Stopress, CCoI November/December 2007 by Design & Crafts Council Ireland

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

P.23 SOFA

SIDE BY SIDE P.24

Contents News and Reviews P2

About the CCoI Bursary

SOFA 2007 Snapshots

Exciting Times for Showcase 2008

P6 P. 9

Irish Arts Review, Winter 2007

‘The First Annual Craft Edition’

Michelle Lamb,Trend Expert

Craft in the Classroom Participants

Karen Morgan & Ceramic Art London

Craft Community News Úna Parsons (CEO of Crafts Council of Ireland) presenting Kevin O'Dwyer (Silversmith) with the 2007 CCoI Bursary Award

Congratulations to Silversmith, Kevin O’Dwyer Winner of the 2007 Crafts Council of Ireland Bursary Award The 2007 Crafts Council of Ireland Bursary was awarded to silversmith Kevin O’Dwyer and a cheque for €19,500 was recently presented to him by the Crafts Council’s new CEO, Úna Parsons. Now in its third year, the Bursary is intended to release recipients from their usual commitments so they can invest in the creative development of their craft.The recipients are selected by a committee comprised of a chairman and four committee members with expertise in different areas of craftsmanship and education. Previous winners were woodturner Liam Flynn, basket-maker Joe Hogan and calligrapher Denis Brown. Commenting on this years Bursary winner Úna said:“We are delighted to present this year’s award to renowned silversmith Kevin O’ Dwyer. Kevin is a remarkably talented, skilled and innovative craftsman whose work has represented Ireland in many prestigious events and on the International stage. Some of Kevin’s recent accomplishments include being named as one of ‘Irish America’s Top 100 for 2007’ by the Irish America Magazine, and a national award for Best Public Art/Sculpture project for 2007 (LAMA Awards). Through the Crafts Council Bursary Kevin will now have the opportunity for further research and development of new work which will involve exploring the relationship between glass and silver. We are very excited about his proposal and look forward to seeing the results.” Kevin will use the award for materials, flights, and specialist resources as he travels to the US to collaborate with two leading US glassmakers, Jon Kuhn and Andy Shea, on a series of silver and glass designs which will lead to both functional and non-functional artworks. O’Dwyer will use Kuhn’s studio facilities and expertise in a hands-on residency with the aim of creating a series of glass architectural forms that will be incorporated into his silverware. “The residency will be one of exploration, experimentation, and innovation,” says O’Dwyer. “It will also be a hands-on opportunity to create prototypes and finished elements. For more detailed information on Kevin O’Dwyer and the Bursary Award see pages 2-3.

P 10 Fashion Extravaganza at Louth Craftmark

P 11 Origin - the London Craft Fair

Craft IT

P 12 Want to explore selling on ebay?

Opportunities

P 14 CCoI 50% Scheme Showcase 2008

- LifeStyle Trend Area - Trend Seminars

P 15 CCoI Research Missions Making it in Business

Trainer sought for CCoI

P 16 Dates for Diary

Craft Community Forum

P 17 Craft & Criticism - A New Dialogue

Advertisements P 18 Advertisements

Exhibitions & Events

P 22 Exhibition Snapshots - EMT P 23 Gallery News

P 24 Upcoming Exhibitions

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews ‘The annual Bursary was established by the Crafts Council in recognition that Irish craft is driven by creativity, and it needs to be fuelled by immeasurable factors like time, peace, travel and inspiration.’

About the CCoI Bursar y Award 2007 Winner - Silversmith Kevin O’Dwyer A career in craft demands fine balance between creative and commercial interests. On one hand, money has to be made. For craftspeople this means turning clay, or glass, or pieces of wood into money and requires a certain degree of pragmatism. If craft is your livelihood it is of primary importance that the work is saleable, and this applies whether you are selling production or one-off art pieces. It is not only acceptable, but even sensible, to make some compromises in order to make pieces that will sell. Creativity, on the other hand, is a less straightforward brief. Creativity and inspiration are nebulous concepts and this makes them difficult to factor into a business plan. But without creative input the standard of work will fall or become stale, and this will eventually impact on sales. Craft feeds on creativity, even at the most mundane level, but creative regeneration is often neglected or overlooked. There is untold benefit in taking a step back from the necessary grind of daily life in order to fan your creative spark. This works in different ways for different people. Some people like to travel, to be inspired by different cultures and to learn from craftspeople working abroad. Some prefer to explore different mediums and to incorporate new physical elements in their work. Others simply need to let their immediate concerns subside so they can rediscover the reasons that they took up a craft in the first place. But, despite the obvious benefits of creative space, most craftspeople are self-employed and, when you run your own business, to take time out to recharge your creative batteries can be an unaffordable luxury. In many cases creative ideas - ranging from brilliant to completely unfeasible - are put to the back of the mind and left there. It’s an offer that seems almost too good to be true. The annual Bursary was established by the Crafts Council in recognition that Irish craft is driven by creativity and it needs to be fuelled by immeasurable factors like time, peace, travel and inspiration, It is intended to release the craftsperson from their usual commitments so that they can invest in creative development of their professional practice, thereby accessing new opportunities. The recipients are selected by a committee comprised of a chairman and four committee members with expertise in different areas of craftsmanship and education. Application is though the Crafts Council of Ireland.The closing date for the next round of Bursary awards is in August 2008, and the winners will be announced in September 2008. The 2007 Crafts Council of Ireland Bursary was awarded to the silversmith Kevin

O’Dwyer, who has been presented with a cheque for €19,500 by the Crafts Council of Ireland’s new CEO Úna Parsons.

‘The Bursary, which offers an annual award of €20,000, was founded in 2005 on the basis that the ongoing success of Irish craft hinges on the continued creative development of craftspeople.’ O’Dwyer will use the money for materials, flights, and specialist resources as he travels to the US to collaborate with two leading American glassmakers to develop a series of silver and glass designs, leading to functional and non-functional pieces of art. The Bursary, which offers an annual award of €20,000, was founded in 2005 on the basis that the ongoing success of Irish craft hinges on the continued creative development of craftspeople. O’Dwyer’s proposal was, in a nutshell, to explore the possibilities of working with silver and glass in combination. ‘Glass, like silver, is a material that can be manipulated either hot or cold; its surface can be patterned, laminated, cast, or polished to create strong sensuous forms or architectural elements. The combination of these materials over the past two centuries has focused on traditional forms for functional use, as found in our museum collections I’m looking at a way of taking this combination of mediums into the twenty-first century.’ A firm believer in collaboration, O’Dwyer plans to explore this with two leading American glassmakers, Jon Kuhn and Andy Shea , each of whose work shows a striking different approach to the medium. Kuhn creates architectural glass forms from cut, polished and fused glass, and is considered an innovator in the field of laminated and fused glass techniques. O’Dwyer will use Kuhn’s studio facilities and expertise in a hands-on residency with the aim of creating a series of glass architectural forms that will be incorporated into his silverware. ‘The residency will be one of exploration, experimentation, and innovation,’ says O’Dwyer. ‘It will also be a hands-on opportunity to create prototypes and finished elements.’

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

‘I’d had this idea since the 1990s and never had the time or the opportunity to follow it through.’ Kevin O’ Dwyer Andy Shea, whose work featured in the recent Wild Geese exhibition at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, manipulates hot glass into sensuous forms. O’Dwyer describes him as ‘one of the Godfathers within the USA glass community’ whose hot and cold glass techniques combine flowing forms with cut, faceted, and polished interventions. He plans to spend a month at O’Shea’s hot glass studio to develop a series of pieces that explore the possibilities of combining the flowing forms of silver and glass in a series of functional and sculptural forms. He is aware, however, that collaboration often has unexpected results. ‘My proposal was all about pushing a dialogue between two artists and seeing where it goes. We have plans, but other things will come out of it as well. There’s always an element of surprise.’ O’Dwyer will also develop his knowledge and skills at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington as a member of the Visiting Artist Programme. O’Dwyer is already an established artist of some standing. His lyrical teapots and restrained coffee services, sculptural interpretations of mundane household items, are in some important international collections, including the Racine Museum of Art, USA, National Museum of Ireland, Department of Foreign Affairs and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Based in Tullamore, County Offaly, O’Dwyer also directs Sculpture in the Parklands which received a Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA) award for Best Public Art/Sculpture project in 2007. Earlier this year he was named as one of ‘Irish America’s Top 100 for 2007’ by the Irish America Magazine. ‘The application process was very straightforward,’ said O’Dwyer. ‘I decided that I was going to write about something that I’ve really wanted to do for quite a while. I’d had this idea since the 1990s and never had the time or the opportunity to follow it through. Although the application required a great deal of thought and planning, it was only a day’s work to complete the form. The process of writing it is simple and honest. You have to get the panel to visualise whatever it is that you want to do, and to get them excited about the possibilities. I would advise people t o a v a il o f t h i s o p p o r t u n it y . I t ’ s a g r e a t c h a n c e t o p u s h y o u r w o r k f o r w a r d , t o travel, and to avail of other people’s facilities and expertise. Most of all it’s an opportunity to have some money to develop that thing that’s been in the back of your head for years.’ ‘Kevin made a strong submission,’ said Patrick Murphy, art advisor to the Office of Public Works, who has chaired the five person selection committee for the last three years. ‘He’s a very able silversmith with an international track record. He’s capable of outstanding work and exposure to some of the top artists in America will sharpen his vision.’ The other members of the panel were Amanda Game, Director of The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; Froukje Idsardi , contemporary jewellery designer/maker and teacher,The Netherlands; Elizabeth McCrum , Curator of Applied Art, The Ulster Museum, Belfast; and Jim Dennison , Head of Design, Limerick Institute of Technology. ‘I would like to see more young people apply,’ said Murphy. ‘You must have operated a business based on your craft for five for years to qualify, so it’s not open to recent graduates, but there are some very talented young craftspeople out there. I’d like to see applications from young potters and weavers of vision, and from silversmiths. We had a great silver tradition in the nineteenth century, we should be able to encourage and revive that tradition. I recently went to an exhibition of teapots at Jerpoint Glass Studio in Thomastown, Kilkenny. I think that Kathleen Leadbetter had invited some makers to create teapots in different media, and the work was fantastic. I hope that some of those makers will be applying for next year’s Bursary.’ As well as creative vision, the selection panel are also looking for proposals that are feasible, financially viable, and can be undertaken within a realistic timeframe. Although all of the successful applications to date have had an international dimension, this is not a condition. The Bursary can be used for additional skills, education, or research, and for travel and associated costs. It can’t be used to fund solo exhibitions of samples, to launch new product lines, to buy equipment or property, to rent premises, or to pay off debts.

l-r : Jim Dennison (Head of Design, Limerick Institute of Technology), Elizabeth McCrum (former Keeper of Applied Art, Ulster Museum, Belfast), Pat Murphy (Arts Advisor to Government, OPW), Cornelia McCarthy (Crafts Council of Ireland), Hilary Morley (Project Manager), Amanda Game (Director, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, Froukje Idsardi (Contemporary Jewellery Designer, Delft, The Netherlands).

The Crafts Council continue to emphasise that the Bursary is open to all craftspeople who fit the criteria. The designs must be good, the proposal must be relevant and interesting, but you do not have to be in the perceived top echelon of internationally established craftspeople. In some ways the choice of Liam Flynn (2005), Denis Brown (2006), and O’Dwyer (2007) as Bursary awardees was unsurprising. All three are already artists of some standing and firmly established, through their own initiative, on the international circuit. However Joe Hogan , who shared the Bursary with Brown in 2006, is simply a superb craftsman who has been a basketmaker for many years and found that his work was moving towards sculpture. His proposal was, quite simply, to take time out from his commercial work in order to further develop his sculptural baskets, beginning with a visit to the workshop of David Drew in France, whose work he has always found influential. Hogan’s application shows nothing more than the need of an excellent craftsman to take some time to bring his work to a new level.‘Over the last three years I have been gathering pieces of wood which suggest themselves to me as having the potential to become interesting baskets.The wood is well seasoned and ideas have been developing as I look again and again at a piece of wood. At the moment I do not regard this work as commercial although I do realise that it has the potential to be sold, perhaps at a higher price than functional work. However I sell most of my work directly from my own workshop, and in most cases this means working to order. I realise that I would need to promote this work differently, ideally to an international audience. Some of the work I’m proposing is of a scale that would be unlikely to appeal to individuals, but I don’t want to think of commercial considerations in allowing the baskets to develop.The biggest challenge however is to put some time aside from the pressures of ordinary work and the need to generate an income… I estimate that the wood and willow work would take me six months of sustained work, and I have made some provision to take time out and deflect orders from August 2006. On one level the idea of being able to immerse myself in such a project in the way that the Bursary would allow seems almost a luxury, but I do think that the thoroughness with which one could approach the project would be apparent in the quality of the work.’

Previous Bursary Winners: Liam Flynn (Woodturner) Joe Hogan (Basketmaker) Denis Brown (Calligrapher)

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

IRISH ARTS REVIEW, WINTER 2007 The First Annual Craft Edition The most recent issue of Irish Arts Review (Winter 2007) contains a stunning new supplement dedicated to Irish Craft. In addition to a number of feature articles, it includes a dedicated page to each of the 47 Crafts Council of Ireland PORTFOLIO artists. Irish Arts Review is available to purchase from Irish newsagents or by contacting

Irish Arts Review directly. See the advert below to avail of a special subscription

offer to registered craftspeople.

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s PORTFOLIO is a catalogue of some of Ireland’s leading designer-makers, selected by an international panel. PORTFOLIO is an

excellent tool and resource for collectors, curators, galleries and anyone interested

in Irish craft and design.

F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t t h e C r a f t s C o u n ci l o f I r e l a n d a t :

T: 353 (0)56 7761804 E-mail: info@ccoi.ie www.Irishartsreview.com

Special Subscription Offer for Craftspeople

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

National Craft Gallery - Snapshots

SOFA (Sculptural Objects & Functional Art) Chicago, 2007

Karl Harron

National Craft Gallery stand at SOFA 2007

Sara Flynn

Brian Kennedy with buyers at SOFA 2007

Liam Flynn

Par ticipants at SOFA 2007

National Craft Galler y stand at SOFA 2007

Visit www.ccoi.ie for more images and latest news.

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews “While it’s still a relatively new phenomenon in Ireland, trend forecasting is huge in the United States.”

Michelle Lamb Trend Expert and Guru to speak at Showcase 2008 Can you predict what will be big in 2009? What colours will we see in the home and on the catwalks? Will metallics be big, how about Michelle Lamb

textures? And what patterns will the consumers be crying out for?

For most of us, trying to second guess the whims and desires of the

average consumer is a next to impossible task. But for some people,

it’s a way of life. Michelle Lamb is one of American’s most respected

trend forecasters. She spends all day every day looking into the future

and predicting what will be big in the area of home furnishings. Using a combination of analysis, business acumen and gut instinct, she has been leading the field for the last 20 years.

While it’s still a relatively new phenomenon in Ireland, trend forecasting is huge in the United States. Major companies such as linen manufacturer Prince Lionheart, Parquet Floors, Kimberley-Clark (the people behind Kleenex) and nationwide discount store Dollar Tree have all used Michelle’s services. And next year, the Crafts Council of Ireland are, once again, offering craftspeople the opportunity to meet with this interiors guru. Michelle will be taking part in Showcase at the RDS for the second year running.There, she will be speaking to craftspeople and retailers about the importance of trend forecasting. “Identifying the trends in home furnishings can make the difference between success and disaster,” says Michelle. “And once you have identified them, you may still want help to understand which ones are best for your product and exactly how (and when) to introduce them into your assortment.” If the trade are always a few steps ahead of the consumer, then Michelle Lamb is miles in front. Already, she has her sights set on 2012 and a lot of people are waiting to hear what her forecast is. This is a woman of certainties. Barely pausing to draw breath, she speaks with such confidence that you would be tempted to say what she does isn’t forecasting or predicting, that leaves a margin of error. Michelle is telling us what we will be queuing up to buy in the future. And, as she says herself, she’s never been wrong. Trend forecasting was something she fell into by accident. While working as an electronics buyer for US retail giant Target she often worked with companies on the graphics of their products. “At this time everything was black, but I always wanted to add some excitement. I would ask manufacturers; “how about a bit of purple on that?” And because I was the buyer for Target, they would oblige me.

“Another big change is the dovetailing of interiors and fashion….So we [now] see similar trends on the catwalks and in the home.” Michelle started to order in radios and ghetto blasters in a lurid range of colours - yellows, pinks, greens. They flew off the shelves. Displaying such a flair for

updating and customizing products, it wasn’t long before she was promoted and became the Target’s first ever trend merchandiser. “At that time, a big part of

my skill was instinct but I was spending tens of millions of dollars, it was my responsibility and I had to be right.” Over the years those skills have been honed and she’s now considered one of the best in the business.

But what is it that makes Michelle Lamb such a well respected trend forecaster?

“Firstly I have a shared perspective. I have experience as a retail buyer, a good

knowledge of the marketplace and a strong financial perspective. I always have an eye on the turnover goal.To be successful you have to make sure that a company’s entire assortment, including the trend piece, all achieve the turnover goal.”

“It’s what I do all day, every day. I love it. It feeds both my creative and analytical side and feeds my short attention span.” It’s a good thing Michelle has a short

attention span because the life span of a trend gets shorter every year. “When I started out, I would predict 5 to 7 years into the future, sometimes even 7 to 10 years. But now I generally predict 2 to 3 years in advance. My comfort

level gets shaky after 5 years. That’s because, with new technology, the cycle of manufacturing has shortened.”

“This means the job has become more exciting, but there is more pressure on you to get the vision, get it fast and get it disseminated. All the cycles are now

compressed. Testing time for new products used to be 2 to 3 months, now it’s only 3 to 4 weeks. As time is much tighter, the job of the trend spotter has become more valuable.”

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

Another big change is the dovetailing of interiors and fashion. “There has always

been close links between these two areas, but for the last three years, they have been completely hand in glove.” One major reason for this is the growing number

of people designing concurrently for apparel and the home.“Designers like Ralph Lauren, Kelly Hoppen and Vera Wang are sending the same trends out for both markets. So we see similar trends on the catwalks and in the home.”

Aside from fashion, what else has an influence on trends in interiors? “Action sports are big, their colours and the lifestyle associated certainly shape our

interiors. And youth culture is another big influence - the movement, colour and fascination with counter culture all have an affect on future trends.”

According to Michelle, it is possible to spot future trends yourself. “Read and read, look, watch, talk to people and keep in mind there isn’t a trend out there that doesn’t have a route in lifestyle influences.”

One thing about trends is that they will always be replaced. Is there a danger

that if you pay too much attention to trends that your product will date very

quickly? “Absolutely not! People are passionate about trends of the past. Think

about how popular mid-century items are. Once it’s of its time, then it has a

place. And a well designed item is a well designed item.”

“I would say a bigger risk is to refuse to pay attention to trends and simply say, “this is what I do”. Maybe people will love your product more if the patterns

were updated or the colour was changed.These changes don’t have to be huge, very often it is the nuance that makes something new.”

“….changes don’t have to be huge, very often it is the nuance that makes something new.” According to Michelle craftspeople are at a distinct advantage when it comes to trend forecasting. “They are the ones selling their product, they know their

So what changes will we see in home furnishings over the next few years? “Get ready for blues, there is huge movement in blues. In 2009, there will be a shift in neutrals. Metallics will become more popular and neon inspired colours will be big, inspired by the 1960s. We are also tracking pale hues coming back, what we are calling porcelain pales.” Michelle works regularly with craftspeople on applying future trends to their line or products, and at Showcase she will be giving a trend overview to Irish craftspeople. “I’ll be helping them do something new. By brainstorming together and using the right tools, we’ll be able to come up with some exciting new products. “Sometimes you just need a bit of outside help. Most craftspeople are working in a very small operation of just 1 or 2 people. They are so busy producing that it is difficult to change. But you must take time away, clear your mind and look at something that’s out of the box for you.You only have your own ideas inside, go out and be exposed to other ideas, other thoughts.” “If I have only one bit of advice it’s this - breathe deeply, expand your vision, and

consider what else is out there.”

audience better than anyone else. They often have a personal relationship with people who come into their shops and studios. Craftspeople can discover quite

quickly what their customer base likes. They also know their own capabilities.

They can quite simply look at trend a, b and c and say I can touch all three and put them in one product.”

Some people may be wary that keeping an eye on trends will interfere with their natural creative process. But Michelle is adamant that if you are trying to sell your wares then you have to keep your business moving and developing.

“If you can manage to blend art and commerce, you are very lucky. But in order

to sell to other people you can’t just create something that works for you. If you have a signature style that is maybe not selling as well as it should, then start off

Michelle Lamb is a guest speaker at Showcase 2008 The talk is free but places are limited. To ensure your place, book early. T: 056 7761804 Email: nicola@ccoi.ie

by testing the waters with something new. You’ll quickly see what works and

Trend Lifestyle Area at Showcase 2008

For those new to the area of trend forecasting, Michelle recommends starting

Get your product noticed at showcase 2008. Apply now for the Trend Lifestyle Area.

what your customers like.”

slowly. “The one trend that everyone is embracing is colour.Things look so fresh

when they are re-coloured. Even if you only work with neutrals, the neutral palette is changing too.”

For those of you interested in submitting product to the Crafts Council of Ireland’s TREND LIFESTYLE AREA at Showcase 2008 go to page 14 for application details.

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

Exciting Times for Showcase 2008 January 2008 will see the 32nd Showcase Ireland trade fair - and there is a range of exciting new developments in the pipeline for the show for 2008 and beyond.

2008

For the past several years approximately 180 craftspeople have exhibited at the show, and under the new CCoI Strategic Plan 2007 - 2009 we are hoping to increase this number year on year.

The Source Aisle will continue to be promoted as the selected craft area at the show - and we would encourage all exhibitors considering applying for SOURCE in the future to attend the SOURCE seminar at the show.

The aim, under the new Access Programme is to support and encourage more craft businesses to sell into retail to grow and develop their business.As part of this programme we are developing services at Showcase to support craft exhibitors at the show, and in tandem with this we are developing a retailer support programme to encourage more retailers to sell a greater range and volume of craft. Other initiatives under this programme include the Regional Outlets Programme, and initiatives with garden centres and department stores.

The Crafts Council are also working with the County Enterprise Board’s and LEADER Companies - who have group stands representing their craft clients - to strengthen the group stand presence at the show.

Plans for Showcase 2009 are already in the pipeline - and in particular we have being re-examining the issue of moving the show to a 3-day event. Expo Events who run Showcase with CCoI have tested this option with a similar trade fair - and the learning has been that reducing the number of day does not have the desired impact. Buyers did not all make the shift to the three days despite the change being extensively promoted. It was also felt that at a major show, buyers prefer the option of visiting over a four day spread of dates.

In addition, we are looking into the potential of having craft demonstrations at the show, as this is a great way to give buyers and journalists a very real understanding of what makes craft unique.

For this reason we feel it is more positive to remain as a 4 day show, while putting initiatives in place to increase buyer activity and numbers on day 4 and reducing the cost impact for CCoI clients by expanding the subsidy to all registered craftspeople. These improvements will be brought in for the 2008 to have maximum impact. Changes in the pipeline Showcase 2008 include:

• • • • • •

€300 subsidy to all CCoI registered craftspeople at the show* Greater range of seminars for exhibitors and buyers A dedicated award for Craftsmanship - details of which will be announced in the coming weeks A student exhibition area in the lobby of the Enterprise Hall - to show buyers the craft talent of the future and encourage them to return A themed event for the final day of the show - inviting corporate gift buyers Route map for New Faces

Existing support services are being continued and improved, including:

• • • • •

Offering more Trend sessions for exhibitors and buyers (see article on Trend expert, Michelle Lamb on pg 6) Increasing the very popular Lifestyle Area - depicting craft at the show to buyers and the media (see call out for Product on page 14) Offering one-to-one buyer and journalist services - helping them find craft at the show New winner categories in the INDEX Top New Product Awards - offering even more PR and promotional opportunities Improving the INDEX Top New Products Display Area - to generate more excitement around the award for buyers

NOTICE: INDEX 2008 Top New Product Awards at Showcase ‘A great opportunity to introduce your new product to buyers’ For the first time in 2008 there will be four new category awards in: Craft & Gift, Interiors & Tabletop, Jewellery and

Fashion & Accessories.…out of which the best overall new product of the show award will be chosen.

For information on entering your new product for Index 2008 Contact: Catherine Jordan t: 087 221 5287 e: jordanevents@eircom.net

* excluding group stands - for more information on subsidies terms and conditions contact Julie at 056 7796135 or e-mail julie@ccoi.ie

If you are interested in demonstrating your craft at Showcase please contact: Catherine Jordan t: 087 2215287 e: jordanevents@eircom.net If you have any ideas or suggestions for activity at Showcase 2008 or beyond please e-mail nicola@ccoi.ie - your views and suggestions are much appreciated.

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

Crafts Council of Ireland announce

2007 /08 ‘Craft in the Classroom’ Participants Congratulations to the following makers, who have been selected for the Crafts Council of Ireland’s primary level education project ‘Craft in the Classroom’, which will take place in schools in County Wexford and Carlow. Kathy Donovan - Textile/jewellery/paper Eleanor Swan - Ceramics Jane Groves - Textiles/wire work/willow sculpture Catherine Wilcoxson - Glass/mosaic Anne McDonnell-Murphy - Printmaking/Textiles Catriona Byrne - Jewellery Deborah Bowden - Printmaking Patricia Murphy - Textiles Patricia Howard - Ceramics Ciara Foster - Textiles Maeve Hunter - Textiles Judy Lawlor - Painting/mixed media Mairead Holohan - Paper making/card making/batik/screen printing/mixed media Liadain Butler - knitwear/leather designer-maker Fiona Smith-Darragh - Sculpture F or f u r t h er i n f o r m a t i o n co n t a c t t h e E du c a t i o n M a n a g e r : Sharon Rollston e: sharon@ccoi.ie t: 056 7761804 w: www.ccoi.ie

Images: Craft in the Classroom’ 2006/07

Karen Morgan

selected for Ceramic Art London, 2008

A young ceramic artist from Limerick has just stepped onto the international stage. 29-year-old Karen Morgan has received the honour of a lifetime and has been selected to take part in Ceramic Art London 2008. Major artists from all over Europe compete for selection to this prestigious fair. Taking place in the Royal College of Art, London it is considered one of the world’s leading events for Contemporary Ceramics. Just one year after graduating from the Crafts Council of Ireland's Pottery Design and Skills Course, Karen will now take her place alongside some of Europe’s most important practitioners. In fact, her work is of such a high quality that an image of one of her pots is being used to promote the event worldwide. While it is unusual for someone so young to be selected for Ceramic Art London, former tutor Gus Mabelson isn’t surprised: “I think her work is good enough to get in anywhere. Karen has a natural ability. What makes her so good is her incredibly high skill level combined with her wonderful ideas.” This isn’t the first time Karen has been honoured. In 2006, she was named Habitat/House & Home Student Designer of the Year.A panel of architects, interior designers and buyers were so impressed with her porcelain mortar and pestle that she was declared the unanimous winner. Karen’s functional and sculptural pieces are all handthrown in her studio in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny. Her wonderful soft and fluid forms bridge the gap between functional and fine art and place Karen very firmly to the fore of a new generation of exciting young artists. Karen Morgan

For more information on Karen and to view more images of her work visit her website at: www.karenmorganceramics.com

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

Craft Community News

Gala Fashion Extravaganza at Louth Craftmark Louth Craftmark, the leading craft retail outlet store in the North East showcasing the collective work of talented Louth designers and makers On the 1st October 2007, Louth Craftmark hosted its first major gala fashion show at The Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda. The event coincided with the store’s first birthday and with a full house in attendance, everyone enjoyed an exciting evening of glamourous fashion and delightful entertainment, kicked off with a special performance by award winning choir, Clermont Chorale. An inspiring display of the latest exciting ranges of jewellery, millinery, bags, knitwear, headwear and fashion accessories made by fifteen talented craft designers were showcased. These innovative designs from the makers at Louth Craftmark were modelled alongside the work of several of Ireland’s most exciting new designers including Aideen Bodkin, Eilis Boyle, Caoimhe O’ Dwyer, Michelle McCarroll, Lisa O’ Riordan, Maria Cardenas, Edmund McNulty, Helen James, bridal designer Edel Tuite and Jennifer Rothwell, winner of the 2007 ‘Brown Thomas Designer Mentor Programme Award’. Commenting on the event Ciara Mc Feely, Retail Manager at Louth Craftmark said “the response to the show has been incredibly positive and people were genuinely surprised at the wealth of talent on show. It was an ideal platform for the makers and designers at Louth Craftmark to prove to the world that they belong up on the catwalk beside the flourishing talent of the Irish fashion world.This fashion show highlighted once again the continued contribution that Louth Craftmark is making to the regional and national craft industry in Ireland - a performance that has been well supported by both novice and expert craft and fashion lovers over the past year. Next year we hope to make the show even bigger and better.” For further information contact: Ciara McFeely, Retail Manager, Louth Craftmark T: 041 980 3283 E: ciaramcfeely@louthcraftmark.com W: www.louthcraftmark.com

UNIQUE REPETITION An Exhibition of Original Fine Prints from Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition continues until 1st December 2007 Spacecraft

9b The Fountain Centre, College Street, Belfast Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10.30am - 5.30pm Further Information t. 028 9032 9342 e. info@countydowncrafts.com w. countydowncrafts.com

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

Craft Community News

Origin The London Craft Fair

Roger Bennett, Origin 2007

The Irish craftspeople selected for ORIGIN 2007 were: Jewellers - Rachel McKnight and Nuala Jamison and woodturner - Roger Bennett. The British Crafts Council first launched Origin, a London Craft Fair in October 2006, which now attracts over 22,000 visitors. The event brings together over 300 of the most innovative and influential international designer-makers, making

it a rare opportunity for the general public to meet these makers and to buy

Rachel McKnight, Origin 2007

their work. Objects on show range from fashion accessories to functional and

"I found Origin to be a great place to show smaller pieces of work alongside some of

contemporary craft. Glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry,

people who were just starting to become interested in jewellery made from alternative

decorative objects, with the opportunity to commission one-off works of

wood and textiles are all represented, making the fair a true celebration of the unique and the hand-made.

Roger Bennett tells us about his experience of this year’s show. “Origin' is a

wonderful fair. It is juried, with about 160 British and international exhibitors each

my larger pieces. There seems to be a good market for both kinds of work as I met materials to big jewellery collectors who had been buying challenging work for years. Origin is a very well organised show with an exceptional standard of work. It's a great place to gain recognition and raise your profile on an international level."

R a c h e l M c Kn ig h t

week showing work of a very high quality. The venue is stunning: a temporary

pavilion in the courtyard of the historic Somerset House on the Strand in London. And it is exceptionally well organised by the British Crafts Council, from set-up to

take-down and everything between. It attracts very knowledgeable, interested and interesting visitors, including collectors and galleries.

I took part in the inaugural 'Origin' last year, and thoroughly enjoyed the event. This year it was even better.The main teething problems from 2006 have been sorted out,

and the fair is settling down in its new location (it has replaced the much-loved

Chelsea Craft Fair). I came home very happy: sales were satisfactory, I had interest

from galleries, I was able to show my work to a lot of people. I would love to see a similar event being organised in Ireland”

Origin takes place annually in Ben Kelly’s specially designed pavilion in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House, London. T h e d a te s f o r O ri g i n 2 0 0 8 a re a s fo l l o w s :

Week One: Tuesday 7 - Sunday 12 October 2008

Week Two: Tuesday 14 - Sunday 19 October 2008 To find out more visit: www.www.craftsonline.org.uk

R o g e r Be n n e tt

6th World Archeological Congress University College Dublin (UCD) Ireland 29th June - 4th July 2008

For Full Programme Visit www.ucd.ie/wac-6/

Includes an exhibition of contemporary, visual and performing arts exploring the negotiation, mediation and translation of things. Curated by Ian Russell in consultation with Pat Cooke and Gabriel Cooney. The World Archeological Congress (WAC) is the only representative, fully international organisation of practicing archaeologists. Founded in 1986, WAC encourages open dialogue among all people genuinely concerned about the past, including scholars from under-represented parts of the world, First Nations people, and descendent communities whose pasts are told by archaeologists.

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

NOTE: This series of CRAFT-IT articles are for information purposes only. If you are thinking about exploring the possibilities of selling through ebay, make sure to do your research first.

CRAFT-IT Want to explore selling on ebay? ebay’s online ‘5 Basic Steps to Selling’ will take you through opening a sellers account, preparing your item for sale, listing your item, pricing, payment & postage and managing your sales. Tutorial on www.ebay.ie Test the waters, and start by selling a few un-wanted items at auction Begin with items that are of little value to you, that are unwanted, and that are perhaps lying around for years in your house. Remember you might make a mess if you dive straight in. It is much better to take it slow so that you can figure out how it works and so you won’t end up with negative seller ratings.This means selling a few things say at auction, rather than opening up a full store, to gauge how the process works and if you want to explore further. Watch what others do Learn from others. Look for people selling similar items.

Ensure to treat customers right The level of trust between buyer and seller must be high. If customers feel slighted, they'll move on. Customer service is the absolute key. Be aware of the costs Read all print that relates to cost. Often discounts are available but only for short periods or as an introductory offer only.

1. How to Open a Seller Account

To begin selling on ebay, you will need to register and then create a seller's account.To open a Sellers Account, click on the Sell link on the top of every ebay page and then select the Create a seller's account link.

To ensure Bay is a safe place to buy and sell, you will be asked to provide credit or debit card details and bank account information. This is for verification purposes only. You will also be charged a small fee to sell your items on ebay. These can include basic listing fees as well as fees to enhance your listings to make them more attractive to buyers. As you begin to complete the seller account form you will be asked to choose how you want to pay your ebay fees. More information on fee options is available on www.ebay.ie

2. How to Prepare your item for sale

Preparation is key! Make sure you do your research and be realistic. 1. Research the item you are selling

To get an idea of what to expect to sell your item for, review the sales prices of similar items using ebay's Completed Items search.To do a Completed Items search click on the Search link at the top of an ebay page and select Advanced Search. When the search results are returned, click on an item that is most similar to the one you are selling. From here you will be able to find out the following: A. The Category the Item was listed in: particularly helpful if you're not sure where to list. B. Auction or Buy It Now Format: depending on your feedback level you have two ways to sell your item. How others have sold their similar items should give you an idea of which format works best for your item. C. The Starting Price: the level at which you start your item can have an affect on the bidding activity and final sales price. For example, many sellers find that with a very low starting price and no reserve, they can experience higher bids and higher sales prices. D. The Final Sales Price: this indicates the price you could expect to get for your item. E. How to write an Item Description: In order to get the best price possible, you can gain great insight into how to write a successful listing by understanding why a listing from one seller got more bids than another. F. Payment & Postage Details: Buyers want a safe and secure way to pay for your items. Many sellers offer PayPal, a free service for buyers. Many sellers also accept personal cheques. Always remember to include postage costs as buyers like to know what they are paying for up front.

On ebay you can sell practically anything, however there are a number of items that are prohibited from sale on ebay. For more information check the prohibited items policies on the e.bay website. www.ebay.ie 2. Taking Photos of your Items

It's true what they say; a picture paints a thousand words. No matter how well you describe your item, buyers like to see what they are buying and including clear photographs in your listing could mean the difference between a sale or not!

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

News and Reviews

Before you start to list on ebay, make sure you have taken clear photographs indicating all of the features and highlighting any flaws, if relevant.You can save these on your computer, naming them clearly so you can locate them later when you start to list. The simplest way to do this is to use a digital camera. However, if you have a traditional camera, use a scanner to save them in a digital format. Most photo processing services now offer this service. With ebay Picture Services is it simple to add photos to your listing and the first picture you add is free. There are a number of items that are prohibited from sale on ebay. Check prohibited items policies if you are unsure whether your item is permitted.

3. How to List your item

Now you've completed your research and taken photographs of your item, you are ready to submit your listing to ebay.

• Use the easy to follow Sell Your Item Form to guide you through the steps to a successful item listing. • Decide what format you want to sell in, auction-style or at a fixed price with Buy It Now where you will need feedback of at least 10 in order to list. • Write a descriptive title using all relevant keywords. Imagine you are the buyer - what information would they type in to find your item? Your description needs to provide buyers with all the information they need. Include information such as brand, age, condition etc and be honest - don't withhold information that may be an issue later. • Decide the duration of your listing. You can list items from 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. Many sellers list items for 7 days and include a weekend to capture weekend shoppers. • A picture tells a thousand words so always include a picture of your item. Buyers like to see what they are buying. Using ebay's Gallery feature will ensure your listings stand out in a crowd.

4. Pricing, Payment & Postage

The price at which you start your auction could determine the number of bids you receive and ultimately the final sales price of your item. Pricing: If you are using an auction-style format to sell, consider starting your item at a low price and without a reserve. If buyers believe they could be in for a bargain, it will encourage them to start bidding on your item and could lead to higher final sale price.

Payments: you choose how you would like to accept payment e.g. cheque, credit card, money order. Buyers want a safe and easy way to pay so consider accepting an online payment system such as PayPal. It's free for buyers and will speed up the payment of your item. (See also Paypal article in Craft-IT in Stopress: Sept / Oct 2007)

Postage: Make sure you include all postage and packaging cost in the listing - buyers want to know exactly what they will be paying for your item. If you are willing to ship internationally, make sure you include all of the relevant international postage costs.

5. How to Manage and Complete your sales

a) Managing your sales Throughout the selling process you may receive email questions from potential buyers who want to know more about your items. Be sure to respond to these promptly.You can also opt to post your questions and answers to your item listings page.This will avoid other buyers emailing the same questions twice.

The simplest way to keep track of all our activity is by using My ebay. This is really useful if you have more than one item for sale or if you are both selling and bidding on several items. My ebay's All Selling page lets you see the status of items you're selling from listing to completion including:

• The Scheduled Items view shows you items that you scheduled to start at a future time. • The Items I'm Selling view shows all your items that are currently for sale on ebay include all information about your items, such as the current price, number of watchers, number of bids, and current high bidder.

• The Items I've Sold view shows your items whose listings ended in a successful sale including information about your items, such as the buyer, sale price, sale date, and quantity sold.

• The Unsold Items view shows your items whose listings did not end in a successful sale. Remember, you can chose to re-list those items.

b) Completing your Sales At the end of a successful listing, both you and the buyer will receive an end of auction email from ebay, detailing the final price of the item and payment instructions. If you didn't include payment details in your listing, make sure you contact the buyer to arrange payment and delivery details.

If you have opted to receive PayPal payments, you will receive a "You've got cash" email from PayPal once the buyer has paid. Simply click on this email to sign into PayPal and review the details of the payment. Remember to only post the item once you have received payment.

Once the sale is complete, leave feedback for your buyer and encourage them to do the same for you. Please note: If for some reason your item doesn't sell, don't forget you can re-list for FREE.

The ‘5 Basic Steps to Selling’ is taken from the ebay on-line tutorial on www.ebay.ie

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

Opportunities CCoI 50% Scheme

Applications now being sought

• • • • •

develop new product relevant to the market place take the opportunity to take time out to learn new skills explore potential new markets and commercial opportunities explore and use new materials develop work to a higher level.

To apply: Application forms are available from the CCoI website at: www.ccoi.ie or contact Helen Loughran at: t: 048 30833605 e: helen@ccoi.ie

Closing date: 30th November 2007

Unleaded

The CCoI 50% grant programme enables registered craftspeople to:

UNLEADED New lighting design ‘highly commended’ The piece entitled ‘Ply’, a modular wall and ceiling lighting system recently won a highly commended IDI (Institute of Designers in Ireland) Award in the category of product design. The prize was assessed by an international panel of jurors from a high number of excellent entries. ‘The 50% Scheme Award from the Crafts Council of Ireland helped give us an unique opportunity to bring an exciting design concept to life. The Crafts Council offered us the chance to create what turned out to be one of our signature design pieces.’ Ina Koenig

Lifestyle Trend Area at Showcase 2008 A great opportunity to get extra publicity at Showcase 2008

All that Glitters & Vibrant Violet ‘All that Glitters’ and ‘Vibrant Violet’ are the two themes in the Lifestyle Trend Area at Showcase 2008. All registered Showcase exhibitors will shortly receive a letter and Expression of Interest Form to submit product for this very popular area. If selected your product will be displayed in the Trends Area at the end of Source aisle and will include your stand number so buyers can be referred to your stand. This very prominent position gets the attention of both buyers and media and has the added benefit of extra publicity for your product.

T o s u b m i t p r o d uc t :

If you are interested in submitting a product, preferably a new product, and require an expression of interest form contact: Helen Loughran T: 048 833605 E: helen@ccoi.ie www.ccoi.ie

Trend Seminars with Michelle Lamb at Showcase 2008

Michelle Lamb

Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet with this interiors guru (see interview on page 6). Building on the success of last year, the Crafts Council of Ireland will again host these seminars with Michelle Lamb at Showcase 2008.There, she will be speaking to designer/makers and retailers about the importance of trend forecasting.

“Identifying the trends in home furnishings can make the difference between success and disaster,” says Michelle. “And once you have identified them, you may still want help to understand which ones are best for your product and exactly how (and when) to introduce them into your assortment.” F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n o r t o b oo k a p l a c e c o n t a c t:

Nicola Doran T: 056 7796153 E: nicola@ccoi.ie

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

Opportunities

Research Missions

Making it in Business

Financial assistance towards visiting shows

An Excellent Development Opportunity for Graduates and Emerging Craft Enterprises.

If you want to research an event/show in 2008 and want to avail of assistance with costs, apply

now

The ‘Making it in Business’ programme is a joint initiative between the Crafts Council of Ireland and the City and County Enterprise Boards. It is open to suitable craftspeople wishing to set up in one of the 35 County Enterprise Board areas. This exciting opportunity is by portfolio interview.

Closing date: 30th November 2007 Closing date is: 25th January 2008

For further information an application form go to: www.ccoi.ie or contact Helen Loughran T: 048 30833605 E: helen@ccoi.ie

Interviews will be held on the 6th and 7th February 2008

Get inspired, read the reviews on www.ccoi.ie

Mary Whelan or Emer Ferran on T: 056 7761804 Email: mary@ccoi.ie

For further information and an application form contact:

Also visit the Resource Area of the CCoI website for listings An application form is also available to download from the CCoI website www.ccoi.ie

of Design Museums/Craft Fairs & Exhibitions in Europe.

Crafts Council of Ireland SEEK

JEWELLERY TRAINER

Unique teaching opportunity on leading Goldsmithing Course We are currently seeking a Trainer with the experience, drive and enthusiasm to maintain and add to the course’s achievements to date. Building on the existing course outline, s/he will develop and supply a dynamic training programme for 12 trainees in the skills required for the production of high quality jewellery. This is a unique opportunity to head up this internationally respected course and play a key role in shaping its long-term future. The Crafts Council of Ireland’s Goldsmithing Design and Skills Course was established in1993 to address the Irish craft industry’s need for quality skills training. It is a two-year/88-week intensive course based on the master/apprentice training model and achieves consistently high graduate industry entry and retention levels. For further information and job specification please contact:

Sharon Rollston, Education Programme Manager Crafts Council of Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, Ireland. T: 00 353 (0)56 776 1804 E: sharon@ccoi.ie www.ccoi.ie

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

Opportunities

Dates for your Diary *Please note: The Jan/Feb issue of Stopress will be published on 15th January 2008. Please forward all

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

submissions by 14th December 2007.

CCoI OPPORTUNITY DIARY DATES

BY/ON/CURRENTLY/TBC*

Research Missions

30th November 2007

50% Scheme

30th November 2007

Making it in Business

25th January 2008

Symposium on Ecology, Mythology, Technology

6th - 7th February 2008

(For details see CCoI website www.ccoi.ie)

NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY (NCG) EXHIBITIONS 2007 Contact NCG or visit website www.ccoi.ie

NCG, Castle Yard, Kilkenny

Ecology, Mythology, Technology

13th October - 28th January 2008

SIDE BY SIDE, at the Hunt Museum, Limerick

from

23rd November 2007 - 12th January 2008

INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR DATES 2007 Top Drawer 13th - 15th January 2008 www.topdrawerspring.com Maison et Objet 25th - 29th January 2008 Spring Fair, Birmingham 3rd - 7th February 2008 www.springfair.com Premiere Vision, Paris 19th - 22nd February 2008 www.premierevision.fr Collect, London 25th - 29th January 2008 www.craftscouncil.org.uk/collect Ceramic Art, London 29th February - 2nd March 2008 www.ceramics.org.uk Pulse 1st - 3rd June 2008 www.pulse-london.com Home & Gift Harrogate 13th - 16th July 2008 www.homeandgift.co.uk

SHOWS IN IRELAND National Craft Fair, RDS

5th - 9th December 2007

Showcase

20th - 23rd January 2008

For more information on the above events: T: 056 7761804 or e-mail info@ccoi.ie

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

Craft Community Forum Through the ‘Craft Community’ section of Stopress, CCoI are happy to facilitate a FORUM AREA for constructive debate amongst craft enthusiasts. The views in this forum are therefore the views of individuals and are not necessarily the views of the Crafts Council of Ireland.

Craft & Criticism Dear Reader,

Opinion/Analysis/Criticism

...A New Dialogue

Since posing the question of a need for Opinion/ Analysis/Criticism in the July/August edition of Stopress I have got great feedback on how necessary and important the issues. But no one has yet written critically analysis of any exhibitions. At the moment the exhibition Ecology, Mythology,Technology is on until 28 January at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny.This is an exhibition that challenges existing notions about Ireland. It presents us with the possibilities and challenges that face us over the next decade. What do you think of it? Does it raise these issues? Does it answer these issues? On another topic, I was recently invited to teach a short silversmithing block to the metalwork students in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). I found it a great experience.Today the Art Colleges are nurturing the future of craft, and often it is these graduates who are injecting new life into the field.The students of today are studying in virtually a different country and a different culture from the Ireland of the 1980’s that I studied in.These students are the future of craft in Ireland, but what is that future?

Even in the last few years we have seen a lot of changes.Very few sit by the fire happily knitting Aran jumpers to sell to tourists. Domestic thrown pottery has suffered from changing taste in fashion and competition from cheap imports. We have seen in the last few weeks how Waterford Crystal is letting hundreds of people go, because of the falling dollar and falling demand for their products. I’m sure most other craft workers, like me, have regularly been asked the question “Why don’t you get it made in China?”

But it’s not all doom and gloom...the recent exhibition ‘Sculpture in Context’ the largest sculpture exhibition in Ireland, featured many artists registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland, easily crossing between Art and Craft. ‘Design Week’ also featured a large number of craft exhibitions around the country. Craft is now well recognised as an important sector of contemporary Irish design.There are good stories out there of Irish craft companies who can compete on a world stage. Celtic Weave China based in Donegal, have been making fine china for four generations since 1863.Their work is rated so highly that the architect Frank Gehry, who has a degree in ceramics, selected them to make his new bone china table top sculptural pieces for Tiffany & Co. Most of us love what we do. As long as there is someone who wants what we do, and can afford to buy it, we can continue and there will be a future for craft in Ireland. But will that future be for highly skilled full-time professionals, or go like small farming to more part time workers?

Seamus Gill, Silversmith

Note: There are also a number of up-coming opportunities for craftspeople to meet up and join in stimulating debate and discussion via the Crafts Council of Ireland’s 2008 Exhibition Seminar and Workshop Programme, upcoming Symposium on Ecology, Mythology, Technology on 6th - 7th February 2008. Full details will be announced shortly. For more details visit the CCoI website at: www.ccoi.ie

To join the forum, simply send in your opinions to stopress@ccoi.ie and put ‘dialogue in the subject bar.

The Craft Forum Subject: Craft & Criticism Response by: Dr Helen McAllister (Practice-based Research Embroidery NCAD)

Dear Seamus,

I want to take this opportunity to welcome the initiation for Dialogue for Craft and Criticism. The three contributors’ in the Sept /Oct issue of Stopress, all made important and thought provoking points. Firstly I believe all critical debate is positive and welcome and should encourage different and diverse tones that the debate can present. (Debate of agreed consensus may not be debate or indeed be critical). The ‘craft’ sector has traditionally not been a proactive contributor to critical writing of itself or the subject often being reluctant participants, unlike art and design with much written theory, methodical approaches and critical research.This is due to a number of reasons, foremost being that many practitioners’ strongly believe in the affinity with the making process and its materiality, feeling the made artefact is self explanatory. Another reason is reluctance to present text of what for many of us is something intuitive and not easy to define. By explaining or justifying our production there can be the sense that we are somehow ‘dressing it up’ to be something else, something other than the visual sensory experience of the object and therefore we don’t embrace the probing or analysis that this involves. Often practitioners have no need or desire to formulate text or find another language for their production (we relay on a visual tactile language, yet how fluent are we as makers and receivers of this language?) I think it is important we become critical arbiters of what we do so as to avoid the implication that

as practitioners we mindlessly make not knowing what we do or why we do it. Jonas points out the absurdity of the critical analysis / ‘practice dichotomy which seems to imply we switch our brains off in order to make and then switch on again in order to reflect on what we have made’ and that we need others to make sense of what we do. I came to critical research with my experiences of a practice (of embroidery) and the methodical approach of the making process. (There is much ongoing debate of academic research verses the art /design / craft that is not relevant here).Yet I do think the craft sector in Ireland can contribute to a better /changed understanding with and in the wider art /design arenas that will open up and facilitate confident debates of contemporary craft and criticism. Dr Helen McAllister Reference; JONAS Wolfgang (2006) ‘Research through Design through research’ Wonderground’ Design Research Society, International Conference, Lisbon Support Reading; HARROD Tanya (edited 1997), ‘Obscure Objects of Desire’ London., Crafts Council Compilation of papers presented for a conference debating issues of ‘Craft’ and its location in critical thinking.

If you know of any resources that may be of Interest to this forum please send them to stopress@ccoi.ie and put ‘dialogue on the subject bar.

Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter

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Crafts Council of Ireland Newsletter