nore.

Participating artists included Frances Lambe and Jim Turner (Ire), Jim Robinson and Mike Dodd (UK) andJason Walker and Kira Campbell (USA). The comprehensive lecture programme featured a selection of presented papers, student presentations and a discussion forum. Speakers included Kira Campbell, GusMabelson and Audrey Whitty, Curator of Ceramics, Glass & Asian Collections at the National Museum ofIreland. An exhibition of the visiting artists’ work was also on show at Kozo Gallery, Thomastown during the festival.

Irish Speakers Announced for SOFA 2008

Kira Cambell

T - B: John Lee, Inga Reed

Mark Hanvey

Craft Community Forum11

A New Dialogue Opinion/Analysis/Criticism

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: A New Dialogue began in the July/August issue, Stopress 16, 2007. Silversmith, Seamus Gill

introduced the forum with a lecture he heard delivered by Bruce Metcalf on ‘Critical Writing on Crafts; Who Benefits?’

at SOFA (Sculpture, Objects & Functional Art), Chicago, 2006. Since then there has been a great response to this forum

from the wider craft community, including craftspeople, writers and academics. Below is the latest contribution and

response to the ‘Craft & Criticism’ forum.

seamus gill

Dear Craft Forum,

It is with great interest that I have followed the comments posted in this section of STOPRESS over the past year since Seamus Gillmade his initial statement about the place of critical writing in thecontemporary Irish craft world. Whilst I welcome the opportunitythis forum presents as a teacher (and writer) I do think that theissues initially raised by the American jeweller Bruce Metcalf’s 2006SOFA lecture ‘Writing on the Crafts: Who Benefits?’ (which joltedGill into action) are sadly perennial. And, unsurprisingly it has generated much heated debate, almost everywhere, over the years.The critic Janet Koplos recently suggested; ‘Craft criticism is a mess.It has a shaky past, uncertain credentials, no theoretical basis, andonly a vague idea of an ideal. A lot of it is defensive, operating onthe assumption that craft is an underdog field’ (in Jean Johnson(ed.), Exploring Contemporary Craft: History, Theory & CriticalWriting, 2002, p. 3). Koplos further suggests that this may maskdeeper, displaced, anxieties within the craft world itself:

Criticism has become a convenient hole in which to shovel all the controversy, all the quality issues, all the identity crises surrounding the uncertain position of contemporary crafts,which have lost their functional purposes and so retain onlydecorative and symbolic ones. These essential issues should be faced in every class taught and in every object made.Sometimes they are, but often these ‘critical issues’ get postponed or, more precisely, they get hidden under the easierto talk about subject of ‘what’s wrong with crafts criticism?’(ibid, p. 81)

The critic Rosemary Hill concluded (in her 2001 RCA Peter DormerLecture) that by the new millennium anyway ‘as the concept ofcraft is dissolving’ craft criticism is ‘as such coming to an end’.Rosemary Hill is English, Bruce Metcalf and Janet Koplos are

American and they are responding to their specific English andNorth American contexts. It is difficult to make a comparative response about the Irish context, as even basic documentation of

the crafts here barely exists never mind serious critical or theoreticalinterrogation. Irish newspapers, magazines and journals tend tosideline or disregard craft and the few articles that find their way toprint are often light, disparate and tangential. Whilst Irish craft isinternationally recognised as an innovative field, Irish writing existsin a hermetic state that is largely benign. It is for the most partexplanatory and pedestrian: rarely experimental or provocative;almost always insular and idiosyncratic; and often possesses littleself-awareness or any real sense of local, or global, context.

The blame lies largely with the teaching of craft history in schools,colleges and universities, which often falls under the rubic of visualculture or cultural studies. Here craft can be easily lost (or distorted)amidst its more aggressive (and seemingly professionalized) art anddesign history counterparts. On a positive note the CCoI has animportant policy of publishing catalogues to their exhibitions. Butthese are printed in small runs and are often difficult to get unlessyou get to Kilkenny. However, the CCoI’s earlier short-lived CraftReview (1987-1991) magazine was an admirable beginning to foster critical writing and emerged at a time when writing on contemporary crafts internationally was itself being crystallised. To reprise such a journal would be worthwhile as the crafts areclearly marginal to the agenda of the media in Ireland. Wouldn’t it be stimulating to have a designated forum to write for such as an internationally admired journal like the British Crafts Council’sCrafts (1973-) or the American Craft Council’s American Craft (1979-).

Whilst I agree that good critical writing on contemporary craft isfundamental to its continued existence I would equally insist uponthe necessity of fostering writing on craft history. Indeed, this STOPRESS discussion was sparked by comments made by BruceMetcalf who is completing a book (co-authored with Janet Koplos)on the history of the studio craft movement in twentieth centuryAmerica. For me, like many, craft history is a valuable tool in helpinglocate thinking within practice, past and present.

Critical Writing on Crafts: Who Benefits?Subject: Craft & Criticism Response by: Dr. Joseph McBrinn, Lecturer at the School of Art and Design, University of Ulster, Belfast

Continued on page 12

Craft Community News 12

To this end the School of Art and Design at the University of Ulsteroffers opportunity to study the history and theory of craft at postgraduate level, on the MA Irish Visual Culture, and theUniversity of Ulster has also initiated a doctoral research strand entitled ‘The Identities of Craft in Ireland from Modernity to Post-Modernity’, and is keen to encourage anyone interested in pursuing research to contact us (seewww.adbe.ulster.ac.uk/schools/graduate_schools/public/docs/PhD.topics.doc).

This year many of my students will have read some of the recentlypublished (and deeply engaging) books on craft such as HaroldRisatti’s A Theory of Craft: Function and Aesthetic Expression(2007), Richard Sennett’s The Craftsman (2007) or Glenn Adamson’sThinking Through Craft (2007) - but what about their own context?What knowledge of the remarkable history of their own craft disciplines in Ireland can they possibly hope to have before they finish their studies? So what I am really saying is simple - we needmuch more writing on the crafts in Ireland before we can even

begin to make value judgements like those by Metcalf, Koplos andHill. Who would benefit from such writing? Surely, we all would.

Dr. Joseph McBrinn lectures at the School of Art and Design, The

University of Ulster, Belfast, and wrote chapters in 'NeoCraft' (2007)

and 'Craft, Space and Interior Design, 1855-2005'

(2008).

Editor’s Note: The Crafts Council of Ireland has a number of initiatives

underway in relation to some of the above. We will shortly launch an Annual

Critical Writing in Craft Award, in association with Irish Arts Review open to

final year degree and postgraduate students in Craft, Design and Journalism

and others. Next year we will launch a Publications Fund to stimulate

books on craft and recognizing the value of craft history, plans are

underway to expand and grow The Crafts Councils of Ireland’s material

and cultural archive, both visual and textual.

Continued from page 11

The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI)would like to extend a warm welcome to the five new craftsguilds who have become memberorganisations of CCoI during 2008.They are Louth Craftmark DesignersNetwork, Offaly Crafty, LimerickCeramic Works, the Glass Society ofIreland and the Letter Carvers GuildIreland. If you would like furtherinformation on membership or theactivities of any of these guildsplease see below for contact details:

Louth Craftmark Designers NetworkDundalk Co. Louth Contact: Sarah McKenna e: [email protected] t: 042 939 6943 w: www.louthcraftmark.com

Offaly CraftyBirr, Co. Offaly Contact: Hazel Greene

e: [email protected] t: 0505 47025/ 087 2209414 w: www.offalyartsandcrafts.com

Limerick Ceramic WorksHenry Street, Co. Limerick Contact: Gemma Dardis e: [email protected]: 061 408714/ 086 3148684

Glass Society of IrelandCabinteely, Dublin 18Contact: Aideen McCole e: [email protected]: 087 9922688

Letter Carvers Guild IrelandAshford, Co WicklowContact: Stuart McGrath e: [email protected] t: 087 2943818 w: www.stonecarvingstudio.com

For further information on registering yourguild with CCoI please contact Nuala McGrathon t: 056 779-6133 e: [email protected]

New Member Organisations at CCoI

Tribute to Con DoyleThe Crafts Council of Ireland is sad toreport on the death of Con Doyle, whosadly passed away earlier this year. Conwas one of the first woodturners inIreland to sell tableware to retail outlets,both at home and abroad. He had a longstanding relationship with CCoI since itsbeginning and was a regular exhibitor at showcase until he retired in 2004.

He received numerous awards for thequality of his work and was regardedhighly in the trade, usually being referredto as a man of gentle character. His wood-turning work is being carried on by his son Cormac Doyle. Con is survived by and will be greatly missed by his wife Mairead,daughters Maeve and Aileen and sonsCormac, Eamonn, Cathal and Aidan.

Ceramics at the Hallward

11th - 27th September 2008

The Hallward Mill Cove Gallery is currently exhibiting the best of contemporary Irish ceramics. Thisadjudicated exhibition presents significant ceramic achievements byartists in this medium. Two Awardswere made as part of the exhibition - The Hallward Mill Cove Award toAlison Kay and the Ceramics IrelandAward to Lucy Meagher.'

From over 300 submissions, 57 ceramic artistshave been selected for exhibition, includingJim Turner, Frances Lambe, Pat Connor, LauraO’Hagan, Michael Moore, Fidelma Massey,Neil Read and Etain Hickey.

The Hallward, 65 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. T: 01 662 1482E: [email protected] www.hallwardgallery.com

Craft Community News13

New Dedicated Craft Portal on discoverireland.ie

Following the success of the Crafts

Council of Ireland’s (CCoI) partnership

with Fáilte Ireland at Bloom 2008 earlier

this year, CCoI is happy to announce

the most recent development in the

growing partnership between the two

organisations.

Fáilte Ireland has just added a new dedicated Irish

craft page to its site, www.discoverireland.ie. The

new portal www.discoverireland.ie/crafts will

be a one stop shop for consumers and visitors

to Ireland, who wish to access the best of

Irish craft, through quality retail outlets, open

studios, craft trails and information on

craftspeople working in Ireland.

www.discoverireland.ie, Fáilte Ireland's main

consumer website is extensively promoted

nationally as part of the annual Discover

Ireland campaign. Through the Tourism

Content Systems it feeds all other information

distribution channels, the network of tourist

offices and also feeds discoverireland.com, the

sister site promoted internationally by Tourism

Ireland overseas. The portal is now up and

running, so have a look for yourself at

www.discoverireland.ie/craft!

The Craft & Design Collective, formerly, County Down Crafts, presents 1ST EDITION, an exhibition ofContemporary Jewellery & Silversmithing, at Space CRAFT the group’s shop/ gallery/ exhibition area at The Fountain Centre, College Street, Belfast, from Friday 5th to Saturday 27th September 2008.

Jewellers, artists and designer-makers from the Craft & Design Collective have come together to raise awareness regarding contemporary jewellery currently available to commission and buy. The exhibition includes work in a broad range of materials such as gold, silver, rubber, perspex, plastic, nylon, resin and wood.

The Gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 5.30pm, t: 028 9032 9342 m: 0779 327 9161 e: [email protected]

An Exhibition of Contemporary Jewellery & Silversmithing - Belfast

Tribute to Patrick HallThe craft world was shocked to hear ofthe death of ceramicist Patrick Hall in aroad traffic accident in July of this year.

I first met Patrick at a Crafts Council of Irelandmeeting in Collins Barracks in 2002 when a groupwas set up to promote niche market products.This group was called Ten Times Tables whichthen progressed to become Six Times Tables, avery successful partnership.

The group would meet about four times a year to decide on colours, designs and futureexhibitions together.

We exhibited at Showcase, The National CraftGallery, Habitat, The Interiors Show and manymore smaller venues.

Patrick was a very talented ceramicist and was legendary for his beautifully executed porcelainSpace Ship Lights and his quirky sense of humour.Judging by his funeral he will be sadly missed byhis many friends, his family, his soul mate Trishand beautiful daughter Ellen.

Ní bheidh a leithead ann arís.

Eva Kelly

Patrick Hall

Fáilte Ireland Website, www.discoverireland.ie

Opportunities 14

Crafts Council of Ireland at Higher Options Fair, RDS, DublinSeptember 17th - 19th 2008

A career in craft and design is diverse, challenging, innovative,creative and fulfilling. There are a huge range of skills baseddisciplines to choose from: jewellery, furniture making, textiles,ceramics, glass, metal-working and more. The Crafts Council of Ireland is available to guide you through the many career and training opportunities that the Irish craft industry has tooffer. Visit our education stand at the Higher Options Fair, RDS,September 17th - 19th to find out more!

Craft in the Classroom is a visual

arts-based educational programme

that provides training for makers

and teachers in the design and

delivery of creative crafts projects

for children in classroom contexts.

The Crafts Council of Ireland is seeking professional makers from all disciplines interestedin finding out more about the programme. Forthe 2008 - 2009 period. Craft in the Classroomwill run in Dublin West and Leitrim. Informationdays will be held on the following dates and locations:

Saturday 11th October - Dublin West, The Tower Hotel, Tallaght

Saturday 18th October - Carrick-on-Shannon, Education Centre, Leitrim

Please Note: Attendance at the informationdays is mandatory for craftspeople who havenot yet participated in the Craft in the

Classroom programme and would like to beconsidered for selection to deliver residencies.Following the information day participants willbe invited to apply for “residency projects.”Successful applicants will be required to attendChild Protection Training and Craft in theClassroom training in early 2009.

Craftspeople who have previously participatedin Craft in the Classroom residencies, attendedthe information day and completed the ChildProtection Training may re-apply for the 2009residency programme and if successful, are only required to attend 1 training day and 1evening planning session in either location inearly January 2009. However, you must registeryour intention to apply for the 2009 residency.

In response to feedback from Class in theClassroom participants to date, successful applicants for the 2008/2009 programme willreceive a flat rate travel expense in addition to the residency fee.

To regis ter your interes t in attending theinformation days or intention to apply forthe 2008/2009 res idency programme pleasecontact: Amanda Walsh on t: 056 7761804,e: [email protected].

ALL CRAFTSPEOPLE WISHING TO ATTENDTHE INFORMATION DAYS MUST REGISTERWITH CCoI BY TUESDAY, 30TH SEPTEMBER2008.

Craft in the ClassroomCalling all Makers

Further details about Craft in the Classroom are available on our website: www.ccoi.ie

Network Support Scheme 2008

Closing Date 30th September

Due to the high level of interest in theNetwork Support Scheme 2008 weare pleased to announce an additionalcall out for funding applications:

For further information or to

download an application form:

Go to the ‘Opportunities’ section ofour website at: www.ccoi.ie or email Mary Whelan at [email protected]

Work produced during ‘Craft in the Classroom’

Crafts Council of Ireland

Bursary 2008Thank you to everyone who submittedmaterial in application for the Bursary2008 Award. There were a large amountof very high quality submissions and areview of all submissions is now beingundertaken. The winner of the Bursary2008 award will be announced in lateSeptember 2008. Please visit www.ccoi.iefor further updates.

Crafts Council of Ireland Autumn Mentoring Programme 'The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) has worked with manymentors and experts, developing high levels of expertise inbusiness, design and production. This Autumn CCoI are implementing a Mentoring programme as part of their Strategic plan.

Themed Mentoring

The CCoI will offer group mentoring days in Kilkenny duringOctober & November 2008.

Proposed Topics:

1. Identity and packaging 2. Merchandising and display 3. Gallery relationships 4. Conducting consumer research and new product development5. Retail relationships 6. How to write an exhibition brief7. pR and Media relationships8. presentation Skills 9. pricing and Costing 10. Export and marketing abroad.11. Increasing your sales offering through brand awareness

If you are interested please download the form from our website(www.ccoi.ie) and tick the 5 topics you are most interested in.CCoI will provide mentoring on the 5 most popular topics.

Individual Mentoring

Do you feel you need assistance in any area and would like some‘one to one’ mentoring from the professionals. If so, please contactus now as only a limited number of places are available - selectionwill apply.

please download an application form from the ‘Opportunities’ section of our website www.ccoi.ie

CLOSING DATE: TUESDAY 30th September

Opportunities15

Crafts Council of Ireland at Higher Options Fair, RDS, DublinSeptember 17th - 19th 2008

The tradition of craft goes hand in hand with agriculture: blacksmithing, basket-making & weaving are only a few of the craft disciplines that have evolved over centuries in Ireland. The traditional models are still used today but in a vibrant and contemporary way.

The quality and diversity of Irish craft today offers fantastic career opportunities and training. Why not visit the Crafts Councilof Ireland's education stand at the Ploughing Championships to find out more about a range of courses from degree level to weekend workshops.

Crafts Council of Ireland at Ploughing ChampionshipsSeptember 23rd - 25th 2008

please let us know what aspects of Stopressyou enjoy by answering these three simplequestion and forwarding your response [email protected]. A draw will take place for

those who participate for a prize to

the value of €150.

1. Which page do you enjoy reading most in Stopress?

2. What would you like to see more of in Stopress?3. Would you prefer to receive Stopress by mail

or email?

CLOSING DATE: 30TH SEPTEMBER 08

Have You Enjoyed Reading Stopress???

Opportunities 16

Exposing CraftA seminar on Exhibition Design & Curatorial Skills27th November 08, Kilkenny

Are you interested in organising and curating craft exhibitions? Do you want your exhibitions to standout? Then this is a day for you. Exposing Craft is an informative and practical seminar. It is intended toadvise aspiring curators on the content and design of exhibitions and how to run them efficiently. Itwill cover all areas involved in the design of an exhibition, from concept to delivery.

The event will be packed with expert speakers with international experience, information on galleries nationally and how toaccess them and the mechanics of running of a professional exhibition. It will also mark the launch of the Crafts Council ofIreland’s updated guide to organising and running exhibitions written by Hilary Morley, Curator.

Exposing Craft will take place in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle, please contact Mary Whelan for further information: t: 056 776 1804 e: [email protected] or visit our website: www.ccoi.ie

Business Awareness for Emerging Makers7th November 08, Kilkenny

To compliment Breaking Out, an exhibition running at the National Craft Gallery from the 18thOctober 08 to 31st January 09, the Crafts Council of Ireland is running a seminar packed with adviceand information for all those starting out in a career in craft enterprise. Whether you are producingwork for gallery exhibition or for the retail market this is the seminar for you!

Topics will Include:

• Advice from buyers /curators• Writing a proposal which will ensure success• Presenting yourself and your product• Creating a strong press release

Business Awareness for emerging makers will take place in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle, please contact Mary Whelan for further information: t: 056 776 1804 e: [email protected] or visit our website: www.ccoi.ie

Calling all Furniture & Tabletop DesignBusinesses/ Bespoke Jewellery Businesses

Dublin City Enterprise Board is holding two information sessions aimed at both Tabletop, Furniture and Lighting Design Businesses and Bespoke Jewellery Businesses in order to provide a networking opportunity in which businesses can meet and share information (businesses must be trading for at least 2 years).

The format will be mostly discussion based and will also have a questions & answers session. The aim of the session is to have aninteractive session where people for whom designer products are themain activity of their business can share the latest trends and use it as a starting point for some discussion and networking. What are thecommon issues for craft/ design businesses? What are the solutions?

Date: Tuesday 2nd October 08Time: 14:00 - 16:30Venue: Dublin City Enterprise Board, 5th Floor,

O'Connell Bridge House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2

This is an excellent opportunity to meet other design businesses and find out more about the supports available to help you run your business. It is not a training course. Places are restricted to 15 participants. We expect strong demand.

Please see DCEB’s website for full details www.dceb.ie or emailyour interest to Eibhlin Curley, by Friday 26th September to E: [email protected]

Dublin City Enterprise BoardRound Table Event for October

Opportunities17

Research MissionsFinancial Assistance Towards VisitingExhibitions/Fairs/Conferences

If you want to research an event/show in 2009

and want to avail of assistance with costs,

apply now

• Read Glenn Lucas' report from a recent Research Mission

to the Utah Woodturning Symposium on page 9

• Also visit the Resource Area of the CCoI website

for listings of design museums/ crafts fairs

& exhibitions through Ireland and abroad

Closing Date: 30th November 2008

For further information and to download an application form: Go to the ‘Opportunities’ section of our websitewww.ccoi.ie or email Mary Whelan at [email protected]

ShowcaseA New Era!

With just over four months to go, plans for the new

developments at Showcase 2009 are well underway

... and the excitement is mounting!!!

For buyers the impact will be immediate - with a new look and feel for the show, from the entrance right through to HallJ. New product and new talent will be one of the key thrusts - with plenty of initiatives to highlight craft throughout theshow. And a positive impact on buyers means increased salespotential for exhibitors.

Marketed to Buyers - Craft Focal PointsThe Balcony is being developed as one of the key craft locations, with over 90% of the exhibitors now registered with CCoI. The group stands will also move to a prominentnew location in Hall A along with the ‘One Day’ stands foremerging craft businesses and a fantastic new seminar area.The Source Aisle will remain a prominent feature in the MainHall with a new look and some exciting additional promotional features in the pipeline.

Seminars - Adding Value and Offering InsightSeminars by key speakers on topics that will inform and attractretailers will run throughout each day of the show. These sessions add value to the show offering retailers a chance toaccess new information to help grow their business, while also doing business and placing orders!

Networking OpportunitiesAnother new feature is a networking evening event for buyersand exhibitors, which will not only offer everyone the chanceto kick back and have fun, but also to build and develop keyrelationships in an informal setting.

Over the coming weeks we will be announcing further developments and innovations - so please keep an eye on thewebsite and read the Crafts Council of Ireland ezines to keepup to speed on all that is new for Showcase 2009!

So if you are a commercial craft manufacturer, supply ing into retail, you can’t afford to mis sShowcase 2009! If you haven’t booked or confirmed your booking please contact EmmaMcGrath at 056 7761804 immediately as there is limited space available - and we want to ensure it is filled with craft!

Álainn NewsÁlainn is an initiative set up by the Crafts Council of Ireland to increase awareness and access to Ireland’s vibrant & contemporary fine Irish craft market.

Álainn membership includes, invitation to special collectors events and exhibitions, priority reservationsat CCoI lectures and seminars, master-craftsman studio tour and more.

NEW DISCOUNTS!!!

From Leading Irish Craft Galleries now Include:

Designyard, 48-49 Nassau Street, Dublin 2. www.designyard.ie Red Aesthetic, 2 Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny. www.redaesthetic.comEtain Hickey Collection, 40 Ash Street, Clonakilty, Cork.

For further information on Álainn membership contact Ann Dack: T: 056 7761804 E: [email protected] W: www.ccoi.ie

Opportunities 18

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

OPPORTUNITY DIARY DATES BY/ON/CURRENTLY

CCoI Network Support Scheme: closing date for applications by 30th SeptemberCCoI Autumn Mentoring Programme: closing Date for Applications by 30th September CCoI Craft in the Classroom Information Day -The Tower Hotel, Tallaght, Dublin West on 11th OctoberCCoI Craft in the Classroom Information Day -Education Centre, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim on 18th OctoberBusiness Awareness: CCoI Seminar for Emerging Makers on 7th November Exhibition Design and Curatorial Skills: CCoI Seminar on 27th November CCoI Research Missions: Closing Date forApplications for Financial Assistance by 30th November

NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY (NCG) EXHIBITIONS 2008For 2008 Programme contact [email protected] or log onto www.ccoi.ieNCG, Castle Yard, Kilkenny

Image of Longing on 9th August - 5th OctoberRDS National Crafts Competition Prizewinners on 4th - 27th October Breaking Out on 18th October ‘08- 31st January ’09 Breaking Out Official Opening on 1st NovemberSOFA, Sculpture, Objects and Fine Art, Chicago, USA on 7th - 9th NovemberFor NCG Touring Exhibitions visit www.ccoi.ie or see Exhibitions Programme

SPECIAL EVENTS

Design Week, Venues all over Ireland. www.designweek.ie on 5th - 11th November

SHOWS IN IRELAND 2008

CCoI at Higher Options Fair, RDS, Dublin on 17th - 19th September CCoI at Ploughing Championships, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny. www.npa.ie on 23rd - 25th September43rd Annual Irish Antique Dealers Fair on 24th - 28th SeptemberPlanExpo, www.expo-events.com on 4th - 6th NovemberArt Ireland, RDS, Dublin. www.irishartfair.com on 14th - 16th NovemberNational Crafts Fair, RDS, Dublin. www.nationalcraftsfair.ie on 3rd - 7th DecemberShowcase, RDS, Dublin. www.showcaseireland.com on 18th - 21st January 2009

INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR DATES 2008

100% Design, London www.100percentdesign.co.uk on 18th - 21st September Premiere Vision, Pariswww.premierevision.fr on 23rd - 26th September Origin: The LondonCraft Fair www.craftscouncil.org.uk on 7th-12th & 14th -19th OctoberSOFA, Chicago www.sofaexpo.com on 7th - 9th November

Dates for your Diary*Please note: The November/ December 2008 issue of Stopress

will be published on 15th November 2008. Please forward all submissions

by 15th October 2008. Stopress is also available on-line at www.ccoi.ie

Advertisements19

Felted ChristmasTraditionsBook is available from choice publishing. price €15 T: 041 9841551 W: www.choicepublishing.ie

Front LoadingCeramic Kiln rohdeke90n with Bentrup tc 507 controller. 6.6kw single phase 400Vincluding shelves. also programmedfor glass firings. 3 years old with verylight usage. excellent condition.Interior 42x48x46cm. €3,000 o.n.o(€4,000 new). Contact Olga T: 071914 2133, 086 157 5687E: [email protected]

Friars’ Gate, Limerickis a theatre and arts centre includinga gallery space with monthly exhibitions. We are always lookingfor new people to exhibit with us.For further information contactCaoimhe at T: 063 98727E: [email protected] W: www.friarsgate.ie

Nora Dunne Gallery is now open forSubmissions craft and sculptural work wanted. one-offpieces and unique designs. pleaseemail 3 samples of work includingsizes and prices. gallery opening latein october 2008. We have an exhibition space 9 x 10meters.Located in terenure dublin 12.space can be split into 2 for smallerexhibitions. all welcome to seespace in october. space availablewith or without curator. help withpromotion, opening and sales.Contact Karen Harper T: 086 888 5321 E: [email protected]

Invitation to submitproposals for KaunasArt Biennial TEXTILE09, which will be held in kaunas,Lithuania, from 1st of october till30th of november, 2009. deadlinefor applications 30th of november2008. All information about conditions of participation, please find on our websitewww.biennial.lt or T: +37061256171

Madhatters Tea PartyII, An Exhibition ofHats by Lina Stein. JoinWestport-based australian MillinerLina stein for an evening of fun and frivolity, style and elegance. Like-minded hat enthusiasts from allover will have the opportunity todress sharp, wear their favorite hat,enjoy the company with a glass ofwine and some nice nibbles!!Opening - October 9th 2008, 7pmat Linenmill Café Winebar, NewRoad, Westport, Co. Mayo

Cork TextileConference 2009‘Transforming Textiles’is a one-day conference with lecturersfrom Britain and Ireland’s leadingcontemporary textile artists.Lectures, workshops and viewing ofwork. Venue: coláiste stiofán naofa,tramore road, cork. sat 7th March2009. entrance fee: €80. For more information contactCarmel T: 086 6095656 or E: [email protected]

Formed in Fire, LeachPottery and Museum,st Ives, cornwall. september 14th - november 14th 2008. Jackdoherty, Lead potter at the Leachpottery and Museum in st Ivescornwall has created a stimulatingand thought provoking exhibitionwhich explores the power of fire toalter and enhance clay objects. hehas chosen eight potters who usevery different types of kiln and firingtechniques. potters include svendBayer, gail nichols, Martin McWilliam,ashraf hanna, Jack doherty, niccollins, sarah Walton, Lisa hammond.kiln opening at the Leach potterysaturday september 20th from11am. an opportunity to buy newwork straight from the kiln. all welcome. The Leach pottery,Higher Stennack, St Ives, Cornwall,TR26 2HE, UK.T: 01736 799703/E: [email protected]

The Mill TheatreGallery, DundrumTown Centre hosts an exhibition of NewPaintings by DavidGearty entitled “Nutopia

Nutopia”, new work from Irish artistbased in the northwest of Ireland.september 6th - october 3rd 2008, open Mon- sat 10am-6pm. Contact Aoife E: [email protected] T: 01-2969340 W: www.milltheatre.com

Enda O’Donoghue atLimerick Print Makers+ Gallery. Limerick printmakersstudio and gallery are delighted topresent ‘after_Joeblogs’, an exhibitionof recent paintings by endao'donoghue. the work in this exhibition comes from an ongoingseries of paintings which looks to theInternet as a source of photographicimagery. the exhibition will open on4 september at 8pm and continuesuntil 25 september 2008. W: www.endaism.com/ www.limerickprintmakers.com

John Moloney at theLibrary Gallery,Fishguard, Wales. fe2008 is an exhibition of a selectionof iron sculptures cast in Wales at

the Library gallery fishguard, townhall, Market square, fishguard, onshow until 27 september 2008. thisexhibition is to promote the 6thInternational conference of castIron art to be held incarmarthenshire in July 2010.

Group Show atEggliving, Galway.coinciding with heritage Week,eggliving in oughterard present'poached', an exhibition of work byartists from engage art studios ingalway. featuring a mix of work invarious media the artists 'poached'for this show are Leah Beggs, alicecollins, Michelle doyle, emma fisher,sharon Lynch and hana tesar. theexhibition will run until 28september 2008. W: www.eggliving.ie

Derryaun CraftsWorkshop, Westport, coMayo. 2008 autumn calendar - 4thsept: felted Jewellery, combinedwire, fibre and beads. 12th sept:needle felted figures/ 4th and 5thoct: Batik Workshop with Berniedignam/ 23rd and 24th oct: Basketweaving with Joe hogan/ 10th oct:Basic Jewellery making. In the pipeline an introduction to preciousmetal clay with Maura dickinson,etching with Marianne heemskirkand metal jewellery with derekMcgowen. Contact Suzie Sullivan T: 098 21888 E: [email protected]: www.derryauncrafts.com

Glass Beadmaking forBeginners - Working with theelements of temperature, timing,gravity and perseverance, learn thebasics of glass beadmaking to formseveral shapes such as round, bicone, tabular and cylinder. all materials, safety equipment & toolsare provided for the course. dates - 27th & 28th september. cost€190 includes supplies and lunch.transport from Westport train station & B&B available. For further

WORKSHOPS/COURSES

EXHIBITIONS

& EVENTS

FOR SALE

EXHIBITIONS

(SUBMISSIONS

WANTED)

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information contact Cheryl La Nua Studio, Muranny, Co Mayo. T: 098 36192 E: [email protected]

Hillside Art Gallery +Studio, Donoughmore,Ballyragget, Co.Kilkenny. courses available incalligraphy, watercolour, pen + ink, oiland mosaic. all materials included.Bed + breakfast also available ifrequired. Contact Colette O’BrienT: 087 053 9504/ 087 616 9530 E: [email protected] W: www.hillsideartgallery.com

Hand Knitting Course.the course is to be run on the 8thnovember 2008 and will involveguidance in hand knitting in colourand trouble shooting with aran garments. current projects are welcomed. Contact: CarolineWilson T: 059 9156994 E: [email protected]

Beads & Bling. We supply awide range of beads, haberdasheryand millinery products as well ashaving the widest selection of classesin jewellery, millinery and bead making techniques available, ourstore is located at 5, Bedford row,temple Bar, dublin 2. phone us at 353 1 6337814 or [email protected] or visitour website, beadsandbling.com

Dublin City EnterpriseBoard offers courses and trainingmodules that are run by professionaltrainers and supported by fÁs, thestate training agency. as a result we can offer high quality businesstraining at surprisingly low cost. Intoday’s information driven economy,training to acquire the necessarybusiness knowledge can make the

vital difference between success andfailure. our training venues are thenational college of Ireland, I.f.s.c.,dublin 1 and guinness enterprisecentre, dublin 8. Book today atwww.dceb.ie/onlinebooking

Tourism LearningNetworks - a unique and flexible learning networking initiative.You choose from a wide range ofprogramme topics and we providesupport through mentoring and providing access to information and web based e-Learning. For further information contact T: 01 884 7771 E: [email protected]

Hands on creativeworkshops in WestCork. a chance to spend timewith top professionals, learning artsor craft skills. a wide range of classes, courses and workshops, fromsingle days to ongoing day/ eveningclasses in a variety of locations in West cork. For further information contact W: www.handsonwestcork.com

Would you Like to bea Tour Guide? fáilte Irelandwill be recruiting for tour guides.their on-line national tour guideprogramme will run for 20 weeksand will include some workshopsand familiarization trips. If you have akeen interest in Irish culture and area good communicator (ideally withan additional language to Irish orenglish) you may be interested intraining as a tourist guide, normallyseasonal work. the next course willbegin in nov 2008. To apply, please register your interest with Frances Kinsella, Continuingprofessional Development, FáilteIreland, 88-95 Amiens Street,Dublin 1, T: 01 8847767 E: [email protected]

Nora Dunne Gallery has3 teaching rooms available. Located

at kcr terenure d12. all interestedin teaching are welcome to comeand see rooms. Would be interestedin accommodating all crafts. no setprices as we are open to suggestion.Contact Karen Harper T: 086 888 5321E: [email protected]

Fitoutireland.com is anonline resource for architects,designers, & specifiers in the Irishfit-out market. this website is ashowcase for the best architect-designed Irish commercial interiors,with up to date news on the Irish fitout industry, in depth articles andproject reviews as well as directoryof the industry’s suppliers, contrac-tors and designers

The Museum of theMaster Saddler. newBlogsite showcasing this truly uniquemuseum in the north-West ofIreland. Its address is (no need forany www’s) themuseumofthemas-tersaddler.blogspot.com

The Craft Fair 2008.Linenhall arts centre, castlebar,county Mayo. the second of thisyear’s two Makers fairs will be heldat the Linenhall arts centre,castlebar on saturday, december13th. the fair can accommodatetwenty eight makers with a selectionpanel in place.the cost is €50 and applications available now.Contact: Alex Nicholson T: 087 6320705 E: [email protected] or

Brendan Murphy T: 087 6987340 E: [email protected]

Clare CraftsAssociation is running itsannual craft fairs on the followingdates: sat & sun 8th & 9th nov inennis/ sun 16th nov in killaloe/ sun23 nov 08 in gort/ sun 14 dec inennis. Any makers interested in attending please [email protected] orcontact paula on 065 6827128 for an application form.

Designer Arts andCrafts Event/ Fair atceltic ross hotel, rosscarbery, Westcork, on sunday 9th november2008. open to public 10.30 am - 6pm. spaces/tables available at €110inner 6ft tables and €150 outer wallspaces 6ft tables. Contact: Jennie White 086 170 [email protected]

The Dalkey WinterFair: organised by dun Laoghairerathdown enterprise Board, thedalkey Winter fair will take place onthe 14th, (opening night) 15th, 16thof november at dalkey castle &heritage centre. dun Laoghairerathdown county enterprise Boardare now seeking applications for theannual Winter fair. this rapidly developing retail fair is being held forthe third year in the heart of dalkeyvillage surrounded by top-end shopsand galleries. the fact that this established exhibition centre is onstreet level, directly opposite thechurch and its parking area greatlyassists in attracting visitors to the fair.If you welcome new opportunities toexhibit and sell your work send inyour application form for a standtoday. For further informationplease contact: Suzanne May,Killeen House, The Summit,Howth, Dublin 13. T: 01-8391630/ 087-2676650E: [email protected]

Irishtown ChristmasFair, Co. Mayo. While thedate is still tBa…the Irishtowncommunity centre, Irishtown, co.Mayo, wll be running another craftfair…most likely the first or secondsaturday in december. the cost of a

BUSINESS &

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& COURSES

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table is €20-25. Last year the venuefilled up very fast, and even thoughthe day was really horrendousweather wise, the turn out of seri-ous shoppers was amazing! Contact is Gayle, E: [email protected]

Beads and Bling. We supply a wide range of beads, haberdashery and millinery productsincluding beads, buttons, findings,feathers, ribbon, semi-precious stone,stringing materials, sterling silver,swarovski crystal & pearl, tools &wire. please take as long as you liketo browse our website atwww.beadsandbling.com. You canbuy on-line, order over the phoneor pop into our store located at5, Bedford Row, Temple Bar, Dublin2. phone us at 353 1 6337814 oremail [email protected] orders are welcome

FREE ART MATERIALS.a range of art materials available forfree including boards, oil paints andbrushes of various sizes. there arealso framed and unframed paintings,size approx. 20 x 18 inches. dublinarea. For more information interested parties should contact:T: 01 2887958

WOOD, FREE FORCOLLECTION INCORK. apple and eucalyptuswood available, free for collection in cork city area. For more information please contact Liam Heaphy on: T: 021 4545388

Liquidation Sale ofceramics. (formerly fonn)to include: bowls, vases, lamps andfigurines. Large volume all boxed and packed. selling at up to 90% discount on retail. sale takes placenov 7th, 8th and 9th at unit 8 Zonec, Mullingar Business park. Furtherinformation contact 087 9152823

Pottery Equipment ForSale. kilns - different sizes /claycutters/press 10 - 40 ton/Jiggers/foot Wipers/6 station sprayingMachine/extraction hood/plateJiggers/terra cotta clay IrishCountry pottery-Contact Sally 061 471033 or E: [email protected]

Feltmakers Irelandhave a fab new website visit:www.feltmakersireland.com.

Autumn Business

Courses - Kilkenny

County Enterprise

Board (KCEB). kceB has a full range of courses availablestarting this autumn, including startYour own Business, sageaccounting, time Management,costing your product, Writing aBusiness plan and many more. allcourses are price subsidised, delivered in an easy to follow, practical manner and are run in convenient city centre venues atbusiness friendly times. For furtherinformation on other seminars & events or to sign up for their e-newsletter please go to:www.kceb.ie E [email protected] or T: 056 77 52662.

SUPPLIERS

MISC ITEMS

1st Year Birthday Celebration at Earthworks!! The rain held off and wine was all that poured forEarthworks’ recent first birthday celebration duringKilkenny arts week.

Many customers and friends joined in as Earthworks’ three ceramicartists, Caroline Dolan, Karen Morgan and Oonagh Anderson blew outthe candles on their first birthday cake for an evening of celebration.

In an exhibition to mark the occasion entitled ‘One Year On’ - threeother talented artists were invited to show their work in Earthworks’beautiful gallery located in the 17th century mill in Thomastown. LornaDonlon displayed some of her designs in intricate collages, JoanFitzgerald-Cahill’s paintings exuded energy and light with a vibrancy ofcolour and motion, while Heike Kahle’s baskets were very popular fortheir skill, scale and simple beauty.

Look out for the Earthworks Stall at the Poughjng Championships inKilkenny 23rd-25th September and at the Craft Fair at the RDS inDecember. Earthworks is open 10:30 - 5:30, Tues - Sat at GrennanWatermill on the Waterford Road in Thomastown. t: 056 772 4714 e: [email protected].

Exhibition Snapshots - National Craft Gallery 22

cora cummins with her Laureate Margaret reidÚna parsons, Margaret Walsh & eva kelly gillian freedman with her work

ann Mulrooney with her Laureate, keith Wilson and his daughter

peter fullop with his work national craft gallery Manager, Vincent o'shea with Image of

Longing curators, karel Betman and Martha haveman with ceo ccoI Úna parsons and chairman ccoI gerry Wycherly

sonya Landweer with her Laureate, carmen hijosaBrigitta Varadi with her work adelle hickey with her work

Image of Longing at the National Craft Gallery

23 National Craft Gallery - News

kilkenny ar ts festival Workshop at the national craft gallery

Continued from page 24:

During the exhibition the Crafts Council of Ireland, in association with the Irish Arts Review, will name thewinner of the inaugural Emerging Makers Award. This award which is accompanied by a prize worth€5000 is open to all artists who applied for Breaking Out.

Breaking Out runs in the National Craft Gallery from the 18th to the 29th of October 2008, with the official opening on the 1st of November and a seminar taking place in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle on the 27th of November.

Breaking Out Emerging Makers Exhibit at the National Craft Gallery

Kilkenny Arts Festival Workshops at the National Craft GalleryThe Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) was delighted to organise and facilitate workshops for 40 children as part of the Children's Programme of the Kilkenny Arts Festival. The children aged 4 - 6 years had a great time creating mini-me puppetsin the inspiring surroundings of the ‘Image of Longing’ exhibition at the NationalCraft Gallery. This was the first year of CcoI's involvement as sponsor of the KilkennyArts Festival and we look forward to developing the growing partnership betweenthe two organisations.

Image of LongingIt was one of the most emotionally charged openings to have taken place in the National Craft Gallery in

recent times. When Image of Longing was unveiled on the first weekend of the Kilkenny Arts Festival,there was a sense of celebration, appreciation and also sadness for those not present.

This unique exhibition saw some of Ireland’s

leading craftspeople make new work for

those that have inspired them. They paid

tribute, through the medium of beautifully

considered craft, to a wide range of ‘laureates’

- fellow artists, tutors, teachers and religious

figures. Some of the artists chose to honour

close family members: Adelle Hickey made a

piece for the Irish Kidney Association in

honour of her father Joseph who died from

kidney failure aged just 35. Geraldine Grubb’s

laureate was her late grandmother, whom she

never met as Geraldine’s father was given up

for adoption.

What was most striking about the exhibition

was how many of the artists chose to honour

health organisations and voluntary groups,

such as the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation,

Lakelands Area Retreat & Cancer Centre and

Gheel Autism Services. Most of these groups

travelled to Kilkenny for the opening and

expressed genuine gratitude to have been

honoured in this way.

Following the opening, the artists and their

laureates were invited to a celebratory dinner.

Image of Longing, which runs until October

5th, has proven to be a hugely popular

exhibition. Visitors take their time wandering

through the two gallery spaces that make up

the National Craft Gallery, admiring the

beautiful pieces and reading the very personal

essays written by each of the artists. All of

the pieces will be presented to the laureates

at the end of this exhibition.

The morning after the opening, with Kilkenny

Arts Festival in full swing, the curators and

artists gave a gallery talk. Karel Betman

and Martha Haveman of Galerie Beeld &

Aambeeld in the Netherlands told the large

attendance that they conceived the exhibition

as a means of encouraging an interaction

between the artist and their inspirator.

Explaining their curatorial approach, they also

spoke of the difference between the first

Image of Longing exhibition, which took

place in their own gallery and the Irish show.

Martha said they were delighted with the

response of the Irish artists but were very

surprised at the strong emphasis they placed

on the voluntary sector, a completely different

reaction to the Dutch artists. Most artists

participating in Image of Longing were in

attendance for the talk, and many spoke

about their work and answered questions

from the audience.

Upcoming Exhibitions - National Craft Gallery 24

FOR NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY NEWS TURN TO PAGE 23

The copydate for the Nov/Dec

issue of Stopress is 15th October

2008. Publication date is 16th

November 2008.

Advertising in STOpRESS is free and is welcomed. Submissions for articles fromcraftspeople and those interested in craftare also always welcome. please contact:

STOpRESS, Crafts Council of Ireland t: 056 7761804 e: [email protected]

While every care has been taken in the compilation of this Stopress, the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors or ommisions.

newsletter design: dy

nam

ite

Breaking OutEmerging Makers Exhibit at the

National Craft Gallery

18th October 2008 - 31st January 2009

(Official Opening 1st November 2008)

RDS National Crafts AwardWinners Exhibition

National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny

4th October - 27th October 2008

The National Craft Gallery will open its doors to award-winning craftspeople on October 4th.Prizewinners from the RDS National CraftsCompetition 2008 will show their work in Ireland'sforemost gallery of contemporary craft.

Featuring some of the best designer-makers from a wide range ofdisciplines, this exhibition is a wonderful snapshot of contemporarycraft practice in Ireland. Ceramics, glass, furniture, textiles, metalwork, felting and quilting, visitors to the gallery will see exceptional work from these categories and more.

The RDS National Crafts Competition is one of the highlights in the Irish Crafts industry calendar. It allows both professional andamateur craft designers to compete for prestigious awards in 21 different categories with its significant prize fund of €31,050.

Celebrating its 40th birthday this year, the exhibition also marks the first year of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s involvement as keypartner and sponsor of the National Craft Awards.

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s flagship exhibitionspace will open its doors to some of our mostpromising young designer-makers, giving them the chance to ‘break out’ to a promising career inthe craft industry.

Newly trained craftspeople, recent graduates and career changers,what they all have in common is a dedication to design and finecraftsmanship. Following an open call for submissions throughout thecountry, curator Ann Mulrooney finally selected 30 designer-makers toparticipate in Breaking Out 2008.

The Crafts Council of Ireland is dedicated to supporting and nurturingemerging talent and this wonderful exhibition is an important platformfor Ireland’s young makers.

Continued on page 23

for further information on the national craft gallery:

T: 056 7761804 E: [email protected] W: www.ccoi.ie

The National Craft Gallery 2008 opening times are:

April - December: Monday - saturday 10am - 6pm, sunday 11am - 6pm

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’sactivities are funded by theDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and Employment viaEnterprise Ireland.

All notices and advertisements arepublished in Stopress for generalinformation purposes only, at therisk of the advertiser and at the discretion of the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI). CCoI make no representations or warrantiesabout any of the information contained in any notice or advertisement and accept noresponsibility for the accuracy of any information contained in anotice or advertisement.

Advertisements in Stopress do notindicate endorsement by CCoI. It isthe responsibility of the reader tocheck that goods and services aredescribed fully and accurately.

CCoI expressly excludes liability fordirect or indirect consequential

loss or damage which may arise in respect of Stopress or purchase of the goods and services. CCoIdoes not accept any responsibilityfor or necessarily endorse the views expressed by third party contributors to Stopress.

All copyright, database rights, trade mark design rights and anyother intellectual property rightswhatsoever in Stopress are, ownedby and the property of CCoI.

Crafts Council of Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny

t: 353 56 7761804 f: 353 56 7763754 e: [email protected] www.ccoi.ie