Design and Craft from Ireland
The force of the wild Atlantic cuts and contours the island of Ireland; shaping its landscape, its people and their ways. This constant process of change creates new from old, exposing beauty and ruggedness, strength and fragility. Rooted in a heritage that has evolved over centuries, contemporary Irish design and craft continues to be shaped by three key forces – materials, landscape and people. Vernacular traditions endure and respect for local materials and the inspiration of place remain inherent in the work. Reflecting an openness amongst designers and makers to learn from each other, new collaborations are developing and result in beautiful objects that fluidly combine contemporary ideas and traditional techniques. Architect and product designer Andrew Clancy’s work with boat builder Matthew O’Malley, and Horizon Furniture’s engagement with fifth-generation Donegal weavers Molloy & Sons both illustrate this respect for tradition combined with fresh imagination. Weathering is presented by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland at Tent London as part of London Design Festival 2014 and builds on the story and explorations of Vernacular (LDF 13) and A Place to Gather (LDF 12). Curated by Steven McNamara, Weathering has been designed as a thing of beauty in itself but its role is also to present a commercial and economic opportunity. Including the work of over 25 contemporary Irish designers and makers, Weathering offers a snapshot of the vibrant design and craft sector in Ireland today, which employs thousands of people across the island and which will be promoted and celebrated nationally and internationally through the upcoming Irish Design 2015 initiative. DCCoI at Tent London 2014
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Overleaf: Tierney Haines with Alan Meredith Print Block Scott Benefield Nest Design Andrew Ludick Makers & Brothers with Matt Jones Horizon Furniture (Fergal O’Leary) with Molloy & Sons Cushendale Woollen Mills Ceadogán Rugs Déanta Design (Andrew Clancy) with Matthew O’Malley Jack Doherty Stickman (James Carroll) Shane Holland Design Glenn Lucas 31 Chapel Lane Joe Hogan
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31 Chapel Lane www.31chapellane.com mail@31chapellane.com 31 Chapel Lane provide beautifully crafted, organic linen products using sustainable, high quality materials woven in Ireland. Established by Cavan native and architect, Damien Hannigan and his Australian partner, Joy Fu; they source their materials from a handful of tweed and Irish Linen Guild approved weavers throughout Ireland.
In collaborating with a variety of designers, Ceadogán strive for continual innovation and originality. It is Denis’ meticulous care and attention to detail which truly distinguishes a Ceadogán rug. Over the past 25 years he has amassed a wealth of experience in working with wools and silks, in mastering and pushing the boundaries of the techniques in his craft and in developing creative design partnerships.
Cillian Ó Súilleabháin Andrew Ludick www.andrewludick.blogspot.com a_ludick@hotmail.com Andrew Ludick’s distinctive pieces evolve from an intuitive process of coiling and pinching clay. This slow process of coil building and the meditative aspects of pinching the clay take him into a space that allows a natural progression to happen, where the form seems to build itself. After the form is built it is decorated using shapes, patterns and colours that complement it. The final piece is covered in a clear transparent glaze, which gives the depth of colour that is such an integral element of his work.
Ceadogán Rugs www.ceadogan.ie info@ceadogan.ie Founded by Denis Kenny, Ceadogán Rugs is dedicated to pairing the traditional values of remarkable craftsmanship and of contemporary design. ↗
www.cosfurniture.ie info@cosfurniture.ie Cillian Ó Súilleabháin started his career as an engineer before discovering his skill and passion for contemporary furniture design. It is perhaps this career evolution that has influenced the minimal, geometric aesthetic of his work.
Déanta Design (Andrew Clancy) www.deanta.eu andrew@deanta.eu Inspired by the heritage of making on the island of Ireland Déanta Design (which was established in early 2014 by Andrew Clancy) is committed to making beautiful objects which are of their time and yet informed by tradition. Educated as an architect, Andrew set up Clancy Moore Architects with Colm Moore in 2006. His Strand Lamps were officially launched as part of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s exhibition Vernacular at LDF2013 – where they won a Design 25 Award.
Derek Wilson Ceramics www.derekwilsonceramics.com studio@derekwilsonceramics.com
Having trained and worked with some of Ireland’s leading furniture designers and manufacturers, he established his own studio in 2011. Since then he has won a variety of awards for design and craftsmanship, and has exhibited extensively.
Based in Belfast, Derek Wilson is a graduate of the University of Ulster where he completed an MA in Applied Arts. His studio practice focuses on a range of hand thrown porcelain tableware and a range of sculptural objects.
Cushendale Woollen Mills
Derek has exhibited extensively throughout the UK and Ireland and was previously selected and featured in Wallpaper magazine’s Handmade Milan exhibition.
www.cushendale.ie info@cushendale.ie Set on a millrace of the River Duiske, Cushendale Woollen Mills is a family-run business in rural Kilkenny that stretches back five generations, crafting naturalfibre textiles in mohair, Irish wool and merino lambswool. Cushendale dyes, cards, spins and weaves their own yarn but more importantly, consistently use these skills to develop new products and designs. Their pure water supply, taken from the River Duiske, is the mill’s most valued natural resource and one of the principal reasons why they can produce textiles of such distinctive colour and texture.
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Glenn Lucas
Jack Doherty
Makers & Brothers
Nest Design
www.glennlucas.com info@glennlucas.com
www.dohertyporcelain.com jack.doherty@virgin.net
www.makersandbrothers.com jonathan@makersandbrothers.com
www.nest-design.com info@nest-design.com
Simplicity of form, precision and beauty are the trademark of each piece created by master woodturner Glenn Lucas. Colour and grain are chosen carefully to complement the design of each piece.
Jack Doherty is passionately involved with ceramics. An accomplished potter, designer, lecturer, author, editor and artist both he and his work are recognised internationally.
www.joehoganbaskets.com joe@joehoganbaskets.com
Makers & Brothers, founded by brothers, Jonathan and Mark Legge, offers an array of products by designers and makers from all over the world. Their inhouse design team actively work with local Irish makers to develop and produce new work. Through this collaborative approach they explore Irish craft, tradition and process.
Joe Hogan makes both functional and sculptural or artistic baskets. His home and landscape have had a profound influence on the style and diversity of his work, encouraging him to explore and develop new designs.
For Weathering they have worked with Sligo based woodturner, Matt Jones on the Peppermill Series. Matt believes that understanding the internal forces of wood – its ability to move and breathe – is a vital part of his craft.
Neil and Annabel McCarthy established Nest Design with the aim of breaking new ground in crafted timber furniture. Their decision to work in small series has resulted in a rich and constantly changing exploration and testing of new methods, such as the use of jesmonite and resin inlays. Both Neil and Annabel studied Furniture Design and Making at Rycotewood College, Oxfordshire graduating in 1998. Nest Design was originally established in Cork and is now based in south west France. They work mainly to commission and for exhibition producing one-off pieces and limited editions.
Glenn’s bespoke work has featured in exhibitions in Ireland, the UK and the US. His classic salad bowls, turned by hand from Irish native wood, transcend functionality, bringing a sense of luxury to a normally everyday item.
Horizon Furniture (Fergal O’Leary) www.horizonfurniture.ie fergal.horizon@gmail.com Horizon Furniture is a vibrant, award winning furniture design and manufacture practice in Cork, Ireland. Designer Fergal O’Leary creates cool, calm and collectible furniture and Horizon Furniture manufactures his designs in-house, focusing on high quality materials and finish. Founded by Fergal in 2008, Horizon Furniture’s ethos is simple – to make furniture with an understated modern aesthetic, that has that extra something to make it stand out from the crowd.
J. HILL’s Standard www.jhillsstandard.com anike@jhillsstandard.com J. HILL’s Standard is a maker of contemporary cut crystal objects, crafted by hand, using centuries-old knowledge passed down through generations of skilled craftsmen.
Joe Hogan
Hogan values the repetition and the fluency developed through creating functional baskets. The pieces featured in Weathering, are functional and reflect the diversity of willow varieties in Hogan's willow plantation. In 2012 Hogan was selected for the Living Legends programme at the World Crafts Council Summit.
The Local Maker Co. (Benny Magennis) www.thelocalmakerco.com thelocalmakerco@gmail.com Benny Magennis is a designer maker, who creates and produces simple handmade craft furniture from his workshop in the north-east of Ireland. Having graduated from Buckinghamshire New University in Contemporary Furniture & Product Design and worked in London, he returned to Ireland and founded The Local Maker Co. in 2013.
Molloy & Sons www.molloyandsons.com info@molloyandsons.com Built on the solid foundations of a rich heritage spanning five generations, the Molloy family have been in the textile business in Donegal since the 19th century. Renowned for the quality, colour and beauty of their tweed Molloy & Sons are synonymous with what great craftsmanship is today. Their wealth of knowledge, skill and expertise comes through from their ancestors and continues to live on in the modern techniques which they embrace.
Muriel Beckett www.murielbeckett.ie muriel@murielbeckett.ie Muriel Beckett discovered weaving while still at art college in Ireland and went on to study advanced textiles in Finland. Soon after returning to Ireland Muriel set up studio and began taking on commissions for rugs and tapestries. Over the years she has built up extensive experience both in terms of her skill in designing and making, and in working collaboratively with designers, specifiers and clients.
Print Block www.printblock.ie info@printblock.ie Print Block is not-for-profit organisation and is operated voluntarily by a group of textile artists and designers who work enthusiastically with a shared vision to develop the Irish textile printing industry. Designers and founders include Liz Nilsson, Jennifer Phelan, Liz Walsh, Olga Tiernan, Ruth Doorley, Caroline Ryan and Ursula Celano.
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Snug
www.scottbenefield.com info@scottbenefield.com
www.snug.ie hello@snug.ie
Scott Benefield’s work descends from the Venetian traditions of glassblowing, which utilise the most essential aspects of glass: transparency, saturated colour and most importantly, fluidity.
From their workshop in Snugboro, Co. Wicklow, Conor and Nell run Snug. Celebrating design that is playful, functional and crafted, they believe that you can have well designed Irish products, at affordable prices while still using quality materials.
Prototypes for Weathering were made in collaboration with Alan Meredith Studio (www.alanmeredith.ie).
Shane Holland Design
All their products are designed with this mind, creating well-crafted and designed furniture that will sit comfortably in any home. Snug creates pieces that are made with care and built to last.
www.shanehollanddesign.com info@shanehollanddesign.com
Stickman (James Carroll)
Award winning designer, Úna employs traditional leather-working techniques to produce both fashion accessories and figurative art pieces. Each piece, whether for the body or the home, pushes the boundaries of design and challenges expectations.
Shane Holland designs and produces furniture and light fittings from a wide range of materials including timber, metals and acrylics. He uses recycled materials where possible, and has recently begun to incorporate found objects into his work, such as the bottles used in his Riesling and Borscht chandeliers, and the cast iron weights used in his 686 table.
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Scott Benefield
In particular he uses the basic language of cane techniques (filigrana, zanfirco, reticello) to create complex patterns in glass that help describe the contours of the vessel in a graphic way.
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www.stickman.ie james@stickman.ie Designer maker James Carroll creates hand crafted furniture pieces from his workshop in the Wicklow Mountains. He has an instinct for seeing the potential beauty in items and materials often discarded or passed over by others. Using traditional Irish craftsmanship executed to the highest standard, he brings these pieces to life. Through meticulous attention to detail, combined with quirky and original finishing touches, he infuses a sense of energy into his work, giving pieces back their soul.
Tierney Haines Architects (Stephen Tierney) www.tierneyhaines.com stephen@tierneyhaines.com Stephen Tierney studied History of Art and History in Dublin and Rome before Architecture in London (Bartlett) and California (SCI-Arc). Stephen worked in architecture and animation in London with James Gorst Architects and Ian Ritchie Architects and now tutors at University College Dublin School of Architecture. ↗
Stephen shares a design practice, Tierney Haines Architects, with his wife Nicola Haines.
Úna Burke www.unaburke.com info@unaburke.com
Timeless, elegant and sculptural, Úna’s work is designed for the discerning customer who appreciates quality craftsmanship and creativity. The Irish Handmade Glass Company is made up of a group of master craftsmen with a combined total of over 130 years experience. Based in the historic heart of Waterford City they aim to bring the craft of glass making to life.
Woodenleg www.woodenleg.eu robertskoczylas.eu@gmail.com Woodenleg is a Dublin-based design studio that was established in 2009 by Anna Strzelecka and Robert Skoczylas. They create objects that are easy to use, but that convey personality and meaning, and are often capable of surprise. Both Anna and Robert were born in Poland and studied architecture in Krakow. In 2013 their Module table (that featured in the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s show Vernacular) won a Design 25 Award, at London Design Festival.
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Woodenleg Molloy & Sons Snug Muriel Beckett J. HILL’s Standard Úna Burke with The Irish Handmade Glass Company 22 Derek Wilson 23 Cillian Ó Súilleabháin 24 The Local Maker Co. (Benny Magennis)
Weathering and the stripping back of excess, can be seen as the slow process makers undergo to unearth and express an object’s essence, revealing its true potential and natural beauty. Each revelation is a development in the story that emerges from the initial exchanges between maker, object, material and landscape. Irish craft, by virtue of its quality, is durable and usable. Over time, the user can develop a fuller appreciation and understanding of the object. In many cases, the actual colours and shapes of the objects change, moulding themselves to their user, while the user adapts their habits to the object. The exhibition design for Weathering investigates layering in terms of use. The linen screens, which add an element of discovery while allowing for smaller curated groups, have been constructed out of screen-printing frames, intended to be reused as such in the future. The understated plinths, simply slotted together, can be easily disassembled, transported and stored, ready for subsequent use. The ambition behind the design of Weathering is to create an exhibition which, like the objects it contains, will evolve over time and have lasting value. It promotes design that fulfils the requirements of the present, while considering how it can meaningfully contribute to the future. Curatorial Statement
Steven McNamara Curator & Exhibition Designer
Design & Crafts Council of Ireland The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) is the main champion of the design and craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. It is funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. Irish Design 2015 Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) is a year long programme with a wide array of signature events as well as promotional and celebration activities. ID2015 will be an exciting showcase of the best of Irish design and will be delivered and managed by DCCoI. Supported by the Irish government, the overall objective of the year is to sustain and create employment opportunities, sales and export potential for the Irish design sector, by encouraging investment in design as a key component of competitiveness and innovation and by showcasing Irish design nationally and internationally during 2015. www.irishdesign2015.ie Exhibition Location Weathering Hall T4-B, First Floor, Old Truman Brewery Hanbury Street, London E1 6QR, United Kingdom Curator / Exhibition Designer Steven McNamara www.rojidesigns.com Press Enquiries UK: Ciara Phillips, Sandford PR ciara@sandfordpr.com / +44 (0)75 8490 2347 Ireland: Emma Kelly, Elevate PR emma@elevate.ie / +353 (0)1 662 5652 Sales Enquiries Nicola Doran Retail Programme Manager, DCCoI nicola@dccoi.ie / +353 (0)86 824 3786 Design Atelier David Smith www.atelier.ie Photography Sean and Yvette Photography www.seanandyvette.com Print and Production Plus Print, Dublin www.plusprint.ie Design & Crafts Council of Ireland Castle Yard, Kilkenny, Ireland T. + 353 (0)56 776 1804 www.dccoi.ie
Tent London 18—21 September 2014
Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, Ireland www.dccoi.ie