Tag: Maria Mc Garry

Recap - Sunday Session

Recap: June Sunday Session with Maria Mc Garry

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

By Breda Fay

Feltmakers Ireland member Maria Mc Garry facilitated a very exciting Sunday session.

Maria’s Artistic Background

Maria’s presentation began with a description of her artistic journey through a wide variety of
courses with various artists from Ireland and away. She began this journey in Brussels with
quilting, joining the Quilters Guild when she returned to Ireland. She proceeded to study free-motion embroidery with Ana Buzzalino. While studying art and psychology via the Vocational Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), she explored the stained-glass effect and found the medium of FELT. Following a visit to the Feltmakers Ireland stand at the RDS Knitting and Stitching Show in 2010, Maria joined our guild. Then, she enrolled for the guild’s Basic and Beyond Course and was “completely hooked!”.

Maria’s feltmaking techniques grew while participating in courses with Gabriella Kovacs, Gabi McGrath, Nancy Ballesteros, Clodagh McDonagh, Nessa McCormack, Nicola Brown and Leiko Uchiyama. A summer course with Mel Bradley inspired Maria to enrol in NCAD for a Visual Arts Certificate, and then Cork’s Crawford College to study Textile Art.

Maria’s Exhibitions

Maria’s work has been displayed at Feltmakers Ireland Exhibitions, as well as in exhibitions by Laois Quilters, Mountamellick Library, Stradbally Art House, Electric Picnic, and the Tullamore Show.

She brought her work to a wide selection of markets in the early days of her felting, but would say that cheaper goods are now in greater demand.

After a coffee break, Maria demonstrated a ruffled scarf-making technique she learned from Lena Archbold’s online course.

Maria Demonstrating

Photo by Adrienne Dempsey
Photo by Adrienne Dempsey

Maria brought a wide range of samples of her work, which we examined and admired. She answered questions and explained techniques.

Two of Maria’s Felted Scarves

Maria brought several of her felted scarves in to share. Guild member Deirdre Crofts kindly modelled them to an appreciative audience.

Maria’s Scarf – Photo by Adrienne Dempsey
Maria’s Scarf – Photo by Adrienne Dempsey

Two of Maria’s Art Quilts

Art Quilt by Maria Mc Garry – Photo by Breda Fay
Art Quilt by Maria Mc Garry – Photo by Breda Fay

More of Maria’s Work

Suppliers

Maria often purchases silk scarf blanks from the Spanish supplier SodinTex. For Margilan silk, she purchases from suppliers in Eastern Europe via Etsy. She mentions that it is best to dye after nunofelting because the silk shrinks during dyeing.

Another great Sunday Session – thank you, Maria, for sharing your journey with the guild!

Want to learn more about Maria? There is an interview with Maria from 2020 on the blog – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/16/meet-the-maker-maria-mc-garry/

Thank you, Breda, for writing and photographing this blog post. We also want to express our appreciation to Adrienne Dempsey, who took some of the photographs at our June Sunday Session, held at the Fatima Community 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.

Sunday Session: This Sunday – Maria Mc Garry

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Sunday Session – 9th of June – Maria Mc Garry NEW LOCATION

Guild member Maria Mc Garry from Co Laois, will give a show-and-tell of her experiences with working with galleries and selling at markets. She will also demonstrate how to make a ruffle felted scarf.

When: the 9th of June, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

There is a lovely ‘Meet the Maker’ interview from 2020 with Maria Mc Garry on the blog here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/16/meet-the-maker-maria-mc-garry/

Here is her Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/maria_mcgarry_textile_art_/

Temporary NEW Location

Where: We will meet for the June Sunday Session at a DIFFERENT location.

F2 -Fatima Community Centre.

Fatima Community Centre
Herberton Leisure
3 Reuben Plaza, Rialto, Dublin 8, D08 PV0H

Directions from the Red Line LUAS

Get off at Fatima Luas stop (Red Line) and walk to a set of traffic lights.

Google Maps directions from the Red Line LUAS Stop.

View from the LUAS

View of the LUAS Stop from across the street. Photos kindly provided by Adrienne Dempsey.

Cross at the traffic lights, walk straight ahead, and take the first right onto Reuben Plaza. You will then see the Herberton gym.

Cross at the traffic light.
Photo of the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe on the corner.

Walk by the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe, then turn left. F2 Centre is located beside the green space/kids’ play area.

Where You Enter the Building

The entrance of the F2 Fatima Community Centre.

Parking

There is free street parking along St Anthony’s Road, which leads up to the F2 building. Parking is also available on Reuben Walk and Reuben Street, which surround the building.

Two disabled parking spots are at the top of St Anthony’s Road, leading onto Reuben Plaza and the F2 Centre.

Photo of the two disabled parking spots on St Anthony’s Road.

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! There is the usual 5 euro fee.

On Friday, the 7th of June, the Guild will email members a Zoom Link for virtual access and also include a phone number to call for those who need help finding the Centre on the day of the event.

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.

Reminder: Maria Mc Garry – Sunday Session on the 9th – NEW LOCATION

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Sunday Session – 9th of June – Maria Mc Garry NEW LOCATION

Guild member Maria Mc Garry from Co Laois will give a show-and-tell of her experiences with working with galleries and selling at markets. She will also demonstrate how to make a ruffle felted scarf.

When: the 9th of June, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

There is a lovely ‘Meet the Maker’ interview from 2020 with Maria Mc Garry on the blog here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/16/meet-the-maker-maria-mc-garry/

Here is her Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/maria_mcgarry_textile_art_/

Temporary NEW Location

Where: We will meet for the June Sunday Session at a DIFFERENT location.

F2 -Fatima Community Centre.

Fatima Community Centre
Herberton Leisure
3 Reuben Plaza, Rialto, Dublin 8, D08 PV0H

Directions from the Red Line LUAS

Get off at Fatima Luas stop (Red Line) and walk to a set of traffic lights.

Google Maps directions from the Red Line LUAS Stop.

View from the LUAS

View of the LUAS Stop from across the street. Photos kindly provided by Adrienne Dempsey.

Cross at the traffic lights, walk straight ahead, and take the first right onto Reuben Plaza. You will then see the Herberton gym.

Cross at the traffic light.
Photo of the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe on the corner.

Walk by the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe, then turn left. F2 Centre is located beside the green space/kids’ play area.

Where You Enter the Building

The entrance of the F2 Fatima Community Centre.

Parking

There is free street parking along St Anthony’s Road, which leads up to the F2 building. Parking is also available on Reuben Walk and Reuben Street, which surround the building.

Two disabled parking spots are at the top of St Anthony’s Road, leading onto Reuben Plaza and the F2 Centre.

Photo of the two disabled parking spots on St Anthony’s Road.

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! There is the usual 5 euro fee.

On Friday, the 7th of June, the Guild will email members a Zoom Link for virtual access, and we will also include a phone number to call if they need help finding the Centre on the event day.

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.

June Sunday Session: Maria Mc Garry

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Sunday Session – 9th of June – Maria Mc Garry NEW LOCATION

Feltmakers Ireland’s June Sunday Session features guild member Maria Mc Garry from Co Laois. Maria will give a show-and-tell of her experiences with working with galleries and selling at markets. She will also demonstrate how to make a ruffle felted scarf.

When: the 9th of June, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

There is a lovely ‘Meet the Maker’ interview from 2020 with Maria Mc Garry on the blog here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/16/meet-the-maker-maria-mc-garry/

Here is her Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/maria_mcgarry_textile_art_/

Temporary NEW Location

Where: We will meet at a DIFFERENT location for the June Sunday Session.

F2 -Fatima Community Centre.

Fatima Community Centre
Herberton Leisure
3 Reuben Plaza, Rialto, Dublin 8, D08 PV0H

Directions from the Red Line LUAS

Get off at Fatima Luas stop (Red Line) and walk to a set of traffic lights.

Google Maps directions from the Red Line LUAS Stop.

View from the LUAS

View of the LUAS Stop from across the street. Photos kindly provided by Adrienne Dempsey.

Cross at the traffic lights, walk straight ahead, and take the first right onto Reuben Plaza. You will then see the Herberton gym.

Cross at the traffic light.
Photo of the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe on the corner.

Walk by the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe, then turn left. F2 Centre is located beside the green space/kids’ play area.

Where You Enter the Building

The entrance of the F2 Fatima Community Centre.

Parking

There is free street parking along St Anthony’s Road, which leads up to the F2 building. Parking is also available on Reuben Walk and Reuben Street, which surround the building.

Two disabled parking spots are at the top of St Anthony’s Road, leading onto Reuben Plaza and the F2 Centre.

Photo of the two disabled parking spots on St Anthony’s Road.

On Friday, the 7th of June, the Guild will email members a Zoom Link for virtual access and also include a phone number to call if they need help finding the Centre on the day of the event.

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: Photos from ‘Opposites Attract’

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

On Saturday, the 4th of May, Feltmakers Ireland opened their group art exhibition, ‘Opposites Attract,’ at the Phonix Park Visitors’ Centre. Friends, family, and other supporters kindly came to cheer us on!

A Few Photos from the Gallery

Above photos by Fiona Leech

Tom Watts from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (the DCCI) inaugurated our opening by speaking about the importance of wool as a sustainable material and how craft and design are interwoven. He added that he was impressed with the qualities, techniques, and ideas of the exhibited pieces.

Tom Watts spoke at the opening.

Interestingly, he wore a pair of vintage Nike Air Footscape Woven Trainers that contained felt!

Members Alongside Their Work

Our trusty photographer was busy chatting with other members, so she only managed to snap some of our members alongside their work.

  • Annika Berglund
  • Breda Fay
  • Elizabeth Redding
  • Eva Salamon
  • Caitriona Nolan
  • Juliane Gorman
  • Lory Cotti Cottini
  • Sandra Chase
  • Marie Dunne
  • Tamzen Lundy
  • Loli Cox
  • Neasa Ryan
  • Eithne O’Dea
  • Maria McGarry
  • Ramona Farrelly
  • Valerie Nowak-O’ceallaigh
  • Adrienne Dempsey
  • Helena Mc Guinness

Videos of the Work

A short video of the opening is on the Guild’s Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels.

A longer video of each artist’s work is here on YouTube.

Members’ Inspiration

There is a series of seven blog posts about each artist’s inspiration.

  1. Includes: Sandra Reynolds, Sandra Coote, Patricia Conroy, Hélène Dooley, Maria Mc Garry, and Audry Murray.
  2. Includes: Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann, Breda Fay, Lory Cotti Cottini, Neasa Ryan, Ramona Farrelly, and Ursula Heiting-Wiese.
  3. Includes: Heather Byrne, Tamzen Lundy, Bernie Hennessy, Adrienne Dempsey, and Joanne Turner.
  4. Includes: Claire Merry, Caitríona Nolan, Margaret Ryan Collins, Caoimhe Tuthill, and Fiona Leech.
  5. Includes: Jane Fox, Elizabeth Redding, Joanne Foley, Sandra Chase, and Loli Cox.
  6. Includes: Valerie Nowak-O’Ceallaigh, Helena Mc Guinness, Eithne O’Dea, Eva Salamon, and Juliane Gorman.
  7. Includes: Irina Lampadova, Karena Ryan, Annika Berglund, Marie Dunne, Elaine Peden, and Marika Miklosi Manning.

The Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre Gallery was open seven days a week, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Each day, a member volunteered her time to share the wonder of feltmaking and chat with the visitors. Over a thousand people visited our show!

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.

Meet the Maker- Maria Mc Garry

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland4 Comments
Maria McGarry- Feltmaker

Maria entered her piece to the “Endangered exhition” entitled-‘Marsh Fritillary Butterfly’. In our series of interviews with the makers we asked Maria questions about her piece and her textile practice.

How does your entry to the ” Endangered Exhibition” respond to the title?

 The ‘Marsh Fritillary Butterfly’ (Euphydryas aurinia or as gaeilge, Fritilean Reisc) feeds on the ‘Devil’s Bit Scabious, Sussisa pratenis, flower’. The marsh fritillary is one of Irelands few legally protected butterflies under Annex ll of the European Union Habitats and Species Directive. The species relies on the Devils bit Scabious to lay their eggs, but the habitat for this plant is declining because of farming intensification, urban development, and monoculture forestation of traditional bog lands. I was inspired by a train conversation with Dr Ken Bond, UCC who has spent many years monitoring and protecting this species.

Crafting through the current crisis.

Looking back, I have been busy during lockdown. I completed my Art Textile Level 8 course at Crawford College Cork with my piece #ONE WORLD, which charts the spread of Covid 19 on a felt population density map of the world (up to 25/5/2020). This was part of a virtual exhibition ‘EMERGING’ at The Gallery 46 Grand Parade, Cork.

#ONE WORLD was taken from the Director-General of the W.H. O’s speech on 15/04/2020, as he voiced his major concerns about the viral spread in poor countries especially Africa. That was also the day that the U.S.A President decided to stop funding to the W.H.O. 2 million accumulated cases were reported worldwide that day and over 10,000 deaths in New York.

Detail of felt, Covid19 Clusters and viral spread up to 05/05/2020

COVID 19 sent the world into lockdown in March 2020. Something invisible could affect so many people on a global scale.  A world without borders! I wondered how I could visually represent the spread of this virus on the world map. I was inspired Renna Saini Kallat’s Woven Chronicle, 2011 which is a world interconnected that ‘with Globalisation, the privilege of free movement for some means forced displacement and migration for millions of others.’

I had another piece # TICK TOCK ( the cogs of climate change)  on exhibition at The Gallery ,46 Grand Parade for the ‘HAND’ exhibition, March 2020 ( a collaboration of Crawford College, textile students and UCC  drama students). This exhibition remained in place during lockdown.

My triptych, screen printed Nuno felted and embroidered piece, #FAKE NEWS is part of the Irish Guild of Embroiders 2020 exhibition at the Lexicon, Dunlaoighre

How I discovered felt and what it means to me.

In 2010 I saw an advert for the Basics and Beyond Feltmakers Ireland workshop in Lucan and am hooked ever since. I have met so many likeminded and lovely people. I have enjoyed the Sunday sessions at the Knockmaroon Gate in the Phoenix Park, and workshops given by other members of Feltmakers Ireland. I have taken part in incredible masterclass workshops with Gabrielle Kovacs from Hungary, Nancy Ballesteros from Australia, and last year with Leiko Uchiyama.

Inspired by all the exceptionally talented friends I have met through Feltmakers Ireland, I completed my Certificate in Visual arts in NCAD IN 2018 and have now finished Art Textile in Crawford College Cork. I am passionate about textile art and making. Feltmaking is my meditative space, because the art is in the consistency and gentleness of the laying and manipulation of the fibres. This cannot be forced or rushed and does require experience and practice. I love Nuno feltmaking and the lustre of combining silk with merino wool.

Because of lockdown I have a full house working from home so my feltmaking is on hold as   my kitchen table had to be cleared. I have lots of ideas brewing and cannot wait to get back at it. Thank you Feltmakers Ireland for all the inspiration, joy and friendships over the last 10 years.