The Crafts Council of Ireland Issue no.4
Food for Thought The "Food for Thought-Thought for Food" exhibition, opened by Myrtle Allen in Lucy Erridge's Gallery on the 20th of October, featured some familiar names like Michael Jackson and Keith Leadbetter, but in keeping with gallery policy, predominantly showed pieces by many lesser known potters and glassmakers at work in Ireland. The invitation of Myrtle Allen to open the show was an inspired choice. Her introduction demonstrated that her creativity as a cook was complemented by her understanding that the selection of ware to display her food was as critical as her choice of ingredients. Splendid food needs to be presented in splendid wood, pottery or glass to create a visual as well as a gastronomic feast. A beautiful bowl full of potatoes cooked to perfection is part of that feast, while potatoes served on an everyday plate is merely part of somebody's dinner - no matter how welcome! She drew attention to some exhibits in order to demonstrate how she might use them herself at a dinner party. A warming wine punch in a lidded jar of Micheen Bradley's, decorated with modelled vine leaves and grapes, with a rich, lustrous purple earthenware glaze; a stunning mass of petit fours on one of Salah Kawala's large, elegant and graphically decorated glass dishes.
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Lucy Erridge's gallery was full to capacity and the crowd showed by the many purchases they made, that they had taken Myrtle Allen's advice to heart. Mary O'Gorman's recent range of tulip decorated majolica plates and bowls
were an instant and rapid selling success, as was a range of stoneware produced by trainees at the Pottery Skills Course in Thomastown. This exhibition is one of a continuing series of thematic shows that have ranged in subject from textile miniatures to emerging talent. One of the chief difficulties the Erridges (Alison Erridge and her daughters Lucy and Susan) have in organising and mounting such shows is finding new names and work to introduce to the group of collectors and buyers they have established in the area. The Lucy Erridge Fashion Gallery, in Bird Hill Co. Tipperary, is well placed just a few miles outside Limerick on the Dublin Road. Potential exhibitors are invited to send C.V.'s and photographs or slides of work to the gallery, in order to assist the future development of the exhibition programme.
r* abrex from a Knitwear Perspective
Efuropean spinning workshop in Antwerp About thirty spinners from eight countries attended a workshop and public demonstration held in the Town Hall of Borghhont, Antwerp on Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th September, which attracted hundreds of visitors. Mary Shiels and Sophie Twigg represented Ireland and found interesting contrasts between Irish and Continental techniques. Most of the wheels were very tiny compared to the Donegal ones they demonstrated. They were quite surprised to learn that most of the European countries have even less variety of fleece than in Ireland and there was very little naturally coloured sheep such as greys, blacks and browns. Indeed, Sophie Twigg had quite a job convincing one group of spectators that there were such things as black sheep! In general handspinning seems to have survived in Europe, as a family pastime, better than in Ireland.
Deirdre McCaul is currently attending the Business and Design Skills Course in Kilkenny. She was also one of a group of students who completed their Degree studies in Britain this year who were selected by the organisers of Fabrex, the annual textiles fair held in the Olympia, Kensington, London. Fabrex is divided into four sections: Fashion Trend, Dupont, Eurofashion and British Textile Design. Dupont is a group of established knitters such as Richard Roberts, Stretchmore, N & J Textiles, Arrow Textiles, Heathcoat and Elastic Knitting etc. Eurofashion contains a group of eight internationally respected designers, and British Textile Design, a section of professional designers and college graduates displaying the trends to come. All knitwear at the fair was produced by machine rather than by hand, ranging from domestics to dubieds and the industrial Shima Seiki. The overall knitting techniques on display were extremely varied with both felted and light weight fabrics featuring strongly while garment shapes were generally unstructured. Both natural and synthetic yarns were popular, occasionally combining to create warm light weight fabrics. The wraps which Deirdre displayed were produced on the Passap E6000, displaying colour combinations and simple geometric patterns as the most important elements.
Nicola Murray, Knitwear designer and manufacturer has opened her new studio recently at Landsend, Castle Blunden, Co. Kilkenny which she is sharing with the jewellery designer, Brigitte Turba,
assagentage
ruinniu na mBad
Alongside the Cologne Furniture Fair,which is held in January each year, is Passagentage - a promotion by a consortium of avant garde art galleries and interior design shops in the central city of innovative and challenging new design. As part of the German Marketing Initiative, the Crafts Council and Craftworks are participating. Passagentage is recognised as the major international opportunity to see new and leading work in the field of furniture design and products for interiors.
Previous
exhibitors have included Philippe Starck and Memphis. In January 1993 we will be showing the work of ten furniture makers, most of it specially designed for Passagentage, plus a range of textiles, lighting, and other work for interiors, by makers from both the North and South of Ireland. The initiative is co-ordinated by Anya
Master Nore cot maker Michael Brien with his completed
von Gosseln;
boat, seen in the making in the last issue of the Newsletter.
Craftworks;
directed by the Crafts Council and
and funded by the International Fund for
Cruinniu na mBdd an exhibition of Traditional Irish Boats continues at the Crafts Council Gallery until November 21
Ireland, A.B.T. and LEDU.
alendar of Events Jewellery Exhibition
Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
Crafts Council Gallery September, 1993. At the invitation of the Jewellery and Metalworkers Guild the Crafts Council has agreed to develop and manage an exhibition project to support the development of contemporary design in wearable jewellery with "an emphasis on precious metals and gems tones ". Full details of the exhibition project and entry forms will be circulated to jewellers in the coming month.
Summer School 1993 to be held at Norwich City College, Ipswich Road, Norwich NR2 211. (Sunday 25th July-1st August, 1993) Fees • Residential Guild Member £250 (deposit £50) Non-residential Guild Member £275 (deposit £50) Application accepted from the 1st January, 1993. Forms available from Paula Wassenaar, Summer School, Convener, 100 The Street, Old Costessey, Norwich, NR8 5DF, England.
European Contemporary Craft Fair - Amsterdam 11th-16th May 1993 This retail fair is a collaboration between Dutch Form
Exhibitions/Trade Fairs British Craft Trade Fair 9th -1 lth May, 1993
(the craft organisation in the Netherlands), and the U.K. Crafts
Harrogate Exhibition Centre, North Yorkshire, U.K.
Council and is modelled on the well known Chelsea Crafts Fair.
For further information contact:
There are 250 stands for exhibitors from all over Europe,
Tricia Springate or Jill Lightfoot, Blenheim, Blenheim House,
with an international jury as selectors.
650. Chiswick, High Road, London W4 5BG.
Closing date for slide submission is 30th November 1992 Entry details from:
Jill Lightfoot Tel. 0200-442088
The British Crafts Council 44a Pentonville Road, London Nl 9BY United. Kingdom. Tel. 0044 71 278 7700 Fax. 0044 71 837 6891
Fax. 0200-442449
Tricia Springate Tel. 081-7422828
Fax. 081-7425605
Craft Fair 23rd - 26th November 1992 Irish Heritage Centre, Manchester. For further information contact: John Cassin, Kilteel Copper Craft Tel. 043-26108 Christmas Craft Shows
Fiber Arts International Seminar on Textile Arts 7th -15th August, 1993 at Landcommanderij Alden Biesen, Kasteelstraat 6, B-3740 Bilzen For further information contact:- Aiden Biesen
Tower Pearse Street - Christmas Fair, Sunday 29th November at RDS Main Hall Annexe, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis
C/oMr. Ludo Thijs, Kasteelstraat 6, B-3740 Bilzen
Research Trust.
(Belgium) Tel.. 32 89413914
For further information contact: AnneStrahan Tel. 01-2822425
Crafts Council Gallery Christmas Show
Tower Design Craft Centre
30th November-24th December.
12th to 22nd December inclusive
Open until 8pm on Thursdays in December,
IDA Enterprise Centre
on Sundays from 12-6pm and Christmas week until 8pm
Pearse Street
Work to be submitted by Monday 23rd November.
For further information contact: Roisin O'Shea Tel. 01-775655
Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin. 6th-13th December
Open to the Public Saturday and Sunday 11.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Monday to Friday 11.00 a.m. - 9.00p.m. Adult £2 Family £5
Kamouflage Lives! The Jewellers and Metalworkers Guild in conjunction with Vivien Walsh and Browne's Gallery, Dawson Street, are running an exhibition of contemporary jewellery from November 27th to December 24th.
City Hall, Cork. 18th, 19th, 20th December Biennale for Textile Art
Open to the Public Friday 11.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 11.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. For further information contact: Pat O 'Sullivan Tel. 01-2859294
Flexible Bayreuth 1993 The first Biennale for textiles is planned for 1993 in Bayreuth, the centre of traditional textile industries. Artists from all European countries are eligible to apply which is done from submitted slides and photos of two works. The closing date for receipt of completed forms is 10 January 1993. Application forms and
Christmas Craft Fair to be held at the Eyre Square Shopping Centre, Galway.7th - 24th December. Open to the public. No admission charge. Monday to Saturday 9.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Sunday 2.00p.m. -6.00p.m. For further information contact: Ms. Martina Goggin Tel. 091-83255.
some kiln furniture included. Kiln bought two years ago from
Craftworks Shop and Gallery, 17, Linenhall Street,
For further information contact: Clare Daly, Abbey Crafts',
Belfast. 080 232 236334
Abbey Street, Kilkenny.
From 5th November
Tel. 056-64032
details are available fromOrganisationsburo FLEXIBLE, Wahnfriedstr, 1, D-85580 Bayreuth, Germany. For Sale 10 cubic foot Gas Kiln. Digital pyrometer, thermocouple and David Ball, Cork. In excellent condition.fi,500 o.n.o.
Craftworks Christmas Show, over 100 craftspeople taking part. Monday - Saturday 10.00 a.m. - 5.00p.m. Thursday 'til 9.00 p.m. (late every night from 21st Dec. onwards)
40 " domestic Hattersley loom in excellent condition and motorised. For further information contact: D. Coffer, Grange Con, Co. Wicklow. Tel. 045-53145
All information is published in good faith but without research, so please check carefully before committing yourself to work or financial outlay Please forward all further information to Emer Ferran The copy date for the next issue is 11 December and the print date is 17 December 1992
1 he Management Committee 1992
rafts Council Staff Dublin Chief Executive Christine Ross Craft Development Officer Sean O'Farrell Administrative Assistant Clare Brennan Administrative Officer Margaret Jones Gallery Administrator Margaret McAnallen Exhibitions Assistant Greg McAteer Gallery Assistants Deirdre Barry Siobhan Me Donald
Chair Dr. John McGuire Vice Chair Ms. Mel Bradley Mr. Michael Feeney *Ms. Suzanne May Mr. Michael McCrory **Mr. Rudolf Heltzel Dr. David Shaw-Smith *Ms. Breda Haugh Ms. Angela Forte Ms. Eveline Greif Mr. Brendan Flood Ms. Hilary Pratt Ms. Maureen Cairnduff *Ms. Kaethe Burt-O'Dea
The Crescent Workshop Training and Education Officer Leslie Reed Supervisor/Information Officer Emer Ferran Administrative Assistant Nuala McGrath Thomastown Pottery Skills Course Trainer Gus Mabelson
•elected 1992 AGM ** re-elected 1992 AGM
The Crafts Council of Ireland Designed in the Crescent Workshop by Mai re ad Brennan Typography by Laura Walsh
Kilkenny The Crescent Workshop Castle Yard Kilkenny Tel 056 61804 or 62734 Fax 056 63754
Dublin Powerscourt Townhouse Centre South William Street, Dublin 2 Tel 01 679 7383 or 679 7368 Fax 01 679 9197