Today- opening day- at the Phoenix Park, Visitor Centre- see the work of Feltmakers Ireland in the exhibition entitled “Endangered- Lost there, Felt here”… if you can, please do visit. Pieces will also be shown online here- in a series of “Meet the Maker” interviews.
Judging ongoing, 1st round complete, 2nd round on 5th August.
Exhibition opens in Visitor Centre, Phoenix Park on Sunday 9th August. Please come along. All the applicants will also be shown here on our website over the coming 2 months.
Dear members, here is a quick update on what is going on in Feltmakers Ireland at the moment.
The committee has been meeting a couple of times since the lock down, virtually, of course. We want to do as much as possible for the membership to stay in touch and learn despite the constraints caused by the virus.
As you know, the studio is too small to have even reduced numbers in for Sunday sessions, so we are busy looking at ways to arrange virtual How-Tos to keep expanding our learning opportunities. We are already talking to a few members about making video tutorials, but we also want to put the question out to you all to think about if you would be willing and able to do a video tutorial or Show and Tell. Please contact the committee if you want to participate in this. Going forward we will also be seeking your input on what you are especially interested in, to make sure we focus on areas that are of particular interest.
The dead line for entries to the Endangered Exhibition has passed. We received entries from 15 artists with a total of 20 pieces. They are all looking fabulous. It is currently in the hand of the judges.
The endangered exhibition will be hung on the 8th of August and we will have some sort of opening on the 9th. We have yet to find out how we can arrange the opening and how many can attend, but hope to stream it for those who are unable to attend.
National Heritage Week is happening while the exhibition is going on. We are connecting to a strand of this event labelled Relearning Skills from our Heritage. See here for more information: https://www.heritageweek.ie/project-ideas/learn-to-felt-on-a-digital-platform. There are many interesting projects included in this week’s items.
We will also be using the critters you have been making to decorate the space outside the exhibition venue. We will get back to you with more details regarding this closer to the time. Meanwhile, keep making them and send us photos we can put up on the blog!
Send all replies and images to committeefeltmakersireland@gmail.com
HAPPY MAKING!
Our member Leiko Uchiyama is taking part in an upcoming Exhibition- entitled Borris Connections.
Last year Leiko gave a workshop together with Felt makers Ireland, it was well attended, lots was learnt, and everyone went away with a new piece of work and new techniques. We even had some of these displayed at our Knit & Stitch Stand in Nov 2019, which drew lots of admiration.
Leiko’s work is stunning and the other artists showing their work are sure to be of a high standard.
Please #supportartists #artistsgonnamake but they need your support more than ever. Go along to the exhibition, be inspired, share, and spread the word. Support each other.
9th July- 30th August, The Granary, Borris, Co. Carlow…
Please send us a review if you attend, we will publish photos and help spread the love.
An update:
Endangered exhibition applications- the date for preliminary round judging has been extended to try to accommodate the unforeseen circumstances we find ourselves in.
The Closing date- for digital submissions is now 30th June. See application form attached.
We have engaged two independent Judges- one from International Felters Association and one Non-member, established Irish felt maker.
The first round of judging will be done using digital submissions- see the application for details of format required. This will be done remotely, using an anonymous numbering system. The Judges will not know who has submitted any piece and their decision is final. The committee is not involved in this judging process. The entries will be ranked in numerical order, the top 20pieces will go on to the next round.
Currently we have been allocated a gallery space by Knit & Stitch- 6mx 5m x5m (wall space, with floor space available for some 3D pieces). We are in touch with the organisers- twisted thread. They have promised to keep us informed. Currently the K&S is going ahead in November. I am sure you can appreciate that we are nervous about this but remain hopeful also.
We have a plan B in place, should the knit & stitch show be cancelled. We have already been in contact with our OPW contact in the Phoenix Park. He has assured us that he will not see us stuck. We are hopeful therefore that we will be able to exhibit at one of the Phoenix Park venues- for example the visitor centre, the Cowshed or Farmleigh ( should the Knit & Stitch RDS be cancelled).
In these new and uncertain times, we are finding new ways of working. We have had to learn to be more flexible. Our two judges for example will be working remotely for the first round. We do however want to promote our craft of felt making. We want to offer our members something to aim for. We want to inspire and encourage fellow artists and we want to remain creative.
I read somewhere recently that while science will find us a cure, art will keep us sane… this resonated with me and I hope that you members understand that while some flexibility may be required on all our parts we will endeavour to remain optimistic and push forward with the “Endangered” exhibition… a title that seems even more important today than ever.
Entry open to members of Feltmakers Ireland 2020 only.
reminder- to get MAKING A BUZZ…. help us celbrate biodiversity in the park- by making giant BEES, BIRDS, INSECTS, FLOWERS… and felt bombing the local environment!
In Sept – Sept 13th to be exact we will be taking part in a biodiversity event in the Phoenix park. We want to felt bomb a tree- with a twist… Lets make Bees & Birds and all things biodiverse…. Endangered insects and native flowers… in felt.
We would like these pieces to be large- perhaps 30cm to be seen from afar and work in a hanging or pinning way. If you feel like a challenge, help us to BRING A BUZZ back to the park!
We are asking you to get making- and bring them along to the AGM in May…. of course we have more time as the Biodiversity day will be in Sept…. but it was so beautiful and encouraging for everyone to see the indivdual pieces of felt work last year at our AGm- that we are hoping of you will bring your creepie crawlies already in MAY and motivate your fellow felters to join the FUN!
Hi members,
please find the application form for the Exhibition by Felt makers Ireland to be shown at the Knit & Stitch show in Nov 2020.
We look forward to receiving your entries- to hello@feltmakersireland.com
This will be a 2-stage process- first round (together with fees, 15th June, photographs digitally submitted only) 2nd round actual pieces judged in Sept.
Both judging rounds will be by independent adjudication- not by the committee. The committee will provide administrative support and liaison with members.
We really do look forward to seeing our members work and presenting the lucky chosen pieces to the wider public. Good Luck.
APPLICATION FORM FOR ENDANGERED EXHIBITION MASTER
Feltmakers Ireland prioritises the safety of its members and so will be reviewing its events on an ongoing basis. We will keep you up to date on what is going ahead or if there are any cancellations. It is important for us to follow HSE and Dept of Health advice at all times. Keep well everyone and take great care of yourselves.
Best wishes,
The Feltmakers Ireland Committee.
Hi folks,
AGM this year will take place on 17th May in Lucan.
Last year our collaborative art project was so well supported and has helped so much I the decorating of the studio- the exhibition space and the Knit and Stitch stand that we are hoping to try something similar again!
In Sept – Sept 13th to be exact we will be taking part in a biodiversity event in the Phoenix park. We want to felt bomb a tree- with a twist… Lets make Bees & Birds and all things biodiverse…. Endangered insects and native flowers… in felt.
We would like these pieces to be large- perhaps 30cm to be seen from afar and work in a hanging or pinning way. If you feel like a challenge, help us to BRING A BUZZ back to the park!
We are asking you to get making- and bring them along to the AGM in May…. of course we have more time as the Biodiversity day will be in Sept…. but it was so beautiful and encouraging for everyone to see the indivdual pieces of felt work last year at our AGm- that we are hoping of you will bring your creepie crawlies already in MAY and motivate your fellow felters to join the FUN!
Hi members,
please find the application form for the Exhibition by Felt makers Ireland to be shown at the Knit & Stitch show in Nov 2020.
We look forward to receiving your entries- to hello@feltmakersireland.com
This will be a 2-stage process- first round (together with fees, 15th June, photographs digitally submitted only) 2nd round actual pieces judged in Sept.
Both judging rounds will be by independent adjudication- not by the committee. The committee will provide administrative support and liaison with members.
We really do look forward to seeing our members work and presenting the lucky chosen pieces to the wider public. Good Luck.
APPLICATION FORM FOR ENDANGERED EXHIBITION MASTER
