Tag: Art Openings

Exhibition: More Sneak Peeks from Water and Flow

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Close-up view of textured fabric featuring blue and white patterns with several circular holes.
Jacqueline Atkinson
A close-up of a felted green fish with decorative beads, surrounded by colourful felted stones and seaweed against a blue background.
Eglė Silenaite-Enyed
Close-up of a textured fabric featuring a swirl pattern in cream and dark grey.
Yamila Fournier

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Jacqueline Atkinson:

The wet winter of 2025/2026 was the inspiration for Jacqueline’s interpretation of the theme ‘water and flow’ when the battering, pounding, and sudden downpours of rain often made craters in her land. Hence the Irish title ‘Batar Fearthainne’ which she thinks adequately captures the sentiment she was hoping to portray.

Eglė Silenaite-Enyed:

 The flow in my art symbolises not only the flow of water but also the flow of time. Little pebbles with ancient symbols are sunken below. The flow of water is hiding the secrets of the past. Those times are gone, the time flows…

Yamila Fournier:

After 16 years inland, I moved to coastal Dublin, where the smell of the sea and the pull of the tides reminded me of the rhythm that had been a part of me since the day I was born, since before I was born.

The shore is filled with exciting opposites: gritty sand and wave-smoothed rocks, welcoming water and unknowable depths, chaos of crashing waves reshaping the shore daily and the reliable regularity of the tides. In the face of the vastness of the water, I look to the tiniest bits, portable microscope in hand…

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed at 1: 30 PM on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Water and Flow – More Sneak Peeks

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Close-up of a textile featuring blue embroidery of birds, flowers, and a bridge, with a square patch illustrating white figures on a blue background.
Karen McSweeney
A vibrant depiction of a waterfall cascading over rocks, surrounded by lush greenery and colourful flowers.
Claire Merry
Close-up of a textured fabric featuring shades of blue and purple, with metallic threads interwoven, set against a gold patterned background.
Breda Fay

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Karen McSweeney:

As a nautical artist I was inspired to use pieces of sea pottery, which were washed up on the Burrow Beach Dublin. The design is a nod to the willow pattern on the pottery.

Claire Merry:

 Water falls are mesmerising and breathtaking. The falling water contrasts with the surrounding lush vegetation providing both a visual and aural experience, which brings solace to the mind and soul. 

My piece tries to capture the moment of walking into a glade and seeing the water fall for the first time.

Breda Fay:

This piece of work is based on the 1832 poem “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred Tennyson, illustrating the “stream that runneth ever”. Situated on an island in the middle of the stream, was a tower where the Lady of Shallott lived. Cursed to never look outside except through a mirror she spent all her time happily weaving a “charmed web”. Then one day, in her mirror, she saw a handsome knight and decided she could no longer live that life of shadows. She ran to the window and watched the knight ride down to Camelot. Once she left her loom, “out flew the web and floated wild” and the lady died.

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed at 1: 30 PM on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: THIS Saturday ‘Water and Flow’ Launches

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A close-up view of a textured fabric artwork featuring waves of colour, including greens, whites, and blues, with circular felted shapes resembling shells or flowers.
Tamzen Lundy
Close-up of several white felted wool rings arranged on a textured surface, with small brown beads in the background.
Sandra Reynolds
A close-up image of a colourful felted fish design, featuring vibrant hues of blue, orange, and yellow on a textured white background.
Corina Hogan

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the stimulating artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Tamzen Lundy:

Inspired by the meeting place of land and sea, The Convergence evokes the rhythmic flow of water against the shoreline — a threshold where elements collide and merge. This liminal space, poised between solidity and movement, suggests a point of quiet transformation: a place where boundaries dissolve and something magical may occur.

Sandra Reynolds:

The theme of ‘Water and Flow’ really resonates with me. I’ve been lucky enough to always live near the sea and enjoy my daily beach walks there. My work for this particular piece with wool reflects the shapes and colours of marine life both above and below Water.

Corina Hogan:

My interpretation is based on the realisation that all Humans, Animal Kingdom and Plants require water to survive and flourish. A basic need for all and so important.

Their Instagram: @tamzenlundydesigns @sandysosew @corina.lewis.hogan

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Sunday Session: This Sunday – Wet Felted Holiday Star with Annika Berglund

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Examples of Wet Felted Holiday Stars, designed by Annika Berglund

On the 17th of November, our Sunday Session will be a mini-workshop with artist and guild member Annika Berglund.

We will make a wet-felted Holiday Star for window decoration – perfect for Christmas or year-round!

There will be a choice of three finished models using wool yarn, Merino wool, and, for one version, Wensleydale locks.

What to bring:

  • One large and one small towel
  • Sewing pins
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Bubble wrap – approximately sized at 25 by 50cm
  • Soap and water bowl
  • Ball brause or sprinkler
  • A plastic bag

All other materials will be provided.

Additional Information

A Sunday Session like this will require lots of tea/ coffee/cake and chat, so there’ll be an abundance of that. Of course, homebakes are always welcome! Please bring a ‘keep cup’ or mug from home if possible. That will lessen the amount of paper cups thrown away.

There is the usual 5 euro fee.

Note: Since this is the season of colds and coughs, let’s not share them. However, we welcome you to join via Zoom Link, which we email to all members on Friday afternoon.

Annika Berglund Exhibition

Portrait of Annika Berglund

Annika Berglund, a graduate of NCAD, has shown work in solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad and has won several awards, including the Crafts Council’s price for Best Craft in the Garden 2008 and the NUI Art and Design Prize 2010.

Moving from ceramics, glass, and bronze to felt in 2020, one of her earliest felt pieces depicting the COVID-19 virus was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland. Having had one solo show and many group shows featuring Felt, Annika was a primary contributor to Feltmakers Ireland’s research project around Irish wool and the resulting book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking. She is currently Treasurer of Feltmakers Ireland.

Annika’s upcoming solo exhibition, Tapestry, opens on Sunday, the 17th of November at 15:00 in the Olivier Cornet Gallery (after the Sunday session). She welcomes you all to attend. The show runs until the 15th of December.

For more information about her exhibition, visit the gallery’s website –https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/tapestry-annika-berglund

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: ‘Opposites Attract’ Opens Today

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland’s group exhibition, ‘Opposites Attract,’ opens today at 3 PM. Tom Watts of the Design and Craft Council of Ireland (DCCI) will inaugurate our exhibition.

Here are the last of the sneak peeks: Sandra Reynolds, Helena Mc Guinness, Sandra Coote, Valerie Nowak-oceallaigh, Patricia Conroy, Hélène Dooley, and Juliane Gorman.

  • Sandra Reynolds
  • Helena Mc Guinness
  • Sandra Coote
  • Valerie Nowak-oceallaigh
  • Patricia Conroy
  • Hélène Dooley
  • Juliane Gorman

Thank you for accompanying us on this Sneak Peek Journey. Learning about our members and their inspirations has been a fascinating part of organising this exhibition! We cannot wait to share more artwork during the show’s run from May 5th to 26th.

Remember: The Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays. However, the lovely cafe across the way is open.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Opposites Attract – Annual Feltmakers Ireland Show

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland is proud to announce that its group exhibition, ‘Opposites Attract,’ will open on May 4th at 3PM.

The show runs from the 4th until the 26th of May, 2024. Please note: the Centre is CLOSED on MONDAYS and TUESDAYS.

The show is in the historic Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre gallery. The Dublin Bus number 99 conveniently stops near the Visitors’ Centre.

There is information (and maps) on the Park’s website – https://www.phoenixpark.ie/directions/

The poster’s image is from a close-up of Maria McGarry’s piece, ‘Winter Solstice, Newgrange.’


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Recap: The Exhibition Opening a Success

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

This past Saturday, from 3 to 5 PM, Feltmakers Ireland warmly embraced our community of wool and felt enthusiasts at the grand opening of our exhibition, ‘Bountiful.’ During this momentous occasion, we had the honour of Minister Pippa Hackett’s official inauguration of our recently published book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking.’ If you missed her inspiring words, you can catch portions of her speech on our YouTube channel, @FeltmakersIreland.

Your presence and support made this event truly memorable, and we’re excited to continue sharing our passion for feltmaking with you all.

Exhibition organiser, Dee Crofts introducing Minister Pippa Hackett. The piece in the background is by Aisling Hassett.

The Committee

In every voluntary organization, there are individuals who play a crucial role in carefully coordinating the group’s various activities. Enclosed is a photograph capturing the dedicated committee members, standing proudly in front of our collaborative Floral Tapestry. This beautiful artwork commemorates the guild’s inception, marking two decades of passion and commitment since its founding by the remarkable Elizabeth Bonnar.

Minister Pippa Hackett and the committee members. The back row, from left to right: Deirdre Carroll, Pippa Hackett, Deirdre Crofts, Juliane Gorman. The front row, from left to right: Elizabeth Redding, Adrienne Dempsey, Lorna Cady, Annika Berglund, and Marian Fagan. Not pictured Fiona Leech.

Tapestry Revealed

Below is a photograph of our floral tapestry. Each of the flowers was handcrafted by our members during our September Sunday Session. Additional flowers were created, too. Then, several members got together to hand-stitch the over 180 flowers onto the backing, a very large piece of wool felt. {Invigilating members are welcome to sew on flowers during their volunteer shifts}.

The opening was quite exciting, with many members attending.

Feltmakers Ireland founder Elizabeth Bonnar and founding member Michelle Winters spoke with Minister Hackett.

Some of the artists and their pieces

Helene Dooley speaking with Minister Hackett
Exhibition organiser Deirdre Crofts
Aisling Hassett and her piece. (She made her hat too!)
Valerie O Ceallaigh
Annika Berglund
Adrienne Dempsey
Breda Fay
Caitriona Nolan
Helena McGuinness

Each piece in our exhibition features a photograph of the artist along with the statement they provided, sharing their unique interpretation of ‘Bountiful’ when they submitted their work for jury consideration. You can spot these artist statements in some of the photographs above.

Below is the ‘Box of Chocolates’ by Clare Brophy that Minister Hackett points to in her speech.

Clare Brophy’s piece ‘Sharing the Bounty’.

In closing, we truly regret if we missed the opportunity to personally thank you at the opening event, which, as we’ve mentioned, was quite the bustling affair! With an impressive turnout of over fifty attendees, including cherished friends, beloved family members, and passionate supporters of the wool industry, it was a testament to the resilience and dedication of our community. Despite the tempestuous weather on that Saturday, your unwavering commitment to our cause warmed our hearts. We cannot express enough gratitude for your presence and your support for the art of feltmaking. Your enthusiasm fuels our creative journey, and we look forward to sharing more moments of inspiration and collaboration in the future. Thank you once again for making our opening event a truly memorable occasion.

Link to Minister Hackett’s opening remarks – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4OztSN83iY

Copies of our Irish wool book can be purchased from our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/

Exhibition: Opening This Afternoon – ‘Bountiful’

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Today, on the 30th of September, art enthusiasts and admirers of the exquisite craft of felting will gather at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre in Dublin, Ireland. Feltmakers Ireland’s highly anticipated juried exhibition is set to open its doors to the public at 3 PM.

The exhibition showcases a stunning array of felted artworks that push the boundaries of this ancient textile art form.

As a sneak peek into what promises to be an awe-inspiring show, we bring you exclusive glimpses from four diverse pieces that will be featured in this remarkable exhibition.

Photo 1 – Breda Fay’s wall piece, ‘Torthuil’.

Photo 2 – Valerie OCeallaigh’s ‘Bountiful Love’.

Photo 3 – Adrienne Dempsey’s ‘Where the Wild Things Grow’.

Our exhibition will be opened by Pippa Hackett, Sheep Farmer and Irish Minister for Land Use and Biodiversity. She has kindly written the foreword to our ‘wool project book’, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’. Copies of the book will be available during the opening and throughout the exhibition.

Lastly, many thanks to the Design and Craft Council of Ireland for helping to fund our 20th-anniversary Floral Tapestry Project.

Close-up detail of our collective felted flower project, a Floral Tapestry, in celebration of Feltmakers Ireland’s 20th-anniversary.

Exhibition: ‘Bountiful’ Exhibition Opens Tomorrow

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

In one day, Feltmakers Ireland’s juried exhibition, ‘Bountiful’, will open. The event will be introduced by Pippa Hackett, sheep farmer and Minister of State and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

In addition to our members’ wet and needle-felted creations, copies of our recently published book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ will be available.

Lastly, as part of the celebration of our founding twenty years ago, we will unveil our collaborative Floral Tapestry.

In the meantime, here are snippets of two members’ pieces.

Photo 1 – Hélène Dooley’s ‘Visualising the Beauty of the Sunflower Field’.

To see more of Hélène’s work, visit her Instagram page – https://www.instagram.com/feltzen/

Photo 2 – Clare Brophy’s ‘Treasury Trees’.

To see more of Clare’s work, visit her on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/clarepbrophy/

Exhibition: Two More Days Until ‘Bountiful’ Opens

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Only a couple more days until our juried members’ exhibition ‘Bountiful’ opens this Saturday at 3 PM at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre in Dublin.

In the meantime, here are two snippets of wearable art that will be displayed. The exhibition includes wall art, sculptures, shawls, and even a hat!

Photo 1 – Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann’s piece, ‘Positive Vibes’.

To see more of Astrid’s work, visit her website – https://bombyxmoriwearableart.com/

Photo 2 – A snippet of Caoimhe Tuthill’s piece – ‘Nature’s Bounty’.

To see more of Caoimhe’s work, visit her website – https://www.boann.ie/