A Closer Look At The Career And Work Of World-Leading Irish Woodturner, Liam Flynn
While County Limerick has given many notable things to the world - from a wealth of artistic and cultural events and institutions to such people as broadcaster Terry Wogan and current President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins - it isn't necessarily a locality that one would associate with Woodturning. If there is one person who represents an exception to that rule, however, it has to be Liam Flynn, the Abbeyfeale native who has been described by the Limerick Leader as "one of the foremost artists in wood of his generation." The distinctive shapes of Flynn's pieces are attributable to the particular way in which the wood dries or distorts itself as part of his woodturning process. In Liam's words, "It is an interplay between the material and its natural drying and my own stamp." The artist is more interested in shape and texture than in the nature of the wood, but he is also enthralled by the constant learning opportunities that the practice of Woodturning Chuck affords him. As he puts it himself: "I am still finding new things. I keep adapting and learning new things. My approach is changing a little now. I don't worry about the technical side so much.
While County Limerick has given many notable things to the world - from a wealth of artistic and cultural events and institutions to such people as broadcaster Terry Wogan and current President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins - it isn't necessarily a locality that one would associate with Woodturning. If there is one person who represents an exception to that rule, however, it has to be Liam Flynn, the Abbeyfeale native who has been described by the Limerick Leader as "one of the foremost artists in wood of his generation." The distinctive shapes of Flynn's pieces are attributable to the particular way in which the wood dries or distorts itself as part of his woodturning process. In Liam's words, "It is an interplay between the material and its natural drying and my own stamp." The artist is more interested in shape and texture than in the nature of the wood, but he is also enthralled by the constant learning opportunities that the practice of Woodturning Chuck affords him. As he puts it himself: "I am still finding new things. I keep adapting and learning new things. My approach is changing a little now. I don't worry about the technical side so much.
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A <strong>Closer</strong> <strong>Look</strong> <strong>At</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Career</strong> <strong>And</strong> <strong>Work</strong> <strong>Of</strong> <strong>World</strong>-<br />
<strong>Leading</strong> <strong>Irish</strong> <strong>Woodturner</strong>, <strong>Liam</strong> <strong>Flynn</strong><br />
While County Limerick has given many notable things to the world - from<br />
a wealth of artistic and cultural events and institutions to such people as<br />
broadcaster Terry Wogan and current President of Ireland Michael D.<br />
Higgins - it isn't necessarily a locality that one would associate with<br />
Woodturning. If there is one person who represents an exception to that<br />
rule, however, it has to be <strong>Liam</strong> <strong>Flynn</strong>, the Abbeyfeale native who has<br />
been described by the Limerick Leader as "one of the foremost artists in<br />
wood of his generation."<br />
It isn't merely the local media that accords <strong>Flynn</strong> such status. His work -<br />
crafted from <strong>Irish</strong> hardwoods and lathe-turned while the wood is still<br />
green - has found its way into the collections of the Victoria & Albert<br />
Museum in London, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the<br />
Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the National Museum of Ireland, among<br />
many others.<br />
<strong>The</strong> distinctive shapes of <strong>Flynn</strong>'s pieces are attributable to the particular<br />
way in which the wood dries or distorts itself as part of his woodturning
process. In <strong>Liam</strong>'s words, "It is an interplay between the material and its<br />
natural drying and my own stamp."<br />
<strong>The</strong> artist is more interested in shape and texture than in the nature of<br />
the wood, but he is also enthralled by the constant learning opportunities<br />
that the practice of Woodturning Chuck affords him. As he puts it<br />
himself: "I am still finding new things. I keep adapting and learning new<br />
things. My approach is changing a little now. I don't worry about the<br />
technical side so much."<br />
Other highlights of <strong>Flynn</strong>'s incredible career to date include the<br />
appearance of his work on a special edition stamp to mark the Year of<br />
Craft in Ireland in 2011, as well as solo exhibitions in recent years at the<br />
Oliver Sears Gallery in Dublin and Beaux Arts Bath.<br />
With so much achieved already, it's fair to say that we are extremely<br />
excited to discover what the future will hold for such an accomplished and<br />
celebrated woodturner!<br />
ToolPost<br />
Address:<br />
Unit 7, Hawksworth Southmead Industrial Park<br />
Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7HR, UK<br />
TelPhone:<br />
01235 511101<br />
E-Mail:<br />
cleanmail@toolpost.co.uk
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