For the day that is in it… “Happy Valentine’s Day y’all”! Share the love. Join your felt making community. Currently membership is open, and many of you have already signed up. Receipts are being processed and €5 vouchers will be sent out via email.

This is a little piece by our current co-chair Vicky Blomfield… who knew she was such an old romantic!? Just to inspire you all to think RED.

Be still my heart… This could be a submission for “Something red” our joint exhibition with Filtti Finland that will open in June of this year.

www.filtti.fi

How are your pieces coming along? Have you already submitted?

Here is the application form- also available on our community resources page-.

APPLICATION FORM FINNISH EXHIBITION

Last submission date for first entries is 15th March. Don’t be afraid, risk it… you just never know till you try!

We are currently looking for a venue (outside of Dublin) to host the returning Irish pieces. If you think you know of somewhere, for example you have contacts with galleries etc. in Galway, Cork, Kerry, the North and beyond, please do get in touch. We can always use your help and guidance.

hello@feltmakersireland.com

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 2019

The above link opens on computer but cannot be opened on mobile at the moment. Please email membership@feltmakersireland.com or hello@feltmakersireland.com if you have queries or problems. Thank you.

Please note that professional felt makers who are current paid-up members can now request that their workshop or event be advertised on our main website under “Learn”. We would ask you to complete an interview also with a link to your workshop to further enrich the community.

New Exhibition Opening

“Monumentality and Fragility” at Kilkenny National Gallery, Kilkenny. This Exhibition runs from 9^th Feb till Jun 2019 and features the work of one of our long term members Niki Collier.

For anyone in the community this is a great opportunity to see some wonderful new works.

www.ndcg.ie

Niki Collier

Niki Collier’s work is distinguished for intimate understanding of handmade craftsmanship. Her narrative is informed by science and community. It sits at the convergence of science and art to create conversations about empowerment, balance and resilience. From the oversized microorganisms to the soft gigantic pebbles each piece is devised by materials and techniques that show dedication to origin and legacy. The large and small sculptures that she develops have been shown in several solo exhibitions as well as curated in group shows both nationally and internationally.

www.nikicollierdesign.com

Sculptures of Viruses

Sculptures of three viruses Common Cold, Hepatitis B and Herpes Virus. Each of these has disrupted our contemporary culture by changing our conversation on monumental and fragile.

Viruses as living organisms are still both a challenge and a mystery regardless of our scientific advances. Doctors as part of the current perception of ”The Establishment” are often held hostage to our perception of them being heroes rather than humans.  Here the concept of small and significant are juxtaposed using scientific concepts to mirror our own fears. As viruses are necessary ingredient to life on our planet the destruction of them explores what is an act of heroism and an act of fear? The interrelation between personal fears – our vulnerability and resilience and how they influence macro decisions related to health and life.  It is also a dialogue of what makes an object beautiful to us- its form or its function?

The works are developed as wet felted sculptures.

The Common Cold virus is one of the best known surviving organisms on earth. It is a symbolic tale of how survival of the species is mostly about the ability to grow in change. The Herpes virus and Hep B are part of the history of gay rights as they have made the invisible visible and as such started the conversation of what we sweep under the carpet.

The viruses have been curated for DCCoI Pattern, Design Week in Bulgaria, West Cork Art Festival.

The European Prize for Applied Arts

Aims to reward the best creations of contemporary expression in applied arts and craftsmanship. It looked into monumental and fragile, the strong colour palette, exuberant proportions, the power and the violence allude to a monumental character from which a palpable fragility is released. With the European Triennial these two words were also part of the monumentality of this institution and the fragility of the nations and entities that make it up. Artists were asked to take inspiration from the paradoxical of these 2 themes-“Monumentality and Fragility”.