Month: June 2023

Exhibition: Oltre Terra – Why Wool Matters in Oslo, Norway

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The Nasjonalmuseet has an exhibition that should be of interest to many feltmakers!

In “Oltre Terra. Why Wool Matters”, the multidisciplinary design studio Formafantasma investigates the history, ecology and global dynamics of the extraction and production of wool.

“Oltre Terra. Why Wool Matters” brings together various items relating to sheep farming and the wool industry: paintings, textiles, photographs and videos. A 1,700-year-old tunic, goat masks, and a commissioned video work by artist Joanna Piotrowska are just some of the objects on display. At the centre of the exhibition, visitors are invited to relax on a large carpet made of a type of wool that would normally be discarded by the wool industry. There is also plenty of research material that lets you delve deeper into the exhibition’s topics.

If you are unable to get to Norway, you can explore the exhibition in 3D – https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=4H2AHHF16o5

Additionally, there are five short audio recordings about sheep and wool that you can listen to – https://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/guide/oltreterra/

The exhibition runs through the 1st of October.

For more information, visit the website – https://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/exhibitions-and-events/national-museum/exhibitions/2023/oltre-terra.-why-wool-matters/

Event: Connemara National Park Celebration – July 1st

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Via Suzanna Crampton on the Irish Wool Discussion Group on Facebook –

Connemara National Park will be celebrating its twinning agreement with Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland, Canada, by undertaking a Heritage Event on Canada Day, the 1st of July 2023.

Among the day’s events is a focus on sheep and wool.

  • The staff in Connemara National Park have been instrumental in efforts to regenerate the Cladoir breed of sheep which was once found throughout Connemara but was pushed to the brink of extinction in recent years. The Cladoir sheep were known to have had fine wool which could be knitted or woven and was an important reason why the breed survived. To celebrate the importance of the wool for the regeneration of the breed, hand shearing of our Cladoir sheep flock will take place throughout the day, with the wool processed on-site in order to have a finished hand-knitted garment by the end of the day.
  • Connemara National Park holds a number of Heritage Breeds which include: Connemara Pony; Cladoir sheep; Galway Sheep; Irish Maol Cattle; and Old Irish Goat. A representative of each of these Rare Breeds Societies will be on hand to discuss each breed’s importance.

For more information, please contact the Visitor Centre on 095 41054 or 087 2919721

For a full schedule, visit the website – https://www.nationalparks.ie/connemara/special-heritage-event-on-july-1st-2023/

Cladoir photograph from Feltmakers Ireland’s book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’

Open Call: Funded Practice-Based PhD from NCAD

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The National College of Art & Design (NCAD), in partnership with CONNECT – the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications – is seeking candidates for funded interdisciplinary practice-based doctoral study beginning in September 2023.

The proposed project – located at both NCAD’s Thomas Street campus and at CONNECT Centre in Trinity College Dublin – will examine the varying forms and systems of knowledge underpinning technology research, development and application.

The structured PhD is a four-year, full-time programme designed for emerging and professional artists, whose work moves across multiple arts disciplines. Funding is per annum.

Deadline: 21/7/2023 at 17:00 (Irish time 24hr format)

For more information, visit their website – https://www.ncad.ie/news/view/fully-funded-practice-based-phd-at-ncad-connect

Open Call: Sculpture Exhibition – Kilkenny

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Just received information on this via Sculpture in Context folks. The deadline is not mentioned, but it must be soon.

The Kilkenny Art Gallery is inviting submissions for sculpture – indoor and outdoor – for an exhibition to coincide with the three Kilkenny Arts Festivals commencing July 30th 2023

The exhibition will run from July 3rd to August 20th.

Delivery Date: Saturday, July 22nd

Indoor and outdoor space. There are some trees which potentially can be used for suspended work.

Gallery Commission: 40%. Artists will be paid within one week of the close of the exhibition.

Please email images of the proposed work together with dimensions, title, medium and price to thekilkennyartgallery@gmail.com 

For any queries or alternative delivery dates contact Brock Butler 0862679775

For more information, contact – thekilkennyartgallery@gmail.com

Open Call: Designer in Residence 2023 – Benchspace, Cork

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Not strictly textiles, but may be of interest: The Benchspace Designer in Residence Programme is currently open for submissions.

This programme endeavours to bring established designers and makers from outside of County Cork, Ireland, to showcase their work and contribute fresh perspectives to the professional makers at Benchspace.

Applications are also welcomed from academic staff of creative programs in any discipline seeking a period of return to a professional workshop environment.

The Residency affords the successful candidate the opportunity to create a new body of work or facilitate the exploration of innovative methodologies within the creative community at Ireland’s first shared, creative manufacturing hub, based in Cork City.

Programme details:
– 4-week residency across August and September 2023
– Access and inductions to Benchspace’s professional workshops (wood, fine metal, digital fabrication, product photography and digital design)
– Individual studio workspace within our shared workshop
– €2000 to put towards travel, accommodation and expenses
– €200 materials budget

Deadline: Submissions are due by Sunday, 2nd July.
If you have any questions, contact – programmes@benchspacecork.ie

Find out more here – https://benchspacecork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Designer-in-Residence-2023-Final.pdf

Armchair Travel: Sheep to Shawl Competition at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

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Recently, National Public Radio in America had a feature on the Sheep to Shawl Competition at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, which happened at the beginning of May.

A team comprises one sheep and five people, whose labours are divided into one shearer, three spinners, and a weaver. The team has three hours to shear the sheep, card the wool, spin the wool into yarn, and then weave that yarn into an award-winning shawl.

To listen to the radio program and watch a separate video, see the website: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/15/1176174760/sheep-shawl-fiber-art

Exhibition: Wonderful WOOL – Exhibition by IFA Region 14 Members

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Several members of Feltmakers Ireland have pieces in the International Feltmakers Association – Region 14 members’ exhibition, ‘Wonderful WOOL’, set in the Larne Museum and Arts Centre, Larne, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.

The event runs from the 7th to the 27th of July, with an opening celebration on the 22nd.

For more information, visit – https://www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/events/wonderful-wool

News: Fibre to Fabric Crowdfunding Campaign

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Not wool, but very interesting as raw wool fleece faces similar processing challenges within Ireland.

Not so long ago, all the processes that make-up linen production – from soil to finished textile– were still alive in Ireland, especially in the northern regions. Sadly, today Irish linen is only woven and/or finished in Ireland; everything else happens abroad. Fortunately, there are still weavers and finishers whose craft has survived, and their skills are a living heritage.

A few years ago, Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon from Mallon Linen started growing flax. Today, not only are they still growing it, but they’ve managed to acquire the machinery and knowledge to process the flax fibres up to the hackling stage.

The missing link is spinning. If only we had flax spinning machinery in Ireland, we could revive our local linen production all across the value chain!

Enter Mourne Textiles, a third-generation weaving company that has a mission to restore vintage flax processing and spinning equipment to create a sustainable circular supply chain from hemp to linen for all of Ireland.

They discovered a complete set of industrial flax-spinning machines. Although old, these machines are still very relevant for processing flax and hemp fibres after they have been harvested, scutched, and heckled.

In collaboration with local farmers at Mallon Linen, and researchers at Ulster University, Mourne Textiles aims to promote sustainable fabric production here on the Island of Ireland by creating a field-to-fabric circular supply chain. Their focus is on producing environmentally friendly fabrics grown and processed locally.

The Mourne Textiles fundraiser runs through the 30th of June. To learn more and give your support, visit here – https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/fibre-to-fabric

Image via Qest website.

Events: Flavours of Fingal County Show – Newbridge House

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Learned of Flavours of Fingal County Show via our friends at the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers.

Dates: 1st and 2nd of July.

“This is a busy show, with lots to see and do. Irish Alpaca Yarns will have a stand in the Craft Tent. There will probably be some sheep shearing, and local Alpaca farms will be there with some of their animals”.

“Free entry if you travel there by foot, bike, bus or train. There is a train station in Donabate with trains from Connolly or from Drogheda and Dundalk. Shuttle buses can be booked from nearby towns and villages”.

For more information, visit the event website: https://www.flavoursoffingal.ie

Exhibition Submission: FI Member Application Open – Bountiful

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Juried applications are now open to members for our annual juried exhibition in the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre. The theme is Bountiful, which you may interpret in any way that you wish. Please see the particular guidelines on the downloadable form below.

Forms and queries should be returned to Deirdre Crofts by email. (Her address is on the form).

The Downloadable Application:

2023-bountiful-feltmakers-exhibition-form-1Download

Deadline: the 1st of September.

Deirdre Crofts led us through Mind Mapping during our Sunday Session in June.

Happy Feltmaking!!!