Autumn 2009 - Crafts Council of Ireland

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 4Your Contacts and Supports at the Crafts Council of Ireland:MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & OPERATIONSEDUCATION, TRAINING & DEVELOPMENTKaren HennessyKaren Hennessy (Head of Operations)Contact for: Membership Services & OperationsDirect Dial: T: 056 7796143 E: karen@ccoi.ieHelen MurphyHelen Murphy (Head of Education Training& Development)Contact for: Education & Training DevelopmentDirect Dial: 056 7796156 E: helen@ccoi.ieMary WhelanBreda EnglishBreda English (Customer Services)Contact for: Customer Service & General EnquiriesCCoI Direct Dial: 056 7761804 E: info@ccoi.ieNCG Direct Dial: 056 7796147 E: ncg@ccoi.ieLouise AllenEmer FerranEmer Ferran (Enterprise Development Manager)Contact for: Enterprise Training ProgrammesDirect Dial: 056 7796144 E: emer@ccoi.ieMary Whelan Customer & Business DevelopmentCo-ordinatorContact for: Business EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796131 E: maryw@ccoi.ieLouise Allen (Education & Awareness Manager)Contact for: Education Development ProgrammesDirect Dial: 056 7796142 E: louise@ccoi.ieJulie JackmanMary RhatiganMary Rhatigan Customer Service Assistant (Part-time)Contact for: Registration & Membership EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796140 E: maryr@ccoi.ieGus MabelsonLeslie RyanLeslie Ryan (Education & Outreach Officer)Contact for: Education Outreach ProgrammesDirect Dial: 056 7796151 E: leslie@ccoi.ieMary Blanchfield (Finance Manager)Contact for: Financial & Accounts EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796138 E: mary@ccoi.ieCCoI’s Training CoursesGus Mabelson (Ceramics Skills Course Manager)Contact for: CCoI’s Ceramics Skills CourseDirect Dial: 056 7724777 E: gus@ccoi.ieNuala McGrathMary BlanchfieldJulie Jackman (Finance Assistant)Contact for: General Accounts EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796135 E: julie@ccoi.ieGenevieve MurphyEimear ConyardEimear Conyard (Jewellery Skills Course Manager)Contact for: CCoI’s Jewellery Skills CourseDirect Dial: 056 7796149 E: eimear@ccoi.ieNuala McGrath (HR & Corporate Services Manager)Contact for: Human Resources & Corporate ServicesDirect Dial: 056 7796133 E: nuala@ccoi.ieGenevieve Murphy (Education & Training Assistant- Maternity Leave Cover)Contact for: Education/Training EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796134 E: genevieve@ccoi.ieMARKET DEVELOPMENTPUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONSBrian McGeeNicola DoranEmma McGrathDes DoyleBrian ByrneAnn MulrooneyBrian McGee (Head of Market Development)Contact for: Market Development EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796145 E: brian@ccoi.ieNicola Doran (Retail Programme Manager)Contact for: Retail Access ProgrammesDirect Dial: 056 7796153 E: nicola@ccoi.ieEmma McGrath (Retail Executive)Contact for: Retail EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796150 E: emmamcgrath@ccoi.ieDes Doyle (Collector & Craft Tourism DevelopmentManager)Contact for: Collector & Tourism ProgrammesDirect Dial: 056 7796137 E: des@ccoi.ieCCoI’s National Craft GalleryAnn Mulrooney (Exhibitions Manager & Curator)Contact for: Exhibition Development EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796132 E: ann@ccoi.ieBrian Byrne (Gallery Assistant - Part-time)Contact for: Gallery and Exhibition EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796147 E: ncg@ccoi.ieSusan BrindleyEmma BriscoeÚna ParsonsCaroline O’RiordanMary DunphySusan Brindley (Head of Public Affairs& Communications)Contact for: Public Relations & Press EnquiriesDirect Dial T: 056 7796152 E: susan@ccoi.ieCaroline O’Riordan (Communications & MarketingManager)Contact for: Communication Enquiries including:Stopress, Ezine, Images & PressDirect Dial: 056 7796141 E: caroline@ccoi.ieEmma Briscoe (Communications Assistant - Part-time)Contact for: Information/Communication EnquiriesDirect Dial: 056 7796136 E: emma@ccoi.ieCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICEÚna Parsons (Chief Executive Officer)Contact Executive Assistant (see below)Mary Dunphy (Executive Assistant)Direct Dial: 056 7796148 E: ceo@ccoi.ieContact for: Speaking engagements, meeting requestswith the CEO etc.

AUTUMN 20095News and Reviewsattendees at the september gans meeting in KilkennyGANS Meeting in KilkennyKey HighlightsThe Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies (GANS) held a meetingon the 25th of September in Kilkenny which was well attended with over20 attendees from 17 different GANS. A packed agenda covered many topicsand also included time for open discussion. Some of the topics includedthe CCoI Network Support Scheme, 2011 Year of Craft, and craft teachingrecognition. The session also provided some very valuable feedback fromthe GANS into CCoI’s future strategy. The open discussion highlighted thefollowing items; the use of ezines for communications, consideration ofthe possibility of holding a GANS/Christmas fair, craft fairs, branding andpromotion of Irish craft, and the impact of Sale or Return on craftmakers.The session also included an insightful presentation on the Irish WoodturnersGuild by Evan Petty. Going forward the GANS have agreed to increasemeetings to three times a year to facilitate more networking and to allowmore time for valuable open discussion.Karen Hennessy (Head of Operations, CCoI) who facilitated the sessionwould like to express her gratitude to all who travelled and took part in thediscussions, which made the event worthwhile and enjoyable.The table below features details on the recipients of theCCoI Network Support Scheme grants 2009Guilds Associations, Networks & SocietiesNetwork Support Allocations 2009€Bridge Street Studios 2,000Ceramics Ireland 1,000Cork Textiles Network 5,000Feltmakers Ireland 170Hands On 1,000Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association 2,000Irish Basket Makers Association 800Irish Patchwork Society 3,200Laois Craft 2,125Louth CraftMark 4,000Offaly Crafty 2,300South Wexford Craft Network 3,000The Design Tower 4,000The Fire Station Artist’s Studio 3,500West Cork Craft & Design Guild 2,000€37,095Pieces by Jim turnerThe winner of the 2009 awardwas West Cork based ceramicist Jim TurnerCrafts Council of Ireland& Hallward GalleryLaunch New Ceramics AwardIn September 2009 the Crafts Council of Ireland joined forces with theHallward Gallery to develop a new award, the‘Crafts Council of IrelandExcellence in Making Award’ aimed at recognising excellence incraftsmanship and design in the Irish ceramics field. It will be awardedeach year to a ceramicist selected from the annual Hallward Galleryceramics exhibition at the Hallward Gallery, Merrion Square, Dublin. Theaward is open to all ceramicists taking part in the show who areregistered clients of the Crafts Council of Ireland. Its primary objective isto raise awareness of both the high quality of Irish ceramic work and thediversity of work available to potential purchasers of ceramics.The winner of the 2009 award was West Cork based potter Jim Turnerwho has long been recognised as a leading light in the field of Irishceramics. Pieces from Jim’s most recent body of work were exhibited atthe show and attracted the attention of the selectors as they displayeda fresh and innovative approach to creating forms which was differentfrom work previously made. It was not only the scale of the work thatinterested the selectors but also the extremely seductive, tactile andinteresting glazed surfaces combining overlaid glaze and slips, theinterplay of which created a richly textured ‘volcanic’ surface. Thewinning pieces from the series were shown in both black and whiteglazes and the contrasts and similarities between the forms capturedthe attention of many of the visitors to the exhibition.The award was presented to Etain Hickey who collected the awardon Jim’s behalf at the very well attended opening night of the show.The award was presented by the Crafts Council of Ireland’s CollectorProgramme Manager, Des Doyle who spoke of the rich creativity andskill evident not only in the winning pieces but in much of the workshown as part of the show.Hallward Gallery65 Merrion Square, Dublin 2Tel: +353 (0) 1 662 1482Web: www.hallwardgallery.com

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 62011 Year of CraftIn 2011 the Crafts Council of Ireland will celebrate its 40thanniversary. The organisation was established in 1971following a visit by the World Crafts Council to Ireland theprevious year.To celebrate 2011 has been designated 2011 Year of Craft. Theobjective of the year is to promote the craft profession as exciting andcommercially viable, and to create public awareness of the wealth ofcraft that Ireland has to offer both at home and abroad.For the 2011 Year of Craft, CCoI plans to include a year long event-basedprogramme concentrating on elected themes which will take placethroughout the island of Ireland. The focus of these events will be topresent craft as exciting and to enthuse and involve youngpeople and their families in craft.WCC - Europe:Annual General Assembly 2009The Annual General Assembly 2009 of World Crafts Council- Europe was held in a campus in Sursee (a smalltown outside of the city of Lucerne) in Switzerland andwas generously hosted and organised by the Swiss entityformforum, Switzerland’s largest craft organisation.Representation was made from over 14 countries includingIreland. A key focus for the CCoI representatives attendingwas the 2011 Year of Craft, when Ireland will host the WCC- Europe General Assembly which will be a key calendar eventfor the 2011 celebrations. (See also the 2011 Year of Craftarticle on this page).Key craft hot-spots and activitiesthroughout the island of IrelandThe key event will be the World Crafts Council (Europe)General Assembly in June 2011The key message is that craft is exciting,contemporary and engagingPossible events throughout the island of Ireland will include:FebruaryMarchJuneAugustSeptemberNovemberDecemberKey audiences are primary and post primarystudents, tourists and consumers of craftLove Irish Craft (St. Valentines Day)Green Crafts (St. Patrick’s Day)Irish Crafts on the World stage- WCC General AssemblyCraft Month (concentration of activities)Our Craft Heritage (Heritage Week)Celebrating Craft - Our Craft IconsGifting Craft - Buy Craft for ChristmasParticipation:The Crafts Council of Ireland will be inviting the following groups toparticipate by including craft-based activities during 2011 which will bepromoted as part of the 2011 Year of Craft.• Primary and post primary schools• Third level colleges• Museums• Galleries• Craft organisations (Irish and International)All suggestions are welcomeOver the coming months CCoI will be posting regular updates on 2011Year of Craft on our website and will be sending information via our newonline newsletter.If you have any suggestions please email: info@2011yearofcraft.ieVisit www.ccoi.iedelegates at the 2009 wcc - europe general assembly, sursee, switzerlandA central discussion for the delegates was on how to createmore awareness of WCC - Europe’s activities amongstmember countries, and of the potential benefits of Europeancraft organisations sharing information and working andlearning together. Attendees were also informed aboutWCC- Europe’s activity during 2009 - in particular on the WCCEurope Award, European Prize for Applied Arts (where Irishsilversmith Eily O’Connell is a top nominee) and on the newlyestablished craft and design fair EUNIQUE in Karlsruhe,Germany. Invited guest, was Mrs. Usha Krishna, India,President of the WCC - World.The election to the Board of WCC - Europe took place and the2009 appointees were elected.The 2010 General Assembly of WCC - Europe will be held inTurkey in 2010 and plans include to incorporate a number ofcraft and tourism related activities to coincide with this event.The WCC - Europe is one of the World Craft Council’s fiveregional branches (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, andNorth America). It presently has members in 22 Europeancountries. Its key objectives include: The promotion ofdesign-led crafts and applied arts in Europe, building up aninternational network of contacts in these fields andcollecting and spreading information through its activities.To promote awareness of the WCC-Europe and its activities,CCoI will distribute the WCC-Europe online newsletter to all itsclients over the coming months.For further information on the WCC-Europe visit:www.wcc-europe.org

AUTUMN 20097News and ReviewsShowcasePreparations inFull SwingOverheard on a bus in Dublin recently: “Me ma says I can only go out once a weeknow, on account of there’s a renaissance on”. A slip of the tongue - renaissance andrecession - but there’s a grain of truth in that slip: when times get tough, creativityflourishes. And Irish creativity is at the centre of Showcase which takes place at theRDS from 24th-27th January 2010. The Creative Island incorporating a Trends Area(see pages 8/9), brings together the very best of Irish makers and designers in adedicated, specially designed space at the top of the Main Hall. Featuring over60 CCoI members, it’s a celebration of the very best Ireland has to offer home andinternational buyers.New ApproachTo reflect a new approach, Showcase has a new modern identity being appliedacross all marketing material. Check out the new Showcase website; it has up todate information on exhibitors, show highlights, travel information and latest news.Visit: www.showcaseireland.comshowcase 2008www.showcaseireland.comExhibitors can upload their own details, including their show catalogue entry. Goodquality photographs will be featured in the Gallery - one of the most frequently visitedsections of the website - and exhibitors are encouraged to send these directly to:kellie.fitzgibbon@ expo-events.comPromotional OpportunityIf you have a ‘good news’ story - announcement of new product launches,new business gains, or other developments buyers will be interested in, tell usabout it and we can feature it in the News section of the Showcase website.Contact: maryj@ccoi.ie New Product Awards will again feature this year. Details willbe announced on these, and other awards, by December.textiles by Heather FinnAttracting BuyersShowcase took a stand at the NACTA (North American Celtic Trade Association)show last year and is working closely with Enterprise Ireland to attract internationalbuyers to Showcase. Travel costs have been identified as a real barrier for buyers.To address this, special travel incentives are being offered this year to buyers,with the ‘renaissance’ further driving down costs.Exhibitors are being invited to nominate buyers they wish to see at theshow. Please send the names of specific buyers (not just the store name) andcontact details to louise.mcloughlin@expo-events.com and they will be includedin the offer information sent to buyers.If you haven’t already booked your stand - now is the time to do so.Contact John or Kellie on 01 2958185 for prices and locations - or see theOpportunities on page 32 for more information.Hope & Bensonceramics by sinead LoughWe look forward to welcoming you to Showcase in January.The renaissance has begun!

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 8‘Trends are central to ensuring products are consumer led,therefore increasing the potential of orders’Trends at Showcase 2010Expect the UnexpectedTrends compiled by Eleanor Harpur (Stylist) and Emma McGrath (CCoI’s Retail Executive)ORGANIC GEOMETRY, TIMEBANDS, WITCHCRAFT, PLAYTIMETrends took a prominent placing at Showcase 2009. They weresuccessful in promoting product and creating drama. Buyersloved seeing products brought together in such an inspirationalenvironment.Trends are a key element and tool used at European shows likeFormex and Maison. Trends are central to ensuring products areconsumer led, therefore increasing the potential of orders. Theconcept of trends may be off putting; however it is important toremember that some knowledge of trends can stimulatecreativity and help focus any new concepts you may have toproduce new craft products. In addition buyers use trends as avaluable tool in merchandising, branding and ultimately sales.We defined the Trends for Showcase 2010 by looking at whata trend means and secondly what influences them.1. A Trend is spotting products that stimulate creativityand inspiration for buyers.2. What will differentiate Showcase Trends with otherEuropean shows is the following:• Environment• Economy• Culture• Ethnic Diversity• Style of Trend Reporting‘Each theme is accompanied by a narrative,a fashion inspiration, an interiors inspiration,a pattern and pantone colour board’We are excited to present the overall concept for the Trends atShowcase 2010 and the 4 themes within. Each theme isaccompanied by; a narrative, a fashion inspiration, an interiorsinspiration and a pattern and pantone colour board - all of whichwill be available to download in full via the Showcase website at:www.showcaseireland.com/highlightsEXPECT THE UNEXPECTEDIn times of flux and change, creativity thrives. Thrown back onour own resources we seek new answers to new problems.Creative ideas and new trends emerge by drawing inspirationfrom our rich cultural heritages, our fragile eco system and fromembracing new technology with soft rigour. Add creative energyand a willingness to experiment into the mix and you canexpect the unexpected.To be in tune with the prevailing trends and the mood of thetimes, Irish designers and craftmakers will create products thatstand the test of time, objects that reveal the secrets of naturaland unnatural worlds. The essence of creativity is to play withand rejoice in the unexpected.ATTENTION EXHIBITORS: Product wanted forthe Inspirational Zone at ShowcaseAt Showcase 2010 an Inspirational Zone will be prominent. Thereforein the lead up to the Show, we will be sourcing products fromCraftmakers to feature. We look forward to the new and wonderfulproducts that Craftmakers will be bringing.Exhibitors with product for consideration for the ShowcaseInspirational Zone, please note the following:Presenting Trends at ShowcaseTrends for 2010 will be presented at Showcase in a number of ways:• Up to three seminars on different aspects of trends will bepresented at Showcase.• There will be a special display of trends at the entrance feature inthe main hall, featuring products from the show that demonstrateparticular trends.• Showcase has a professional merchandiser who will be looking forproducts that give expression to the trends identified.How products are identified for inclusion in the Trends Areaat Showcase 2010Products will be identified from the images submitted for the photoGallery on the Showcase website and from the applications of makerswho are selected for Creative Island as well as from searching thewebsites of exhibitors in advance of the show.PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SHOWCASE EXHIBITORSIf you feel your products are ‘on trend’ please emailyour suggestions to: Mary Jennings, Showcase Managermaryj@ccoi.ieFurther information will be posted on the Exhibitor section of theShowcase website www.showcaseireland.com

AUTUMN 20099News and ReviewsBelow is a brief overview of each theme showing an image representative of each of the inspirational, colour and pattern boards.The overall concept is ‘EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED’The four distinct trends within the concept are as follows:Organic GeometryStretch, morph and bend objects into seemingly surrealshapes. Give the appearance of volume without weight.Featherweight padding. Mimic nature’s hidden structuresof organic geometry to give the appearance of fluid linesand sculptural forms. Deceptively simple, folded layersappear and disappear with a lightness and flexibility.Look for that extra dimension that morphs and deceives.Things are never quite what they seem, like dark glamour.Expect the unexpected.Snow Ice Steam Latex Cement TruffleC4 M2 Y18 K0 C21 M18 Y20 K3 C11 M10 Y24 K1 C5 M16 Y22 K0 C0 M17 Y34 K62 C8 M7 Y7 K98TimebendsTimebends zooms back and forth, crossing and recrossingthresholds of past, present and future. The intricate detailingof Art Nouveau and Art Deco and folkloric embellishmentsare honoured and recreated in shiny surfaces and high techcoatings. Cultural patterns and classics are reconfigured inriotous collages. The mood is flamboyant, sensuous, with atouch of oriental opulence. Expect the unexpected.Oak Copper Lavender Fern Midnight ClaretC22 M45 Y75 K8 C33 M64 Y98 K24 C36 M54 Y47 K25 C57 M48 Y80 K45 C72 M100 Y77 K40 C42 M80 Y76 K52WitchcraftFading, delicate light, the bewitching hour. Everything isblurred, undefined, hybrid, Tricks of man-made animalskin, hair, fur and feathers mimic the mythic, camouflagedcreatures of the forest. Traditions are treasured. Imperfectionsembraced. Rituals revived. The vintage and recycledcelebrated. Time to go back to our origins. Layering, looseyarns and light weaves cast a spell for young romantics andfree spirits. The future peeps in with craft and technologycreating a neo-natural look. Expect the unexpected.Green Mist Veneer Taupe Moss Amber FlannelC10 M1 Y33 K0C15 M37 Y66 K4 C30 M39 Y59 K15 C55 M47 Y96 K43 C24 M67 Y93 K11C61 M57 Y95 K72PlaytimeLet’s play. Forget doom and gloom. Create and giveexpression to new icons - with a playful twist. Colourexplodes in chemical reactions, in the graffiti of streetculture, in high tech beauty. All the rules are cast asideand everything is in play. Precise patterns are laid alongsidemore graphic styling. The city speaks, the city plays. Expectthe unexpected.Wool White Absinthe Graffiti Flame Red Glow EnamelC5 M2 Y33 K0 C31 M9 Y70 K1 C0 M18 Y100 K0 C4 M70 Y92 K0 C2 M93 Y91 K0 C93 M44 Y16 K4

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 10The partnership with Kilkenny Arts Festival was established to co-create a programmethat would highlight and celebrate the huge quality of Irish craft talent visible in Ireland.L-r: damien downes (Kilkenny arts Festival director) and Úna Parsons(ceo of the crafts council of ireland) at the official launch of the craft strandcraft on display in castle Yard, Kilkenny during Kilkenny arts FestivalNew Craft Strand atKilkenny Arts Festival 09a great successCCoI’s partnership with Kilkenny Arts Festival in the first ever craft strandwas a great success. Kilkenny Arts Festival is Ireland’s longest running artsfestival and the partnership was established earlier in 2009 to co-create aprogramme that would highlight and celebrate the huge quality of Irishcraft talent visible in Ireland.Kilkenny Arts Festival, Craft Strand curatorAngela O’Kelly and the CCoI combined forcesto produce a memorable series of events forthe duration of the ten-day festival. Some ofthe key objectives in establishing a craft strandwere to further highlight the creativity of Irishcraftspeople living and working both inIreland and abroad and also to provideopportunities to encourage all the audiencesthat attended the festival to engage with craft.Having all of the craft activities that were partof the festival recognised under a separate‘strand’ was a significant achievement in thefirst year of operation of the agreement andplaced the craft strand on a similar footing toother strands including visual arts and classicalmusic and literature.The Craft Strand comprised of several activitiesthroughout the city including two NationalCraft Gallery exhibitions; a retrospective of Irishborn, UK based potter Jack Doherty and‘Object’ a show that explored the relationshipsbetween works from the Arts Councilcollection and craftwork from Irish makers. Themain headline show created and curated byAngela O’Kelly was ‘Sterling Irish’ whichcelebrated the work of Irish makers living andworking abroad. This show was very wellreceived and was held in the Castle YardGalleries at the rear of the National CraftGallery thus allowing visitors to visit both theexhibitions and see the huge diversity of workon show. Many of the makers in the SterlingIrish show were present for the opening and inmany cases it was the first time they hadexhibited in Ireland and that the Irish publichad an opportunity to see their work.In addition to the above there were manyother events including kids craft eventseach day, and featured talks between theparticipating makers and the curators.Piece by claire curneen, sterling irish

AUTUMN 200911News and ReviewsOther notable events were theexhibition of new work fromGillian Freedman at RudolfHeltzel Gallery, WorkhouseStudios artists at Red AestheticGallery and the debut exhibitionof work from members of MADEin Kilkenny - a new collective ofdesigner makers in Kilkenny. (Seepage 23 for more information onthis new network). The festival wasblessed with good weather; one ofthe best days of the year was theexhibition day of the openingsand a huge crowd gathered in theCastle Yard to hear the openingspeeches and to see the crafton display.There were significant numbersof visitors to all the exhibitionsduring the duration of the festival.Des Doyle,CCoI’s Collector & Craft TourismDevelopment ManagerAn exciting range of craft wenton show in the National Craft Galleryand in the grounds of the Castle Yardtextile art by maeve coultermember of the made in Kilkenny networkCraft had a very visible presence in the heart of Kilkenny during theArts Festival - the green space in the Castle Yard featured colourfullarge scale work by a number of makers who had been selectedthrough open submission for Bloom 2009 in Dublin earlier this year.This bright parade led into the National CraftGallery exhibition spaces, which featured asolo show by acclaimed Irish potter JackDoherty (see pages 26 and 27 for a review) inone gallery, and Object, a group exhibition,in the second gallery.Object was curated by Brian Kennedy, andfeatured work from the Arts Council Collectionjuxtaposed with contemporary Irish craft.Kennedy’s various roles as an abstract printmaker,curator and collector resulted in an exhibitionthat managed to be both a thoughtfulexploration of the shared ground between artand craft in terms of the tenets of abstraction,and was also a highly personal one. Kennedyorganised and grouped the work in theexhibition around central themes of form,colour, mark-making and material construction,with no demarcation between art and craftobject. The subtle gradations of colour thatformed the textured surface of Ciarán Lennon’spainting D.6 found a perfect counterpart in thethick, painterly glaze of Cormac Boydell’scharcoal-black ceramic vessel. Elsewhere,Frances Lambe’s Shiny Oval with Indent struckup conversation with the similarly scaled bronze,Funnelling the Dish by Eilis O’Connell in whichthe importance of contrast and form to bothwas clearly evident. Throughout the exhibition,similar dialogues were evoked - from the angulararticulation of Stephen O’Briain’s chair and thesculptural forms of Michael Warren and CorbanWalker, to the interest in basic or elementalsymbols shared by Nigel Rolfe and NeilRead. All in all, a most absorbing andindepth exhibition.Beyond the National Craft Gallery, SterlingIrish (which was a key part of the Kilkenny ArtsFestival Craft Strand Programme of Events) washoused in a new exhibition space within theCastle Yard. Curated by Angela O’Kelly, this wasthe flagship craft exhibition of the KilkennyArts Festival. It brought together a number oftalented Irish makers who are now based in theUK and gave audiences an opportunity to seework that is seldom exhibited in Ireland.Although featuring an eclectic mix of disciplinesfrom glass to metal to textiles, the work sharedan exuberance and an experimental approachthat revealed a depth of research and skill. JamesToal’s mesmerizing and ornate glass panels withrichly swirling black interiors, CJ O’Neill’s quirky,conceptual plates that spoke of domesticaspiration, Grainne Morton’s exquisite miniaturetrees with magnetized and jewel-like leaves andflowers and Coilín O’Dubhgall’s remarkablepatinated copper vessels were particularhighlights in a very strong grouping.With so much work on display (and exhibitionssuch as MADE in Kilkenny and Gillian Friedmanliterally around the corner), the August openingwas a celebration of the quality and diversity ofPiece by gráinne morton, sterling irishwork by michelle maher atKilkenny arts Festival

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 12contemporary Irish craft, and hundreds attendedthe celebration. Kim Mawhinney, Head of Art inthe National Museum of Northern Ireland openedthe event and paid tribute to the work and themakers involved.The day was wonderfully rounded off by a PechaKucha (an event which enables debate to flourishamongst creative enthusiasts) and involved anumber of those participating including themakers and curators. Contributors were invitedto respond to the theme of how their work orexhibition related to the ‘Bigger Picture’; HelenaGorey, Collections Manager of the Arts Counciland a noted painter in her own right, spoke onthe way in which the Arts Council Collection waslived - and interacted-with in their Dublin offices;Brian Kennedy explored the many visual crossreferencesof the work in Object, Jack Dohertypresented a visual history of his last eighteenmonths setting up the kilns and processes in theLeach Potteries, and the way in which his newsurroundings influenced his current work, andGus Mabelson (MADE in Kilkenny) compared theworking processes of the students on the CCoIPottery Skills Course with production in China,based on their recent trip there. Angela O’Kellyalso prepared a presentation on the way inwhich the makers in Sterling Irish bucked the‘shamrocks and shillelies’ stereotypes of Irishcraft. Taken together, the presentations gave aprovocative and absorbing window into issuesrelating to contemporary craft, as well as beinga very warm and enjoyable occasion.Ann MulrooneyNational Craft GalleryExhibitions Manager and CuratorKids Get CraftyDuring Kilkenny Arts FestivalThe Castle Yard was buzzing with activity during Kilkenny ArtsFestival when over 200 young crafters joined in the NationalCraft Gallery’s children’s workshops.The workshops which were based around thegallery exhibitions Sterling Irish, Object andJack Doherty were set up to develop anawareness about craft, to engage youngchildren in the art of making and to attractpeople into the Castle Yard and the galleryduring Kilkenny Arts Festival.Over the course of the week children had thechance to work with professional designermakers,using a variety of materials andwere supported to create their ownoriginal craft pieces. The workshops gavemore opportunity for children and theirparents to experience and interact withthe exhibitions at the NCG and to learnmore about the processes involved increating craft.Jewellery designer Claire McAllister looked atissues of sustainability by creating jewellerypieces from recycled, found and food objectsin her workshop aptly called re- jewellerate.After looking at the work of Gráinne Mortonin Sterling Irish exhibition the children usedeverything from paper and pasta to plastic tocreate wearable pieces of art.The Object exhibition, curated by BrianKennedy was a great source of inspiration forthe children. Artist Rachel Burke and makerCaroline Ryan teamed up to explore thepossibilities of form, colour and constructionin this workshop called ‘Object of theImagination’. This exhibition which looked atthe creative approaches shared by makersand artists juxtaposed 18 pieces from theArts Council of Ireland’s collection ofcontemporary art with craft from a numberof private collections. The children visitedand discussed the work in the Objectexhibition then developed a series of 3Dkeepsake boxes.The Clay Café was a very popular choicefor children and parents. Following in thefootsteps of celebrated potter Jack Doherty,young potters made a series of differentvessels. Facilitated by CCoI ceramic skillsstudents Rosemaire Naughton and HelenFaulkner, the children were busy on thepottery wheels throwing pots andlearning some of the techniques of themaster potter from the Leach Pottery in St.Ives in Cornwall.Artist Jean Conroy and Jenny Dunne led thevery successful Responses Space during theweek. This workshop was very much led bythe children themselves as they got tochoose a piece of work that they enjoyed.Gus Mabelson’s ceramic Birdhouse that wasexhibited in the Sculpture Garden duringthe festival was a popular choice andinspired a whole range of alternativesculptural pieces and birdfeeders for thegarden using willow and wool.The Kilkenny Arts Festival Workshops werethe first in a series of initiatives that will berun by the Crafts Council of Ireland at theNational Craft Gallery as part of theireducation outreach programme.Leslie RyanCCoI’s Education and Outreach Officerimages above: children having lots of fun in the castle Yardduring Kilkenny arts Festival

AUTUMN 200913News and ReviewsThis year’s graduates havecreated a truly exceptional bodyof work that will propel theminto an exciting future.cathal Barber - Student of the Year 2009L-r rudolf Heltzel (Jeweller), eimear conyard (ccoi Jewellery skills coursemanager), cathal Barber (course graduate), michelle doyle (course graduate),Kevin mcdonald (course graduate), and Úna Parsons (ceo of ccoi)CCoI Jewellery Graduates 2009Loretta HaugheyThe Crafts Council of Ireland’s Jewellery and Goldsmithing Course situated at theCastle Yard in Kilkenny has built a reputation for producing highly skilled graduatescapable of making a valuable contribution to the industry. The quality of jewelleryexhibited at the National Craft Gallery by this year’s graduates was no exception. Theintensity of training in jewellery and goldsmithing techniques equips the traineeswith the skills and industry knowledge to enter into employment or further trainingwith a realistic outlook.Kevin mcdonaldYear one focused on the rudiments of their craft; year two pushed them to developand perfect their skills. Their high level of achievement was evident in the quality ofwork on display in the graduate exhibition.Veronica rodenA project entitled Working with a Client gave the trainees a real world perspectiveon producing pieces to commission. Each trainee was given a specific project briefwith precious metal and budget limitations and deadlines for production anddelivery dates. This project produced stunning pieces of jewellery in silver, 18ctgold and gemstones, providing a valuable experience and an important insightinto business.thomas riordanCourse Manager Eimear Conyard feels that the combination of traditional skills,craftsmanship and innovative thinking in design are key to commercial success.This year "graduates have raised the bar," she said. “They are an inspiration to thenew cohort of trainees, showing the level of skill and design which can be achievedon this two year unique course."michelle doyleThis year’s exhibition told the story of process and maker. Pieces were displayedalongside drawings and design work, indicating the initial inspiration and designprocess. The exhibition format was chosen to show the gallery visitors the level oftrainee involvement in the creation of these pieces.“Our graduate exhibitions provide a valuable opportunity for students toexperience the exhibition process at a very professional standard as well as givingan audience a window into the high levels of skills and workmanship that studentsdevelop on the course” says Ann Mulrooney, National Craft Gallery Manager.gregory LaffordWhilst the 2009 graduates have set out in challenging times, a number havealready secured full time employment in Irish based jewellery companies. Someare furthering their knowledge in goldsmithing practices and one graduate hasalready completed a work placement with a master model maker in the UK.marie thérèse walkerCCoI is delighted to welcome a new cohort of twelve students who started thejewellery course on September 21st and looks forward to providing regular updateson the group’s progression over the coming year.

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 14‘The study [Creative Pathways] presents the first comprehensivepicture of craft education and training in Ireland ..’Launch of Creative Pathways- Report and SeminarIn 2008 the Crafts Council of Ireland commissioned a review of craft educationand training in Ireland. The purpose of the review was to identify where crafteducation and training was taking place in Ireland, identify the principalstakeholders involved and guide CCoI in developing its strategy aroundeducation and training for the future.An expert advisory group was established andHibernian Consulting was commissioned towork with this group in preparing the study.The study involved extensive consultationwith a number of institutions and individualsinvolved in the provision of craft educationand training in the forms of meetings, focusgroups and the use of questionnaires tocompile the relevant data.In July 2009 the Minister for Education andScience Mr Batt 0’Keeffe T.D. launched thestudy entitled ‘Creative Pathways’.The study presents the first comprehensivepicture of craft education and training inIreland and provides a number of points fordebate and discussion on how to furtherdevelop craft education and training, how toincrease general awareness about its roleand importance, and how it may be used toinfluence national policy in the area of craftand creativity.In order to disseminate the findings ofCreative Pathways to a wider audience ofstakeholders and to provide a forum fordiscussion on the key findings of the reporta seminar was held in Kilkenny in September(see page 15).L-r: minister Batt o’Keeffe, Helen murphy (ccoi Head of education,training & development) and gerry wycherly (former ccoi chairman)L-r: minister Batt o’Keeffe, Úna Parsons (ceo of ccoi)and Jim dunne (ccoi Board member)

AUTUMN 200915News and ReviewsCreative Pathways Seminar,Kilkenny Castle, 2009The Education, Training and Developmentteam at CCoI hosted a seminar todiscuss the key findings and themesthat emerged from the Creative Pathwaysreport on September 10th in Kilkenny.The seminar was well attended andattracted over 70 participants who camefrom a range of educational institutions;national policy bodies and other culturalorganisations involved in craft educationand training as well as a large number ofcraft practitioners.The day involved a variety of presentations,some case studies, panel discussions and ashort film. Key themes that were presentedincluded the importance of exposing ourschool going children to craft activities,how we increase overall awareness aboutPresenters and discussion panel members with the ccoi education, training and development teamat creative Pathways seminar, Kilkenny castlecareers in craft and the type of trainingthat craft graduates may need to set upa craft enterprise. The seminar was anopportunity for those interested in crafteducation and training to meet and networkand feedback was extremely positive.Presentations from the seminar along withfootage from the presentations and paneldiscussions will be available to downloadfrom the CCoI web site shortly.A full copy of the Creative Pathwaysreport and an executive summary of thereport can de downloaded from the ccoiwebsite www.ccoi.ieFor further information contact:Helen Murphy, Head of Education,Training & DevelopmentT: 056 7796156 E: helen@ccoi.ieThe Summary of the Key Findings• CCoI needs to develop partnerships with providersat primary, secondary, further and third level educationto ensure links between each sector, providecareer development paths and develop our nextgeneration of makers• CCoI needs to ensure that crafts form part of thenational curriculum at primary and second level• Teacher education and support is critical topromoting and developing craft education• A strategic alliance between the Crafts Council ofIreland and one or more third level institutionsshould be agreed to jointly develop third level andcontinued professional development opportunities• CCoI should develop a forum to influence nationalpolicy in craft education and trainingand communicate the importance of developingskills such as innovation and creativity to thewider economy• A partnership approach to training with nationalproviders including the County and City EnterpriseBoards and FÁS to ensure that craft enterprise isreceiving appropriate levels of support• Information on all craft education and trainingopportunities needs to be made available to allcraftspeople• Programmes provided by the further educationand third level sectors need to reflect both the craftdiscipline and the business and enterprise skillsneeded to develop craft on a commercial basis• There are gaps evident in the provision of crafteducation and training and further research maybe required to determine the nature of futurecourses and programmes to ensure they reflectbest national and international practice• Consultation with key stakeholders on the conceptof a developing• Excellence Clusters nationally for Craft Educationand Training needs to take placeTaken from CCoI’s ‘Creative Pathways, A Review of CraftEducation & Training in Ireland’ - Executive Summary,page 5.This publication is available to download fromwww.ccoi.ie

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 16Crafts Council of Ireland atHigher Options, 2009Higher Options is the main forum forthird level study options and careerchoices for Irish students. The conferenceattracts in the region of 25,000 students,guidance counsellors and parents overthe three-day period. This is the secondyear that the Crafts Council of Ireland hastaken a stand at the event and feedbackhas been extremely positive. Informationabout career options and where to studycraft in Ireland was distributed to over2500 students during the event.Guidance counsellors welcomed theinformation in the newly designed‘Crafting Your Future’ career sheets andcommented on the significant rise ininterest from students and adultsreturning to study.This year Brenda Aherne fromElectronic Sheep made a presentationeach day to over 400 students abouther career in the fashion industry whiletextile artist Logan McLain gave livedemonstrations of embroidery using hisPR-620 Digital Embroidery Machine. Forthe three days of the event Loganfound himself surrounded by throngsof students who were amazed at thedesign process and technology involved.Students got to design their own smallembroidery using the software on hislaptop and then watch as the PR-620Digital Embroidery Machine realisedtheir designs in stitch in just a fewshort minutes.Live demonstrations and talks combinedwith plinths displaying contemporarycraft and the use of 3rd level studentsfrom different colleges to talk tointerested students contributedto the success of the Crafts Councilof Ireland stand this year.This years winner of the CCoI ‘FLIP’competition was Shauna Carrick,Muckross Park College, Donnybrook,Dublin 4.For further information contact:Louise AllenCCoI’s Education Awareness ManagerE: louise@ccoi.ie T: 056 7796142A World of Opportunity for Úna BurkeFollowing on from her success at the Crafts Council of Ireland Future MakerAwards 2009, Úna Burke has seen a phenomenal rise in interest and recognition ofher unique leatherwork. Úna, a graduate of ‘Limerick School of Art and Design’, hasrecently completed an ‘MA in Fashion Artefact’ at the London College of Fashion. Shehas developed a completely new method of leatherwork construction through in-depthresearch, and produced a collection of emotionally charged pieces, each of which isvisually captivating and technically challenging.Higher options 2009Logan mcLain demonstrating atHigher optionsSince winning her Crafts Council of Ireland Award, Úna was invited to attend MilanFashion Week in late September where her portfolio was on display in the VogueTalents area as her work was chosen by Vogue Italia to feature in their ‘Talents Issue’,in September.She has also been asked by the organisers of COLOGNE CATWALK to show work atART.FAIR 21 in October. This was followed by a trip to Namibia for a fashionphoto-shoot and the shooting of a short film. The film and images from the shoot willbe on display at a gallery exhibition in Zurich at the request of photographer, AndreasWaldschutz. The short film will also be entered into "A Shaded View on Fashion Film"(a Fashion Film Festival based in Paris and presented by Diane Pernet), in June/July 2010.Úna Burke pictured with her work at the Future makers showcasein the national craft galleryAs well as all of this Úna was shortlisted for the IDI Design Awards 2009. Her workis on display at the National Craft Gallery as part of the Generation exhibition October31st - January 10th 2010 which features the work of over 30 upcoming Irishcraftspeople and designers.

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 18The RDS National Crafts Competitionis organised in association with:RDS National Crafts Competition Winners 2009The recent RDS National Crafts Competition in association with the Crafts Council of Ireland was a huge success attractingover 500 applications from craftspeople across Ireland. This prestigious competition now in its 41st year boasts 20 categorieswith a prize fund in excess of €30,000. Open to craft workers and designers in Ireland and Irish craft workers based abroad it isone of the largest competitions in Europe. The RDS National Crafts Competition celebrates the traditions of craft andcraftspeople in Ireland while promoting future generations of makers. The Crafts Council of Ireland would like to congratulateall of the 2009 award winners.For further information on the RDS National Crafts CompetitionVisit www.rds.ie/arts or contact Sarah Ross, Arts Development Executive T: 01 240 7255 E: sarah.ross@rds.ieResults - RDS National Crafts Competition 2009RDS Major PrizesRDS Award of ExcellenceSmaoineamh (Study Desk), Diarmuid MurphyRDS Award of Excellence (Reserve)Untitled, Seamus CassidyRDS New Entrant's PrizeSmaoineamh (Study Desk), Diarmuid MurphyRDS Graduate PrizeNeckpiece, Justyna TruchanowskaRDS William Smith O'Brien Perpetual Challenge CupBridal/ Christening Shawl, Clare O'KeeffeRDS Arts Committee AcquisitionDenis Brown, Work from the 1,000 Wishes SeriesCategory Prizes1. CERAMICSFunctional - 1st prize: Mandy Parslow, Elongated Vessels (3 total)Contemporary - 1st prize: Nuala O’Donovan, Teasel - Stretched2. FELTING1st prize: Justyna Truchanowska, Neckpiece2nd prize: Eleanor Roche, Cappelli Dolci3. GLASS1st prize: Alison Lowry, Triptych of Life2nd prize: Catherine Keenan, Eye Candy, Dark Pink and Bluediarmuid murphy - overall Prize winner, award of excellence4. GOLD, SILVER & ALTERNATIVE MATERIALSPrecious Metals - 1st prize: Kevin O’Dwyer, Architectural Coffee ServiceAlternative Materials - Not Awarded

AUTUMN 2009News and Reviews 20This is a series of articles where the work of a craftperson registered with theCrafts Council of Ireland will be featured along with the Guild that supports themand or retail outlet that carries their work. If you would like to be considered forselection in future issues of Stopress, please email: stopress@ccoi.ieCraftmaker in Contextby Cornelia McCarthy“I have a feeling….that Irish people are startingto look at craft products again in a positive,appreciative way”….Rob D'Eath - PotterWhen you look up Rob D'Eath’s biographyon the Crafts Council of Ireland's websitehe states “I love to throw”. When youvisit his workshop you see from the varietyand quantity of stock that he has, that hedoes indeed throw a lot. And when youbrowse around the Sliding Rock Gallery itis evident that he is passionate about andloves all ceramics, including work by someof his ex-students whom he has watcheddevelop when teaching them in GalwayMayo Institute of Technology.His own throwing started after travels tofar off places in his early twenties, Hecame in contact with Korean ceramics in amuseum in Jakarta and was “blown awayby its rugged beauty”. Further travels inthe Far East showed him a huge array oftalent and making on every street corner.He was, and still is deeply moved by the'needs must' approach to craft - if youneed something for daily life, you simplymake it. Returning home to England hecame in contact with the work of BernardLeach, Michael Cardew and ShojiHamada. This cross-cultural, English andoriental mixing of traditions and styles,cemented his flirtation with clay and a fullblown love affair with making pots began.He abandoned his third level studies inscience and enrolled in Art College inSouthampton and was taught by theinfluential Malcolm Pepper.After gaining his diploma he set up apottery with a fellow student. Togetherthey learned about running a business.Rob saw the highs and lows - from thesatisfaction in throwing for a living andselling work to customers to the kilnmeltdowns and struggles for orders.He became aware of his own ability toremain calm and professional inrunning a business. He also found theself-sufficiency of running his own craftsbusiness attractive. This is a lifestyle andphilosophical stance with which he isvery comfortable.At that time the GMIT was looking fora person to teach Ceramics and Robsecured the part time position. He movedto Galway just as a small premises becameavailable on Quay Street, around thecorner from the, soon to be established,Judy Greene pottery, and he set up PotLuck. Through a bizarre but completelyorganic process, Rob ended up with thelease on a rambling bicycle and pet shopin Quay Street which resulted in hispottery outlet for four years becomingGalway’s city centre must-see destinationfor domestic and international tourists. In1984 the lease was up in Quay Street,and so Rob moved to the Údarás naGaeltachta funded and recently openedCeardlann craft village in Spiddal,and became one of its original residents.Currently the other village residents areMáire Ní Thaidhg (Weaver), Gearóid ÓMurchú (Printer), Ger O'Rourke (Artist),Dave McCarthy (Leather Maker), EricByrne (Jeweller), Julian Checkley (CandleMaker), a music shop run by musicianPaul Vignoles, a craft supplies shop andthe Builín Blasta (tasty loaf) Café.‘Returning home to England [Rob] came in contact with the work of BernardLeach, Michael Cardew and Shoji Hamada. This cross-cultural, Englishand oriental mixing of traditions and styles, cemented his flirtation with clayand a full blown love affair with making pots began’.

AUTUMN 200921News and Reviews‘The formula for Ceardlann is to have ten studios, each with a specialization in a custom built attraction inthe heart of the Gaeltacht’…. If you feel that craft villages have a bit of a reputation for tourist souvenirsand Oirish products, and being frozen in time, the gallery that Rob runs upsets this apple cart’The formula for Ceardlann is to have tenstudios, each with a specialisation in a custombuilt attraction in the heart of the Gaeltacht.The only non-craft outlet is the café/bakery,which is a good draw for locals and visitors tothe village. The site is magnificently situateddirectly across the road from a beach andoverlooking one of Ireland's most famousand beloved sights, Galway Bay. On a rainyday it’s wild and grey and on a sunny day,breathtakingly beautiful.Many craftspeople would give their eyeteethfor this base. A dedicated studio with retailfacilities, neighbours who make work that iscomplementary but not similar (there are nevertwo potters or two jewelers etc.,). Not forgettingfacilities that include a substantial car and buspark, a tasty café and a road that will leadmany the day-tripper or serious explorer on thering of Connemara out to Clifden and onwards.Big, frequent and legible signage on yourapproach makes it impossible not to find.And did I mention the stunning scenery…?If you feel that craft villages have a bit of areputation for tourist souvenirs and Oirishproducts, and being frozen in time, the gallerythat Rob runs upsets this apple cart. He givesemerging and established ceramic artists andpotters a window to the world. He considers ita privilege to sell work by other craftspeopleand clearly enjoys the discussions with themand the customers about the work, inspirationand ideas.Rob combines teaching at the GMIT with theresponsibilities of the gallery and the studio inthe Ceardlann, where he is assisted by hiscurrent apprentice. The gallery and the potteryare open seven days a week so there is a bigcommitment to select for the outlet, stock itand staff it. Somewhere in the midst of all thisthere is a home and family. Getting the balanceright is what we all try to do.What's next for Rob? He mentions that hewould like to take the time to do a residencyand concentrate on his making. College, homeand business pressures make it difficult to makethis a reality right now. However, it seems tome that he has found other ways to stimulatehis creativity while staying put. The gallery,this production range, his teaching and hisinvolvement in local arts initiatives keep himtotally immersed in the arguments andcontemporary dialogues about and aroundcraft and craftsmanship.He says that the summer was mixed andsales were down by about 25% until RTÉ’sNationwide ‘Craftworkers and artists in Spiddal’appearance on 31st July this year, to mark 25years in production in Ceardlann. “There wasa good response to the programme and saleswere strong for the month. The power of themedia! The new range has been well receivedand I have orders for sets in that range as I ranout of stock” said Rob. Following up on this,Rob is hoping to show his range in January2010 on the Galway Enterprise Board stand atShowcase, Ireland’s leading craft and gifttrade fair. Rob is involved in assisting thedevelopment of new craft and art basedbusinesses in order to create employmentpotential in the area. Along with organisationslike the Western Development Commission heand others are in the process of setting up aproject which will provide studio studio spaceand workshop equipment for young makers todevelop their practices.“I have a feeling, which is just an instinct,that Irish people are starting to look at craftproducts again in a positive, appreciative way.This viewpoint will be greatly assisted by thecraft awareness initiatives and promotionalcampaigns that the Crafts Council of Irelandwill be rolling out for the next few years”says Rob.In his 50th year in 2002, Rob ran the Berlin citymarathon with Tony, the Spiddal postman. Hedid it because he loves running and it was apersonal goal in this personally significant year.Rob is a craftsman with a skill for making, forteaching and getting people excited about thecreative process surrounding clay. Whatever hetakes on he does with passion and commitment.Article by Cornelia McCarthy, a project managerwho works with creative businesses.Sliding Rock ContemporaryCeramics GalleryOpened in 2006, this gallery run by Rob D'Eathfeatures the work of craftspeople working withclay in Ireland. All year round, work by recentgraduates rub shoulders with greats such asJohn ffrench, a frequent exhibitor, and ChristyKeeney. Large-scale conceptual work by KatherineWest sits close to the pure and sculptural thrownporcelain of Sara Flynn and decorative wallpieces by Thomas Wollen. He has dedicatedexhibitions twice a year.This summer an exhibition of work by NanetteLedwith and Kathleen Standen took place andwas opened by Úna Parsons, CEO of the CraftsCouncil of Ireland. The most recent exhibitionfeatured new ceramics by Alan Boyle and bogwood sculpture by Ronnie Graham.Rob D'EathSliding Rock Contemporary CeramicsSpiddal, Co. GalwayTel: 091 553376 Mobile: 086 1923969Email: robdeath@hotmail.comweb: www.slidingrockceramics.comCeardlann:Spiddal Craft and Design StudiosAn Spidéal, Co GalwayTel: 091 553376web: www.ceardlann.comMain website for Údarás www.udaras.ierob d’eath with Kathleen standen (ceramicist)

AUTUMN 2009Craft Community News 24Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies (GANS)Upcoming Diary DatesName of Network: CIT Crawford College of Art & DesignEvent: Open DayDate: Saturday November 21stTime: 10:00 - 16:00Location: CIT Crawford College of Art & Design,Sharman Crawford Street, CorkEmail: Kevin.gill@cit.ie Website: www.cit.ieName of Network: MADE in KilkennyEvent: Guerilla shopping for crafts - look out for a MADE inKilkenny 'POP-UP' retail outlet in Kilkenny city thisChristmas seasonDate: 7 days a week in December up to ChristmasLocation: Kilkenny city centreEmail: info@madeinkilkenny.ie Website: www.madeinkilkenny.ieName of Network: RDSEvent 1: RDS National Crafts Competition Prize-winnersTravelling ExhibitionDate: November 2 - 23, 2009Location: Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Co Cork.Event 2: RDS National Crafts Competition Prize-winnersTravelling ExhibitionDate: December 2 - 6, 2009Time: 10.00am-10.00pm/ 10.00am-7.00pm (Saturday & Sunday)Location: National Crafts and Design Fair, Main Hall, RDS,Ballsbridge, Dublin 4For further information contact:RDS Foundation Arts DepartmentName of Contact: Sarah RossEmail: arts@rds.ie Website: www.rds.ie/artsName of Network: Cork Textiles NetworkEvent 1: “The Long Note” an exhibition of textilesinspired by Music(Opening Event 25th November 2009, Time 6pm)Date: 23rd November - 18th December 2009Time: Mon - Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am - 5pmLocation: Cork School of Music, Union Quay, CorkEvent 2: Colour and Form in Textiles- A 2 day festival of textilesLectures and workshops from Ireland’s and Britain’sleading contemporary textile artists. Early bookingensures a place in your chosen workshop.Download a registration from www.corktextiles.com.Date: 6th & 7th March 2010Time: Sat 6th: 8.30am-5.30pm, Sun 7th:10am-4pmLocation: Colaiste Stiofain Naofa,CorkFor further information:Name of Contact: Carmel Phone no: 086 6095656Email: ctn@oceanfree.net Website: www.corktextiles.comName of Network: Irish Patchwork SocietyEvent 1: Members retreat in An Grianan Competition will be"Love and Romance" for those attending the weekend.Artists featuring include Ferret and Ineke Berlyn.Date: 12th - 14th February 2010.Location: in An GriananEvent 2: Loose Thread Quilters ExhibitionDate: January 11th - 16th 2010Location: Newtownabbey Borough Council Office, Mossely Mill,Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.Irish Patchwork Meetings are held throughout the country inseven different locations. Dates for all meetings are posted onour website www.ips.ie. New members are always welcome tocome along to see what is happening.For further Information:Name of Contact: Breege Watson - Chairperson,Irish Patchwork SocietyPhone no: 087 8382411 Email: admin@irishpatchwork.ieWebsite: www.irishpatchwork.ieName of Network Irish Woodturners GuildTitle of event Gorey Chapter Annual Seminarfeaturing - world renowned turner and artist Binh Phoalso renowned turner Nick ArnullDate: 6th March 2010Time: 9am to 5pmLocation Gorey - venue to be advisedName of Contact: Brendan TracyPhone no: 087 6400609 or 0402 31250Website:www.irishwoodturnersguild.comTo submit a GANS upcoming event to Stopress:Contact Mary Whelan, CCoI, T: 056 7796131 E: mary@ccoi.ieor email information direct to stopress@ccoi.ie

AUTUMN 200925Craft Community NewsNew Galleries & Craft ShopsSalamander GalleryLisburn Road, BelfastSalamander Opening Brings a Unique Irish ArtsExperience to Northern IrelandThe Salamander Gallery officially opened its doors in September 2009 in anunusual and spacious Victorian Chapel Hall within the prestigious Lisburn Roadshopping area in Belfast. The exhibits are installed in a spacious and quirky twostorey victorian church hall providing an unusual backdrop to enhance the wholevisual experience.What sets this innovative gallery apart is its diverse range of high quality ceramics,contemporary basketwork, wooden sculptures, glassware, paintings, etchings,books and textiles from the leading artists across the island of Ireland. Theinclusion of International pieces adds that extra level of interest.Contemporary Irish DesignPortfolioon Francis StreetPortfolio on Francis Street opened its gallery doorsto the public in Summer 2009, and is dedicated toshowcasing beautiful pieces of Irish-made furniture,glass, ceramics, textiles and art in a warm andwelcoming atmosphere.For further information contact:Portfolio on Francis Street67-68 Francis Street, Dublin 8T: 01 453 7124E: portfolio@ireland.comW: www.exquisitepieces.comBrainchild and owner of the new gallery, Peter Wheatley - Smith comments: “Untilnow Irish ceramics and contemporary basketwork have been poorly representedin Northern Ireland despite leading the world in levels of design creativity andproduction. It is this very diversity of artwork on display that really separatesout the Salamander gallery - catering for the art lover and collector alike.”Adding her support to the new venture, Elaine Riordan, Chairperson ofCeramics Ireland said: “At long last the Salamander Gallery now providesIrish ceramicists with a spacious and unusual outlet to exhibit their workand highlight their individual creativity in Northern Ireland - exciting times!”For further information visit: www.salamandergallery.co.ukGlór Café and Crafts Shop, Causeway Link, Ennis, Co. ClareSupporting Irish Art and Craft, the Glór crafts shop is the latest feature to the stunningGLÓR music centre in Ennis, Co. Clare.Representing artists working in ceramics, glass, basketry, paper, wood, textiles, leather andjewellery, Glór’s new crafts shop offers the very best in design, contemporary craft and visual art.The collection showcases the quality and innovation of Irish craftworkers, established and new.Irish made crafts by over 40 artists, including Alison Fitzgerald, Cathy Dodrill, Cormac Boydell,Joe Hogan, Joe Lawlor, Karen Morgan, Karl Harron, Jane Seymour, Away With the Fairies,Ann Connolly, Irish Cottage Candles, Cathy Prendergast, Mel Bradely, Susan Sex, Maggie Cashman,Raymond Kingham, Sara Flynn & Terry O'Brien.....and many more.For further information visit www.glor.ie

AUTUMN 2009Craft Community News26Through the ‘Craft Community’ section of Stopress, the Crafts Council of Ireland is happy to facilitatea FORUM AREA for constructive debate amongst craft enthusiasts. The views in this forum are therefore the viewsof individuals and are not necessarily the views of the Crafts Council of Ireland.Craft & Criticism: Critical Writing on CraftsA Review of Jack Dohertyat the National Craft Gallery 2009by: Michael Moore, Reader in Fine and Applied Art, Ceramics, University of Ulster‘I saw the hand of the potter mark the surface. It was a ribbed tool that left a streaking comb-liketear into the clay. A signature mark I felt, both of the maker and of the soda firing process …..’chawan, stonewareYellow Bowl, PorcelainJack Doherty’s Ceramics returned to theCourtyard of the Crafts Council of Irelandfor his solo exhibition, which began inAugust 2009. They returned in the sensethat in 1971 Doherty joined the then namedKilkenny Design Workshops and madeCeramics within sight of the building that isnow the National Craft Gallery of Ireland. Soin moving forward through nearly forty yearsof Doherty’s career as a potter and educator,one cannot but remark on his achievements.Chair of the Craft Potters Association,Lecturer of Ceramics at Royal Forest of DeanCollege, Committee Chair of ‘Ceramic ArtLondon’, to mention just three.This exhibition is a focus on his practice asa potter. So to step into the National CraftGallery is to step into the world of a StudioPotter laying bear his new work, developedover many years to the point where oneencounters the object, refined, resolvedand intimate. Three tall collared vessels inStoneware flanked by two large round Bowlsin porcelain were what came into sight. Iwas immediately taken by the robust qualityof the round Bowls, with hues of yellow,green and orange, perhaps not what onepresumes to expect from the often contrarymaterial of porcelain. Yet their robustnessdid not deny them elegance, and the fingerprint that the process of soda firing impartson clay surface as it terrorizes that surfaceduring a firing. These works to me seemedto be survivors. But not in a defeated sense,more that they had emerged from theferocity which fire and soda can impartcombined, with dignity, to create absolutelybespoke forms and surfaces.However I recalled I had seen this before.Not these exact warrior vessels but the sightof Jack Doherty’s making process while hepresented at the Aberyswyth Clay festival inWales earlier that summer. Again it was justthrough a gap in another crowd throngedaround his work, I saw the hand of thepotter mark the surface. It was a ribbed toolthat left a streaking comb-like tear into theclay. A signature mark I felt, both of the

AUTUMN 200927 Craft Community News‘These works to me seemed to be survivors.But not in a defeated sense, more that theyhad emerged from the ferocity which fireand soda can impart combined, with dignity,to create absolutely bespoke formsand surfaces.’wide conical Bowl, Porcelainmaker and of the soda firing process thatwould no doubt in time, find these calligraphicmarks and settle there in, to create the touchthat remains to mark the makers impression onthese vessels, jars and bowls.This body of Ceramics seemed like they hadbeen made by someone very used to living withand using the objects he makes. There was anintimate understanding of function evidencedin the proportions of these forms and potsdescribed by Martha Donaghy as “quietlydemanding attention” (1) . Doherty understandsthe world inside a kiln, where in advance themaker knows perfectly where to leave marksand cuts and indentations, and layers of claycolour, all of which the soda will faithfullydetect and embellish. I believe it is that abilityto anticipate where these reactions occurthat stood out so strongly in this collectionof vessels.One witnessed very clear moods in the works inthis exhibition. Cool copper greens and yellowto blue bowls in porcelain, dispersed besidewarmer, darker stoneware vessels, lids and jarswith a coarser surface and tactile appeal. Yetfor example consider the one hundred piece‘Youomis’ wall mounted series. These seemedabsolutely radient in their deep brown, whiteand orange hues, pulsing in colour.Clearly function is of high importance toJack Doherty, defining in his catalogue fourdistinct areas of interest in: ‘drinking’, ‘sharing’,‘display’ and ‘storing’ (2) . This indicates a senseof community that supports the curationor layout of this show, where works constantlyrelate to each other, through form, lightand shadow.Towards the front of the gallery, coolercopper porcelain jars and bowls such as‘Conical Bowl 16’ emitted something of acalmer contemplative function. I wonderedhad climate been considered. Doherty’sstudio is coastal, seasonal, facing theAtlantic Ocean.This brings me back to my point aboutDoherty’s intimate understanding of functionand living with the object made by one’s ownhand. As Doherty now leads the Leach Potteryin St. Ives, I sense there is a real forward visionin these vessels, bowls and jars, that perhapspeep out from the top floor of the pottery, thevery floor where one finds Doherty’s ownstudio. A glimpse of the sea reflected in thecool copper greens and blues of the porcelainmade therein.Michael MooreReader in Fine and Applied Art, CeramicsUniversity of Ulster.References:1. Jack Doherty, exhibition catalogue, National CraftGallery of Ireland 2009, ISBN 978-1-906691-09-7,p 4, para 2, line 2.2. Jack Doherty, exhibition catalogue, National CraftGallery of Ireland 2009, ISBN 978-1-906691-09-7,p 10, para 2, lines 9-10.Editor’s Note:In 2009 the Crafts Council of Ireland launched anAnnual Critical Writing in Craft Award, in associationwith the Irish Arts Review. The winners of this newaward is featured in the 2009 Winter edition of theIrish Arts Review.For further information visit www.irishartsreview.comFor updates visit www.ccoi.ie

AUTUMN 2009Craft Community News 28“The life blood of every business is Sales, it is like blood in the veins - no blood no life- no sales no business” says Gerry Crosbie of DESIGNYARDExtract of a speech delivered by GerryCrosbie (DESIGNYARD) at the NationalCraft Gallery, KilkennyAt the opening of ‘Breaking Out’ - an exhibition which celebrated anew generation of talented and innovative designer-makers workingin Ireland, which ran until 31st January 2009.gerry crosbie delivering a speech at the national craft gallery, Kilkennygerry crosbie (director of designYard)A common topic of conversation at dinnerparties over the past number of years hasbeen property and property prices and whichcontinent you should buy your holiday home on.In recent times it has changed to discussing howthe young people of today will not be able tocope with the downturn. I think we see heretoday that they are coping very well.As a lot of my time over the past 15 years hasbeen spent up and down the boreens ofIreland, searching out new and exciting work,it is particularly pleasing to see such a finecollection of work here in one venue. I think youwill all agree that the work here speaks for itself.So, what I would like to talk about are the stepsto ensure that these artists go on to establishsuccessful businesses doing what they lovemost.The life blood of every business is Sales, it is likeblood in the veins - no blood no life - no sales nobusiness. So the question is how do I sell mywork?Before I address that question can I say that Iwould highly recommend being your own boss,it gives you great freedom and job satisfaction.Before setting out you do need to askyourself a few important questions:• Am I prepared to put in the hours inthe early years? Long weekends at TradeFairs etc• Am I prepared to make the financialsacrifices? Maybe do a part-time job aftera day in the studio• Can I take risks?• Can I cope with the insecurity of beingself-employed?The good thing about starting up in the presentclimate is that the only way is upwards.When Istarted in business in the early nineties theeconomic climate was similar to the present one.It was a time when most people had to leave thecountry to get a job, interest rates were veryhigh, bank managers were ultra cautious.To get started I planned to purchase a shop unitin Christchurch in Dublin. When I approachedone bank manager he told me “you won’t last 6months, there is nothing going on there, onlyJury’s Inn, you won’t make a profit sellingContemporary Irish Craft in this environment.”This opinion was coming from a guy sittingbehind a desk who probably thoughtwoodturning was a new board game.We set up the business and 15 years later weare still around. The last I heard of the bankmanager was of him trying to explain to tribunallawyers in Dublin Castle about some dodgyloans he gave out. So the moral of the story is- don’t be put off, take on board all the freeadvice you can get and avoid the ‘can’tdo’ merchants.So back to how you get sales:To achieve sales you need to market yourselfand your work. Marketing is jargon for letting asmany people as possible know about whatyou do.Starting out you are unlikely to have a budgetfor marketing but there are lots of ways in whichyou can market yourself at little or no cost.Examples include:• Make sure that all your friends are aware ofwhat you are doing and selling• Register with the Crafts Council of Irelandand get to know your local EnterpriseBoard Officer• Join you local Chamber of Commerce,Women’s Network group etc.• Promote yourself in the local media- learnhow to write a Press Release

AUTUMN 200929Craft Community News• Get your leaflets in to as many publicplaces as possible - your hairdresser,your dentist/doctor, your locallibrary etc.• Go after sales from people you givebusiness to - They all have to buywedding presents• Select the galleries/retail outlets inwhich you want to have your work andgo and talk to the Owner/Buyer. Don’tcompete with your local gallery by sellingwork at wholesale prices in the local fairor market• When you get your work in, build therelationship with the sales staff in theGalleries, make sure they understandthe techniques and the inspiration foryour work. No harm to tell them aboutthe perspiration as well.• Just like musicians do keep the buyersupdated on your ‘Next Album’• If your work is suitable, go after thecorporate gift buyers• Avail of every networking opportunitythat arises• The most important one of the lot is tolook after your customers when you getthem - it’s a fact that it costs 5 timesmore to get an order from a newcustomer than it does to get a repeatorder from an existing customer.In starting out there is also an element of luck.Luck played a big part in my first venture.We developed a novelty product called theLittle Grasscal. It was in the shape of a headwith a nose and a mouth and when you put itin water, the grass grew out of its head. Welaunched it at an Ideal Homes Exhibition in saySeptember/October, and got a poor response.We did the markets with it for the Christmasperiod and got a fairly good response but ourdilemma was how we were going to get it outto the wider public, having no funds to domarketing or advertising. We rang the LateLate Show and asked if they would includeour product in the special Enterprise Late LateShow which was coming up the followingweek. We were told to send it in but therewas no guarantee that it would be shown.This is where the luck came in.Just as the Late Late was about to finish therewere 3 trolleys of goodies wheeled into thestudio, Gay Byrne showed a few items fromthe first trolley and just as he lifted ourGrasscal from the second trolley, the floormanager shouted, “Cut now, we have got togo, we have got to go to News” but Gayboignored him and proceeded to cut the hairon the Grasscal as the credits rolled. The girlbeside me whose invention was on the thirdtrolley was in tears.We went to Showcase in the RDS the nextmorning and by the following Wednesdayevening we had an outlet for our product inevery town in Ireland, North and South.Coming back to the theme of the Exhibition- Breaking Out, there is a responsibility on allof us, both in the public and private sector tobe more proactive in promoting this industry.I often wonder why is it that the Craft/Designsector is treated differently to the Art World?For example, the Crafts Council of Ireland hasbeen responsible for spreading the Gospelof Irish craft and design to places like Sofaand Philadelphia, where we have wonmany awards. But you don’t read much aboutthese successes in The Irish Times whichdevotes whole pages every week to the Arts:A few questions I would raise:• Does the Media need to be made moreaware of the Industry?• Why is there such a funding imbalancebetween the two sectors?• Why have we a dedicated Minister forArts and not for Craft and Design?This industry has the potential to solve a lotof problems for Government in the yearsahead. With modern technology andcommunications, there is the potentialfor artists:• to work in their own communities• to create much needed jobs in ruralIreland, thereby taking the pressure offour clogged up urban areas• to contribute greatly to the Social Fabricof Irish Society - local industry has aboomerang effect - Post Offices, Banks,Convenience Stores etc.So I leave you to ponder those questions.Gerry CrosbieDirector of DESIGNYARDDESIGNYARD GALLERY48-49 Nassau Street, Dublin 2. Ireland.Tel: +353 1 4741011 Fax: +353 1 6713469E-Mail: info@designyard.ie www.designyard.ieDESIGNYARDJEWELLERY & CONTEMPORARY DESIGNShowcasing new high qualitycontemporary sculpted pieces, bespokejewellery and wall art by emerging andestablished artistsMarrying artistic merit with the newcommercial realities each piece willretail at €100 and each work will be ina limited edition of 100 pieces.Until Thursday 19th NovemberCurator: Dara O Neill100 @ DESIGNYARDSets out to marry artistic merit withthe new commercial realitiesThis special exhibition features flawless sculptures, handmade bespoke jewellery and wall pieces - all new creationsfrom established and aspiring artists, retailing at €100 andeach exclusive piece will be in a limited edition of 100 pieces.This exhibition is the brainchild of curator Dara O Neill whoexplored ways of promoting Irish design and sculpture ina more economically savvy light. “The concept involvedassisting and guiding artists in developing the artworkwithin the price range while maintaining a strong designand contemporary feel’.General Manager of DESIGNYARD, Ann Sevastopulo saysartists are becoming more and more market aware in thedownturn and are creating pieces to match desired budgets.“This Exhibition gives art and design enthusiasts a more‘pocket friendly’ option when searching for that uniquewedding, birthday or Christmas gift. These creations havebeen turned from inspirations to affordable bespoke giftsfor loved ones.”Celebrating 17 years in business this year, the high endgallery two years ago moved to 48-49 Nassau Street. With a€1.5 million investment the 2,800 sq foot, listed building hasbeen stunningly yet sympathetically redesigned by SoonInteriors Belfast, marrying historical integrity with high enddesign and facilitating public access, for the first time inmany years, to four of the five floors in this special building.For further information contact:Ann Sevastopulo(General Manager) - DESIGNYARDT: 01 4741011 E: ann@designyard.ie

AUTUMN 2009Opportunities 30Dates for your Diary*Please note: The Winter issue of Stopress will be published on 15th December 2009.OPPORTUNITY DIARY DATESBY/ON/CURRENTLYOpportunities...Opportunities...Opportunities...OpportunitiesSuggestions for Inclusion in Trends Area at Showcase 2011 (see p. 8)ASAPSubmissions - Good News Stories for Showcase (see p. 7)ASAPSubmissions Showcase Awards - New Product Award etc., (see p. 7)Details TBA in NovemberHouse & Home/CCoI Student Design Awards (see p. 31) by 26th February 2010Coppinger Row Christmas Market, Dublin (see p. 31) by 13th November 2009Information/Advice on Exhibiting at Showcase (see p. 32)ASAPFacilitator’s Register of Interest for Craft in the Classroom (see p. 32)ASAPWORKSHOPS(For more information see p.31)Selling Craft & the Role of Branding in Challenging Times on 19th November, KilkennyCosting & Pricing Your Product Effectively on 26th November, KilkennyNATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY (NCG) EXHIBITIONS 2009/10For more information contact ncg@ccoi.ie or log onto www.ccoi.ie NCG, Castle Yard, KilkennyGeneration (p. 40) on 31st October - 10th January 2010On the Edge on 16th January 2010 - 21st March 2010For NCG Touring Exhibitions visit www.ccoi.ieSHOWS IN IRELAND 2009/2010National Crafts & Design Fair, RDS Dublin on 2nd - 6th December 2009Showcase 2010 (Ireland’s Creative Expo), RDS, Dublin on 24th - 27th January 2010INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR DATES 2009/2010Maison et Objet, Paris on 22nd - 26th January 2010Birmingham Spring Fair on 7th - 11th February 2010Inhorgenta, Munich on 19th - 22nd February 2010For more information on the above events: T: 056 7761804 or E: info@ccoi.ie

AUTUMN 200931OpportunitiesHouse and Home/Crafts Council of IrelandStudent Design Awards 2010Calling all student designers! Do you fancy yourself as a 21st Century Eileen Gray?Could you be Ireland’s answer to Terence Conran?Then don’t just sit on your laurels, enter the House and Home/Crafts Council of Ireland Student Design Competition and bag yourself€1,000 in cash and a trip to the design fair most suited to your area of design, as well as relevant mentoring and support.For more information and to download an entry form visit: www.houseandhome.ie Enquires can be made to: awards@houseandhome.ieProduct Design ideas must be submitted by post to House and Home by Friday, 26th February, 2010Actual designed product must be submitted by Tuesday, 31st March, 2010Upcoming Workshops forCraft EnterprisesCCoI has put together a series of workshops specificallydesigned to meet the needs of makers and practitionersin the craft industry. Workshops will cater for groupsof up to 20 participants and involve facilitator input,interactive activity, group discussion and presentations.Please see below for details of upcoming workshops.Selling Craft & the Role of Brandingin Challenging Times19 November, 10am - 5pm, Kilkenny• The role of branding in building craft sales• The relationship between marketing, branding & sales• How does your brand affect sales?• Steps in building a craft brandThis workshop will be led by Siobhan O’Dwyer of threesixty.ie,an expert in market positioning, branding and creativecommunications. Included will be the craft brand story ofIrish Design Shop.com and Rosemarie Durr Pottery.Costing & Pricing Your Product Effectively26 November, 10am - 5pm, Kilkenny• How cost, price and customer needs are related• Costing effectively• Overcoming cash flow difficulties• Minimizing your overheads & other weaknesses• How I cost and price my craft effectively - Craft EnterpriseCase StudyThis workshop will be led by Marian Mc Donald, an expert inproduct costing and development of craft enterprises. A case studyon Alan Ardiff Jewellery will be presented by Siobhan O’ Riordan.Workshops are at a special price of €30 euro with limited capacityallowing for one to one mentoring.To book and for further information contact:Genevieve Murphy, Education & Training AssistantT: 056 7796134 E: genevieve@ccoi.ieCALL OUTNEW CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIRCoppinger Row Market, Dublin seeks Craft TradersClosing Date: Friday 13th November at 1pm(This notice is included here to assist in the promotion of thisopportunity to our online readers only. Please note, in advance ofreceipt of the hardcopy of Stopress by post, all CCoI clients were sent anemail notifying them of the earlier online publication date of this issue).Dublin City Council will provide:• Key city centre outdoor space for trading in one of the coreretail areas of the city centre.• 2m by 2m white outdoor canopy with sides and weigthsand themed signage with the traders name, company etc.• Power Supply - generator or mains depending on requirements• Marketing and publicity for the event as part of the Winterprogramme of events for the city• Toilet facilities with the co-operation of the management ofthe Powerscourt Centre.• The support of DCC administration staff and our CasualTrading and Assistant Casual Trading Officers in addition toa liaison person from Magnum Event• Management who are assisting DCC with the production ofthe Winter Programme.• Traders will be required to pay a fee of €30 per day i.e. a totalfee of €180 for the 3 weekends. This payment is not requireduntil they have been selected.Trading Days: Saturday and Sunday from Saturday December 5th toSunday December 20th from 11am to 7pm.Traders will be subject to a selection process. This selection processwill be carried out by DCC in partnership with the PowerscourtCentre, Dublin City Bids and the Crafts Council of Ireland.TO APPLY: Complete an Event Trading Application Form (availablefrom the Crafts Council of Ireland Website www.ccoi.ie or bycontacting Mary Weir at the address below) and submit to: MaryWeir, Event Manager, Dublin City Council, Events and Street TradingUnit, Ground Floor, Block 4All traders must carry their own insurance.For further information:T: +353 (0)1 222 2242 E: events@dublincity.ie

AUTUMN 2009Opportunities 32SHOWCASE 2010CAN YOU AFFORD TO MISS IT?Showcase 2010 is on the horizon and already buyers are planningtheir visit to the show by logging onto www.showcaseireland.comand researching what exhibitors will be featured. The site is filledwith key information, news stories and images from exhibitors- offering additional opportunity to promote your business.A series of new initiatives to attract buyers and add valueto the show, combined with a reduced exhibitors ratemeans that there has never been a better time to exhibit.Craft has been given key prominence at the show withthe exciting new Creative Island area in Main Hall and astrong craft presence on the Balcony and in Hall A. Andthere are more opportunities than ever to raise yourprofile to buyers through initiatives such as the Showcasewebsite, the catalogue and the planned trend area (detailsof which are on page 8).For information or advice on exhibiting at(or indeed returning to) Showcase contact:Emma McGrath at 056 7796150E: emmamcgrath@ccoi.ieAlso see Showcase news on page 7.NOTICE:Craft in the ClassroomEvaluation Review 2009Since 2005 Craft in the Classroom has worked with over 2000 children in 8 counties across Ireland. The programme is extremely popular andsuccessful. In order to ensure continued growth and to maximise the potential of Craft in the Classroom the CCoI is currently undertakingan evaluation review of the programme.Craftspeople and stakeholders who have facilitated or have a vested interest in the programme will be contacted as part of this process.Craftspeople interested in participating in craft based programmes at primary level are encouraged to register their interestby emailing: education@ccoi.ie

AUTUMN 200933AdvertisementsFOR SALETaurus 3 Ring Saw withspare blade and grommet set. newSTUDIO SPACEWANTEDdublin 8. ideal as an office space forsmall production companies, craft/£490. will accept £245 if collected.design studio or still life photography.Kiln For Sale excellentcondition. the Kiln is a 30 cubic footfront loader. external: 66 inches long,68 inches high, 51 inches wide.internal: 36 inches long, 40 incheshigh, 30 inches wide. it is acromartie sc 710 (3 phase).cost: €1,000 including furniture.Contact Rob Monaghan,M: 086 6002877 or T: 01 4935891Brother industrialoverlocker €300 ContactMichelle M: 086 1626503Yarns for sale: tussah silk(bleached wild silk noir) x7, 100%linen/Flax (L. Brown) x7, 100%linen/Flax (natural) x5, 100%Linen/Flax (L. green) x1, ViscoseFloss twist (white) x1 (cone), rayonViscose (ecru) ivory x1 (L. cone),Linentoe (thick Yarn) x2 (V. L.cones) total €141(ono) i amselling them altogether, only, theyare most suitable for weaving,although they could be usedfor knitting (most of the yarnsare quite thin) ContactE: catcronogue30@hotmail.comFabric Spray, Stencil Spray,Upholstery Spray Fabric spraycan be used to make great designson t-shirts, cushions and upholstery.Use stencil spray for great effects onhats and jackets. Upholstery spray isperfect for your sofas and softfurnishings. no heat setting and nontoxic. For more information visitW: www.fabricspray.ie orcontact Bob on M: 087 2369569or T: 045 883510(newtownards co. down).please contact Karl onT: 07979365829 orE: info@theglasstudioireland.comKiln, Wheel and WorkshopDoor electric kiln, small, singlephase €700 (internal dimensions50cm d x 40cm w x 40cm h),stratford potters wheel €600,Large glass workshop door(10ft x 8ft) €900. For furtherinformation contactE: mollyspottery@gmail.comM: 087 6306348STANDAVAILABLECome and join themarket on the mall. thewestport Food and craft marketwas set up to support local food andcraft producers to enable them tosell their goods co-operatively and ithas a variety of stalls every saturdaystretched along the picturesque treelined carrowbeg river in the centreof westport town. as an incentive toattract mayo craft producers to themarket during the final tradingmonths leading up to christmas wewill charge only €25 per day for eachnew stall applying. all stallholders willrequire current market tradersinsurance. We welcome anyoneinterested to contact BrendaMaloney. Secretary T: 098 64014or Jan Simmons. pRO T: 098 56761Wanted: Studio space/studio share for ceramicist inLimerick/Limerick area. ContactClare T: 087 9721274STUDIO SPACEAVAILABLEFarmhouse For Sale/Rent/Artists Workshop Spaces.3 Bedroom farmhouse on 3.5 acresof land with 4 stone built outhouses.opportunity to convert into studioworkshop spaces. Land suitable forpolytunnels situated 10 minutes fromcastlecomer, co. Kilkenny.ContactGabriella Eviston M: 087 7578255E: Gabriellaeviston@gmail.comFantastic StudioOpportunity! For craftsperson(ceramicist or other discipline) atearthworks ceramics studio &gallery, thomastown, co. Kilkenny.studio space shared with two otherceramicists in a fully equippedceramic studio available to rentcommencing october 2009. Veryaffordable workspace with gallery/retail outlet in a beautiful locationwith river view. ideal for a ceramicistor craftsperson / artist. Forfurther information phoneEarthworks T: 056 7724714 orE: earthworksceramicstudio@gmail.comW: www.karenmorganceramics.comW: www.carolinedolanceramics.comA studio space isimmediately available at lacatedral studios off thomas street,the studio is self contained with owndoor, features great natural light witha large floor-to-ceiling industrialwindow, optional wi-fi, 24hrs/7daysaccess, communal space, greatcreative environment and amulti-purpose space available to theresident artists. More info and specsW: www.lacatedralstudios.orgT: 087 2753944E: lacatedralstudios@yahoo.comDesk Spaces Available ToRent, redspace desk spaces suitingartistic and creative practices areavailable to rent at redspace indublin 1. redspace / the Joy gallery,is a non-profit art, music & technologyfacility located on rutland Place atthe top of o'connell street, dublin1. the available desk space (rent:€125 per month) includes 24/7access, wireless internet access,printing/scanning facilities, storageand access to common areas(kitchen area & lounge). For furtherinformation or to arrange aviewing please contact:E: hello@redspace.ccINDUSTRYOPPORTUNITIESRiseCreatives offering Webspace & Support PR forcraftspeople. risecreativesunderwent a redesign last year andwe are delighted to announce thatwe have launched our new site. weare now offering three plans tomembers. members of risecreativesalso benefit from our marketing andpromotion of the site. we actively

AUTUMN 2009Advertisements 34market and promote therisecreatives website driving visitors,EXHIBITIONS& EVENTSKozo Studio and Gallery artworkshops in co. Kilkenny. Foravailable on request. For furtherinformation please contactpotential buyers, gallery owners,upcoming workshops and coursesMel Bradley M: 086 3712927employers or sources of commissionto the site, where they can easilyview our members’ work in theirindividual web spaces or in ourstudio. we also have a new members’area, from which members canmanage their web space and accessour resource centre of informationand articles. For furtherinformation on the benefits ofjoining RiseCreatives visit ourwebsite W: www.risecreatives.comor contact Nina at M: 087 2703890Foundry Residency: MetalCasting Opportunity scottishExhibition: A Seed of Truth,14th - 29th November 2009,Venue: Gallery space atthe Phoenix Park VisitorCentre, Dublin. an exhibitioninspired by the life and work ofernest douglas. the exhibition is thework of textile artist Liz Brownand visual artist Jane Locke. theshow promises to be a fascinatingexploration of ernest douglas’experiments through feltand mixed media.E: phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ieT: 01 677 0095W: www.heritageireland.iecontact tunde toth (or visit thewebsite below). also available:individually designed and tailoredworkshops, demonstrations, artist'spresentations for pre-organizedgroups, arts venues, schools, artsevents, corporate clients...etc. pleasecontact Tunde Toth for details,advice and the full programme:W: www.kozogallery.comE: tundetune@gmail.comM: 087 2543362Leitrim Sculpture CentreUpcoming Course:coldworking For Finishing glass/Millinery WorkshopsFor more information onupcoming workshops see website:W: www.linasteinmillinery.comT: 098 28449E: linasteinhats@eircom.netDerryaun Crafts, NearWestport, workshops in spinning,dyeing, weaving, silk paper making, ragrug making, feltmaking, jewellery andbeadwork. For more informationsee W: www.derryauncrafts.comor T: 098 21888sculpture workshop (ssw) providesmetal (5th-6th dec) For moreresidencies and training for visualinformation on courses pleaseartists who wish to research ideas,experiment with new techniquesor develop existing skills and areWORKSHOPS/COURSEScontact T: 071 9855098E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ieW: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ieBronze casting workshops,h2studio, Kilbrittain, the workshopsare run with self made equipmentinviting artists to apply for foundryusing a unique combination of preresidencies. For more informationplease visit W: www.ssw.org.ukor contact Simmone to discussFeltmakers Ireland will beholding their ever popular annualBasic & Beyond workshop in Lucan,Glenn Lucas Woodturningnew specialist clinics on: 5thhistoric and modern methods. HelleHelsner is a specialist in pre historicbronze casting and has runa self-funded residency:E: office@ssw.org.ukT: +44 (0)1464 861 372JOBOPPORTUNITIESco dublin on January 23rd 2010.it is a great opportunity for anyoneinterested in feltmaking to get a tasteof the wide variety of feltmakingtechniques and styles. For moreinformation and applicationforms please seeW: www.feltmakersireland.comdecember 2009 and 30th January2010. also classes run throughoutthe year, with beginners 4th saturdayevery month. For furtherinformation contact:E: glennlucas@eircom.netT: 059 9727070 M: 086 2766841W: www.glennlucas.comworkshops in ireland, denmark, UKand america. the courses aresuitable for all levels as small groupsensures individual attention. thefoundry is also fully mobile andh2studio will travel to run workshops.For more information pleasecontact E: hellehelsner@gmail.comT: 021-4708950 M: 086 3256689Agent Required selling to giftand craft trade designer irish greetingcards from original range of watercolours.For further informationcontact: W: www.jenniwhite.ieT: 023 8841388/086 170 3635Life drawing sessionswith no tuition are being held in ageorgian room in temple Bar ontuesdays from 6.30 to 8.30pm.sessions cost €16 each or €65 forfour weeks. tea/coffee served during15 minute break. drawing boardsand rotating models provided. Pleasebring own materials. Limited places.all levels welcome. To reserve aplace please call Kate on"Gatehouse Gallery"Textile Workshops, drogheda,co. Louth. mel Bradley and racheltinniswood are holding a series oftextile workshops at the "gatehousegallery". these workshops aredesigned to cater for the beginnerand intermediate levels. "textilechristmas decorations" sat 12thW: www.h2studioart.comCork Printmakers arecurrently enrolling for the followingadult education courses: Photoetching with collography (28 & 29november) introduction to Fabricscreenprinting: (5 & 6 december)For more information on courseT: 087 2823319dec, 10am-4pm. master classes arecontent or to book a place, please

AUTUMN 200935Advertisementscontact Cork printmakers at:T: 021 4322422E: courses@corkprintmakers.ieTRAINING& COURSES2-Day Website WorkshopBuild and maintain your own websiteon our 2-day website workshoptraining course. By the end of thecourse, you will have your ownwebsite hosted live on the internet.create, edit and manage yourcontent. only €820. Contact paulaCrawford T: 086 242 9800E: paula@databasyx.comW: www.Databasyx.comWicklow County EnterpriseBoard offer a wide variety of highquality business training courses toboth start up businesses and existingbusinesses in the county. Forfurther information seeW: www.wicklowceb.ie/training orT: 0404 30800 if you would like tospeak to a member of our staff.SUPPLIERSPhotographic studio based indublin's city centre (temple Bar).Portable studio also available.reasonable rates. Product shots aspeciality. For further informationsee: W: www.aindreasscholz.comT: 085 1417563Robb Bradstock, SixDegree Productions,coolavokig, macroom co. cork.short videos made to help promotecraftspeople. robb has been a craftpotter for the past 30 years andhas been making films for thepast 6 years. details of a film hemade about the west corkcraft and design guild withJeremy irons can be found atW:www.sixdegreeproductions.com/an_inspired_gathering_2008.htmlFor further information contactT: 026-40172 or visitW: www.sixdegreeproductions.comWeb Design - great workdeserves a superb website. Let usdesign a website for you thatrepresents your skill at its best.For further information contact:T +44 (0)28 9756 5681 orE: graphics@mckeedesign.co.ukW: www.mckeedesign.co.ukCRAFT FAIRS/STANDS AVAILABLEBlackrock Craft Fair thesecond Blackrock craft Fair will takeplace on saturday 21st & sunday22nd november 2009 in Blackrock,co dublin. stallholders will cometogether to sell handmade craftsincluding handbags, christmas cards,children’s clothes, mosaics andartwork. If you are interestedin booking a stand at this fairplease contact BelindaE: belinda@urban-junction.comor for more information and todownload an application form seeW: www.blackrockcraftfair.comBank of Ireland‘Show Your Business Week’Christmas Special!The Crafts Council of Ireland is delighted to announce asuperb opportunity for its members through theforthcoming Bank of Ireland Show Your Business Week- Christmas Special.Bank of Ireland, as part of its National EnterpriseProgramme will be hosting the special Show Your BusinessWeek from 7th-11th December 2009.Innovative and creative businesses are invited to 'showand sell' in Bank of Ireland branches.It aims to have more than 1,200 businesses set up stalls,display their goods and services and demonstrate theirproduction and creative methods.Contact your local branch of Bank of Ireland to reserveyour place in this week. It will operate on a first come firstserved basis, so get in early! (Note: Due to space restrictionssome branches may not be able to participate).Bank of Ireland will publicise this event throughout localand national media. There will also be media present atmany of the branches throughout the week.For further information visit the Opportunities sectionof: www.ccoi.ieAdvertising in STOPRESS is free and is welcomed. Forlatest opportunities log on to: www.ccoi.ie/directoryEmail: stopress@ccoi.iePoint Village Market openingspring 2010. Vsc events joins forceswith the point Village & dcc tostock dublin city’s parlour full ofgoodies. the market will run from8am - 4.40pm saturday and sundayevery week. For furtherinformation or to download anexpression of interest form see:www.vscevents.ie12 Days of ChristmasFestival returns to dublin’sdocklands from saturday 23rddecember to wednesday 23rddecember. For more informationor to download an applicationform: see www.vscevents.ieIrish Village Markets arethe country’s largest privately runmarket and festival operators. Fromwednesday to sunday each week,a variety of markets take place invarious locations around Leinster.For further information pleasecontact: Tara Dalton T: 01 2841197W: www.irishvillagemarkets.comE: info@irishvillagemarkets.comInternational Operators Market& Street Traders (IOMST) theone stop guide to markets andevents in ireland. we aim to listevery market and event in thecountry together with all therelevant information you need.For further informationor to find a market orevent near you seeW: www.eventsmarketsireland.comE: info@marketguide.ieT: 01 8302271

AUTUMN 2009Exhibition Snapshots - NCG 36JACK DOHERTY EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL GALLERYann mulrooney (ncg exhibitions manager and curator)presenting Kim mawhinney with a Jack doherty bowlJack doherty (ceramicist) with family and friendsKim mawhinney, Head of art at national museumnorthern ireland (opening the event)Jack doherty (ceramicist)L-r: Lucy mccaffrey (consultant) and Leslie reed(Former ceo of crafts council of ireland)L-r: Jack doherty and marta donaghey (curator - Jack doherty)round Bowl by Jack doherty

AUTUMN 200937Exhibition Snapshots - NCGOBJECT EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERYmarcus o'mahony (ceramicist)ceramics by neil readmichael moore (ceramicist)Frances Lambe (ceramicist)emmet Kane (woodturner)L-r: audrey whitty (national museum of ireland),Brian Kennedy and Jennifer gough (national museumof ireland)neil read (ceramicist)angela o’Kelly, (mixed media - Jewellery)

AUTUMN 2009National Craft Gallery - News 38Winners of Future Makers 2009student award: Una Burke - London college of Fashionstudent award: Zbigniew strezebonski - wedge Furniturestudent grant: dearbhla ní ailin - grennan college(L-r) thomas riordan, Kate murtagh sheridan, Florence Harmellin, rachel swan, Helen Faulkner, claire mcalister,Helen moore, emma Bourke, sabrina meyns, Una Burke, Karen morgan (earthworks ceramics studio), dearbhla ní ailin,oonagh anderson (earthworks ceramics studio), Zbigniew strezebonskiPractitioner grant: Florence Harmelin - textiles/weavingstudent grant: Helen Faulkner - ccoi ceramics skillsresidency/training: Helen moore - Ulster Universityresearch & development: emma Bourke - ncad glass

AUTUMN 200939National Craft Gallery - NewsNewsHighlightsann mulrooneyDear Reader,August was a spectacularly busy month for the team at the NationalCraft Gallery, with three exhibitions - Jack Doherty (see a review onpage 26) and Object, plus an exhibition of large scale outdoor work- all opening concurrently with the Kilkenny Arts Festival (see pages10-12). The gallery also ran a number of events over the week, with atalk by Object curator Brian Kennedy on his working process, a pechakucha event and daily gallery talks and children’s workshops. Visitornumbers topped 11,000 for the week, and audience response wasoverwhelmingly positive.stacking chair, 2000 - american Black walnut bystephen o’BriainWe recently opened our autumn exhibition, Generation. This is a jointventure with the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI), and featureswork shortlisted for the IDI Graduate Awards and the Irish ArtsReview/Crafts Council of Ireland Emerging Maker Award.The next exhibition On the Edge a stunning selection ofcontemporary glass from Ireland and South West England will runfrom January 16th to March 21st 2010.Ann MulrooneyExhibitions Manager and CuratorNational Craft Gallerywork by tim and sean dunleavy for generationexhibition, Photographer roland PaschhoffPeter Fulop, 2007 - Handbuilt and woodfired ceramicsribbed Pot stoneware by Jack doherty

AUTUMN 2009Upcoming Exhibitions - National Craft Gallery 40Generation31st October 2009 - 10th January 2010National Craft Gallery, KilkennyAn opportunity to see some of Ireland’s most promising,emerging makers and designers under one roof.An exhibition representing the first-ever collaboration betweenthe Crafts Council of Ireland and the Institute of Designers inIreland to showcase the very best new designers and makerson the island of Ireland. Generation is an exhibition of newwork shortlisted for two prestigious awards - The Irish ArtsReview/Crafts Council of Ireland Emerging Maker Awards andthe Irish Design Institute Graduate Awards.Traditionally, the disciplines of craft and of design have beenvery separate. Generation aims to explore the common groundbetween the two disciplines and re-assess the traditional viewof where design ends and craft begins.Piece by cianan doylePhotographer: roland PaschhoffPiece by Laura caffreyPhotographer: roland PaschhoffGeneration includes 33 of Ireland’s most promising futuremakers and designers as selected by a jury across a range ofdisciplines such as interior architecture and interior design;furniture, glass & ceramics; fashion & textiles as well as lightingand visual communication.Curated by Derek McGarry.Gallery opening times are:Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5.30pmSunday 11 am - 5.30pmPiece by nuala ní FlathúinPhotographer: roland Paschhoffdesign: dynamite, kilkennyFOR NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY NEWS TURN TO PAGES 36 - 39About the Crafts Councilof IrelandThe Crafts Council of Ireland(CCoI) is the main championof the craft industry inIreland, fostering its growthand commercial strength,communicating its uniqueidentity and stimulatingquality, design, innovationand 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 thediscretion of the Crafts Councilof Ireland (CCoI). CCoI make norepresentations or warrantiesabout any of the informationcontained in any notice oradvertisement and accept noresponsibility for the accuracy ofany 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 lossor damage which may arise inrespect of Stopress or purchase ofthe goods and services. CCoI doesnot accept any responsibility foror necessarily endorse the viewsexpressed by third partycontributors 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, Kilkennyt: 353 56 7761804f: 353 56 7763754e: info@ccoi.iewww.ccoi.ieThe publication date for the nextissue of Stopress is 15th December2009.Advertising in STOpRESS is free and iswelcomed. Submissions for articles fromcraftspeople and those interested in craftare also always welcome. please contact:STOpRESS, Crafts Council of Irelandt: 056 7761804 e: stopress@ccoi.ieWhile every care has been taken inthe compilation of this Stopress, thepublisher cannot take responsibilityfor errors or ommisions.