Official opening of the end of year exhibition on Tuesday 22nd June 2010, 7-9pm in Jack O Patsy, Friar Street, Youghal

On Tuesday the 22nd of June the FETAC 5 Art Craft and Design class of 08 to 10 will Launch an Art Craft & Design Exhibition in the Jack O Patsy Premises, Friar st Youghal. The exhibition will run on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of June.

This is the culmination of two years work for the students and all will have some of their artworks on display. The artworks will cover a wide range of materials with the students exhibiting paintings, ceramics, drawings, photos and printmaking/batik pieces.

For the students this was a long journey that started on Tuesday the 30th September 2008 when a group of students entered the East Cork Further Education Center in Youghal. They were all there to take part in the FETAC level 5 course in Arts Craft and Design.

What made this group of students a little bit different then the normal student is that the age of this group ranged from 25 upwards. Despite the age, it was like the first day in school for many of the class.

The course funded under the Back to Education Initiative, was suitable for those who wanted to prepare a portfolio for application to third level art courses or for those who wished to develop their talents in a wide range of visual and artistic skills.

The course subjects covered many facets of artwork from drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, design, photography and communications. This course would run for two years, three mornings a week.  Patricia Burns the course coordinator welcome the class to the school and before they knew what was happening had them sketching, painting and drawing.

This was to be the normal for the next two years as the students moved from one subject to the next, exploring the world of Art Craft and Design along the way. Some of the students had painted or been involved in one way or another in the subject matter but for most it was all new.

There’s nothing like sitting in front of a large clean blank canvas and being told paint something, It is a daunting task but after the first brush stroke the fear melts away as you become lost in a world of colour, shade, style and before you know it its time to clean up and go home.

Many of the students spent a lot of their own time at home, outside of the normal study hours finishing paintings, ironing batiks, sketching a ceramic piece for the kiln the next day, such was the enthusiasm and enjoyment involved.

Throughout the two year course these students went to galleries, went on field trips to photograph, paint and explore our natural world and then try to capture those moments on canvas in clay or on film.  Like many things the course came to an end but not before many of the students had discovered a new talent or a better understanding of Arts, Crafts and design.

Some of the students have already applied to third level courses in colleges in our area, others have found a new way to spend their leisure time, and all of the students who finished the course were agreed on one thing. It was an amazing experience, surrounded by great teachers, students who became good friends and those who all shared a common love for Art Craft and Design.

So if you’re in town why not pop in to the Jack O Patsy on Friar St Youghal to support these local artists on this exhibition of work.

Cork Textiles Network (CTN) is a, not for profit, group of Cork based artists whose combined media ranges from Ceramics, Stitch art, jewellery, printed textiles, felting, and weaving among others.

On the weekend of the 6th & 7th March they will be holding their annual Conference. As a part of this week they are incorporating an Arts and Crafts sale and demonstrations day.
Artists and supply companies are invited to exhibit at this event all monies raised will go towards the sponsoring of 2 midwives from the CUH Maternity Dept to go to work in Haiti.

GREAT ART AND CRAFT FAIR

COLAISTE STIOFAN NOAFA

TRAMORE ROAD CORK

SUNDAY 7TH MARCH 2010

AS PART OF CORK TEXTILE NETWORK CONFERENCE 2010 EVENT RENOWNED ARTISTS (INCLUDING RDS AWARD WINNER 2009) OF PRINTED TEXTILES, FELT, WEAVING, APPLIQUE, JEWELLRY INCLUDING FRESHWATER PEARL, CERAMICS. PAINTING, ART SUPPLIERS, PLUS MANY DEMONSTRATIONS.

IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST OF ARTS & CRAFTS SUPPLIER AND WOULD LIKE TO SELL OR DEMONSTRATE YOUR PRODUCTS AND SKILLS PLEASE CONTACT US TO BOOK A SPACE.

COST OF TABLES:      INDIVIDUALS: 25 EURO

COMMERCIAL: 50 EURO

PROCEEDS FROM EVENT WILL HELP FUND A TRIP TO HAITI BY TWO MIDWIVES

Email: barbhall@eircom.net

Craftspeople from ten Cork businesses in South Cork, West Cork and Cork City will be representing the county at the Showcase Expo in Dublin this month, meeting thousands of international buyers from across Europe, North America and Asia. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Thanks to the support of the Cork County and City Enterprise Boards, Kieran Higgins, Dunbeacon Pottery, Custom Quilting, Julian Smith Ceramics, Bagoose Fleece Clothing, Belinda Northcote Design, Liz Burgess Ceramics, Hilary Nunan, Turner Glass and Martha Cashman Sculptural Ceramics will be exhibiting their creations in the R.D.S. at ‘Area A’, along with over 30 other exhibitors which have been supported by their local Enterprise Board.
An estimated 5,000 buyers from Ireland, Japan, the US, France, Germany and Italy will be attending Showcase over the four days, to see the work of 450 craftspeople.
Speaking ahead of Showcase, Sean O’ Sullivan, the CEO of South Cork Enterprise Board said: “The Cork County and City Enterprise Boards are delighted to be involved
in supporting local gift businesses at Showcase 2010.  Over the years we have been pro-active in supporting this sector following the successful Gift Business Development Programme and more recently BT Cork Design Week.  The Boards in Cork remain committed to supporting the gift sector in 2010.”

The West Cork Enterprise Board is supporting Kieran Higgins, a woodturner from Skibbereen, Helen Ennis from Dunbeacon Pottery in Durrus and Beryl Cadman from Custom Quilting in Castletownbere. The South Cork Enterprise Board is supporting Julian Smith Ceramics from Kinsale, Simone O’ Shaughnessy from Bagoose Fleece Clothing in Passage West, Belinda Northcote Design from Shanagarry, Liz Burgess Ceramics from Belgooly and Hilary Nunan from Minane Bridge. The Cork City Enterprise Board is supporting Eoin Turner from Turner Glass in Blackpool and Martha Cashman Sculptural Ceramics on Upper Blarney Street.
Now in its 34th year, Showcase is Ireland’s creative expo and runs from Sunday January 24th to Wednesday January 27th in the Main Hall of the R.D.S. The initiative provides Irish designer makers, craft enterprises and gift brand manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products to the world’s buyers. Organised by Showcase Ireland Events Ltd. on behalf of the Crafts Council of Ireland, the event is promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland and more information is available at www.showcaseireland.com
Further information about the supports on offer to small businesses in Cork is available at www.wceb.ie (West Cork), www.sceb.ie (South Cork) and www.corkceb.ie (Cork City).

FOR ALL MEDIA-RELATED QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ENGAGE IRELAND:
Sarah Bohan on Tel: 01 8855162 / 087 65 39936 / sbohan@engageireland.com
Serena Bryans on Tel: 01 8855162 / 086 812 4106/ sbryans@engageireland.com

Supported by South Cork Enterprise Board:

About Julian Smith Ceramics (www.westcorkcraft.org)
Julian Smith has been working with clay for over twenty years, producing one-off cast and hand-built ceramic pieces, mainly based on figurative forms and Celtic mythology. From his studio in the fishing village of Kinsale, Julian has mastered raku-firing, a 16th century Japanese firing process.  His raku-fired ceramics have rich metallic lustres and crackle glazes, which Julian has become famous for.
About Bagoose Fleece Clothing (www.bagoose.com)
Award-winning designer, Simone O’ Shaughnessy, set up the Bagoose Children’s Clothing Label a decade ago in Passage West.  Designed and manufactured in Ireland using 100% polyester (made from recycled plastic), the clothing is fun, colourful and cosy. The range includes scarves, jackets, blankets and hats in styles and sizes to suit boys and girls.  “Easy wear, Easycare, Everywhere” is the Bagoose motto.
About Belinda Northcote Design (www.belindanorthcote.com)
Precise and detailed, colourful yet timeless, Belinda Northcote specialises in botanical and wildlife paintings, having graduated from the prestigious UK Society of Botanical Artists Diploma Course. Inspired by her surroundings (the picturesque fishing village of Ballycotton),  Belinda’s fine art prints and greeting cards have stunning botanical detail, which include all kinds of ‘creepy crawlies’.
About Liz Burgess Ceramics
Through the medium of clay, Liz translates her thoughts and ideas into raku-fired ceramics, such as figurative torsos, facial masks and ‘Painter’s Palettes’ ceramic bowls. Celebrating the beauty of the human form, Liz’s contemporary ceramic sculptures are complex, textured and vibrantly coloured. Based in Kinsale, Liz will be unveiling ‘Lava Flowers’ at Showcase – these pieces are rich in colour, lustrous and stylish.
About Hilary Nunan
From windy shores and wheat fields to choppy waters and reed beds – Hilary Nunan creates vibrant, textured works of art. An award-winning artist, Hilary draws inspiration from the working fields, hedgerows and coastline surrounding her Ringabella studio. Her striking applied art and craft is traditionally framed, uniquely combining acrylic and natural fibres. Hillary is launching a range of greeting cards shortly.
Supported by Cork City Enterprise Board:
About Turner Glass (www.turnerglass.com)
Working from his glass studio in Cork City, Eoin Turner has gained international attention for his “casually elegant” glassware that includes vases, bowls and candleholders from his ‘Vortex’ collection.  Eoin’s designs are clearly inspired by the sea, given his experiences as a West Cork fisherman and as a painter. Made from cast glass and formed metal, Turner Glass pieces project a subtle, yet ruggedly defined form.

About Martha Cashman Sculptural Ceramics (www.marthacashman.com)
Martha Cashman is an award-winning ceramicist who transforms the most humbling of objects, such as tools and spoons, into symbolic story boards. Using porcelain and bright lustre glazes, Martha crafts framed sculptures, unique porcelain brooches and Christmas Tree Hangings at her Cork city studio.  Having won the Scarva Award, Martha’s work can also be viewed at the Cork Institute of Technology.
Supported by West Cork Enterprise Board:
About Kieran Higgins (www.kieranhiggins.com)
Kieran crafts unique pieces in native hardwood timber and bog woods at his artist studio near Skibbereen in West Cork.  A member of the Irish Woodturners’ Guild, Kieran sculpts, carves and turns wood, highlighting its natural characteristics and defects to retain the wood’s heritage. The colour, grain and imperfection within the wood decides the shape and form of the finished piece.
About Dunbeacon Pottery (www.dunbeaconpottery.com)
For the last 30 years, West Cork’s Dunbeacon Pottery has been famous for its beautiful, yet functional hand-made ceramic tableware. Since taking over ten years ago, Helen Ennis has continued to craft ceramic pieces that capture the essence of Ireland’s Southwest coast. Her latest collection focuses on well-designed and affordable bowls, vases, jugs, mugs, butter dishes and tabletop pottery, all decorated by hand.
About Custom Quilting (www.customquilt.com)
Beryl Cadman is a textile artist and a grandmother, so she fully understands the importance of both beauty and function in children’s bedding. With decades of quilting experience, Beryl makes heirloom -quality quilts and accessories under the ‘Custom Quilting’ brand.  The ‘Bunny Love’ nursery collection of quilts, pillows and nursery accessories are all hand-made, designed to withstand the rigors of everyday life.

Youghal artist Martha Cashman (Sculptural Ceramics) features in the prestigious  Cork Design Week showcase at Brown Thomas. Ever since she can remember Martha Cashman has been tinkering with bits of wood and metal in her father’s shed. With hindsight, Martha realises ‘it was no wonder, as her Uncle Mick Carey, the last blacksmith in Youghal, a gentle giant, spent long hours working there himself, shoeing the local horses’. Report/Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Art took precedence at secondary school, Loreto Convent, Youghal after which Martha made an unusual career choice, much to the chagrin of her art teacher and the nuns at the time! Straight out of school she walked on to a building site in Youghal, Co Cork to start a decorating apprenticeship. The nuns derided it as ‘a man’s job’, in the hope that Martha would ‘come to her senses’. But as she says now ‘I think part of my drive throughout that phase of my career was to prove to everyone that I had made the right decision’. So, even at this stage Martha was showing great determination and single-mindedness – qualities which have been invaluable in her subsequent creative endeavours!

Brown Thomas Cork in conjunction with partners Cork County & City Enterprise Boards hosted the exciting exhibition to present and promote a wealth of design craftsmanship in Cork City and County. A selection of 15 accomplished craftsmen and women collectively presented their work in one retail space. Products included: Read more