Exhibition: Opposites Attract – Inspiration

This is the final instalment of Feltmakers Ireland artists’ inspiration towards the ‘Opposites Attract’ theme.

The Series

The complete series of posts on our Members’ Inspiration can be found here:

  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.

Irina Lampadova

Irina Lampadova – ‘Super soft neck poncho’

Success and Failure are the products of the same process.

I enjoy the magical process of felting. Experimenting with different colours, mixing and blending of natural little fibres that are joined together into an inseparable fabric gives a feeling of mindfulness and satisfaction.

Karena Ryan

Karena Ryan – ‘Eclipsed’

‘Eclipsed’ represents a time to bask in the glow – be luminous.

Over 5000 years ago our ancient Irish astronomers were predicting solar eclipses and welcomed this festival of light with the world’s oldest known solar eclipse carved on stone megaliths at Loughcrew Cairn, County Meath. What may have been important has been overshadowed by what actually matters and what now radiates are new opportunities and fresh beginnings.

Annika Berglund

Annika Berglund – ‘Getting to know the other’

In life, between birth and death, we experience many ups and downs; we feel joy and despair.

However much we would like to only have the good times, they would not be the same if things were never bad. Achievement is not as satisfying without the risk of failure.

Focussing on the positive but accepting the balance of opposing forces in our lives might be a path to harmony and growth.

Marie Dunne

Marie Dunne – ‘Lava flow’

The volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland in March 2024 was the inspiration for my piece ‘Lava Flow’. Hot and Cold. Fire and Ice.

Elaine Peden

Elaine Peden – ‘Formations in Colour’

“A life lived in colour where there is “”no opposite””. I am currently investigating the abstraction of the idea of ‘Opposite’, looking at the absence of colour.

How colour can create an emotional response and when colour is blended.

‘Opposite’ becomes ‘One'”

Marika Miklosi Manning

Marika Miklosi Manning – ‘Felted study, untitled’

The challenge here was to combine felt work with another material of opposing characteristics and create a harmonious piece of work. I chose nylon string 0.50mm thick/ 12kg, usually used for suspending objects or fishing, etc. I see this piece as a study to see how the two materials can be combined to complement each other. The soft felt as a background to the qualities of the unyielding nylon string, which, through that combination, creates patterns of transparent 3D circles.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about what inspires these artists. ‘Opposites Attract’ is at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre until the 26th of May.

The gallery is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily. On Sunday, the 26th the show closes at 2 PM.

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’

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.

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.

Exhibition: One More Day – Feltmakers Ireland’s Exhibition Opens

Today is Friday, so there is only one more day until the Feltmakers Ireland group exhibition opens at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre.

Here is a bevvy of felted artworks from the following members: Adrienne Dempsey, Elaine Peden, Marie Dunne, Annika Berglund, Joanne Turner, Marika Miklosi Manning, Tamzen Lundy, and Heather Byrne.

Tomorrow is the BIG Day – our opening, is at 3 PM at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre. Due to construction for the upcoming Bloom, please allow more time to travel to the gallery.

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 with Marie Dunne

Last Sunday was our second get together at Killester and what a great morning it was. Marie Dunne, a natural teacher and born entertainer wowed us with her beautiful merino and viscose cowls made using a novel Russian technique. She found it on YouTube during the lockdown. 

It is not translated to English, but gives a great idea of the process anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypegN3DmkWA&t=1s

The process began with her laying out eight even horizontal strips of merino onto flat plastic (no bubble wrap was used at all!). Followed by prizing apart the viscose (dark green in photo) and laying it on top in small cut pieces. 

It was a slow process to lay out with a delicate touch, though Breda and Clodagh were on hand to help speed up. 

Water next. Lots of water, thoroughly wetting it and flipping over to repeat the laying out to produce a continuous circular seamless cowl. 

A quick coffee break in the very capable hands of Rita and her now infamous homemade fruit cake while Marie continued to lay out the fibres. 

After coffee Marie surprised us all with the shrinking technique. Just gentle shaking and flapping.That’s it. It actually felted really well. There wasn’t enough time to completely finish the cowl but we learnt enough and could be confident to try it ourselves. 

To finish, Marie was fantastic to give up her time to teach and entertain us with her knowledge and stories. She even told us about the naked felting couple! Who knew!! Worth getting out of bed on a Sunday morning? Sadly there’s no photo!

We would love more of our members to come forward and join our Sunday Session team to demonstrate any aspect of felting whether advanced or not. So if you feel so inclined you can email Deirdre Crofts at decrofts@gmail.com

Or Fiona Leech at fmrleech@gmail.com

Thank you. 

Meet the maker- Marie Dunne

Interview with Marie Dunne.

Tell us about your entry to the “Endangered Exhibition”?

I love all textiles and have been sewing all my life. I came across Contemporary textiles at the Knitting and Stitching Show in the Rds in 2006 and ever since I have been hooked.

Has your textile practice helped through the Pandemic Crisis?

My textile work really helped me through this crisis . In the initial stages I started projects  and most of them got left in corners around the house. Then I booked 2 online courses with Bobby Brittnell, an English textile artist.  They cost 20 pounds each. One was for 6 weeks the other 5 weeks. First one was called Inspired by Ben Nicholson, an artist that was known for his abstract painting and his White Relief Blocks. The course required you to make some  relief blocks and then print on paper or fabric. As I love printing I really enjoyed this course.

“Inspired by line and Tone” was the name of the second course. I really enjoyed this course too  and came across other artists I never heard of.  I found both courses really inspiring and found you could do your own interpretation of them. I highly recommend them to anyone  who likes to paint, print or draw.

I have also been developing my felt sculpture figures  with which I have been struggling with  for quite some time to get the results I want. They are now coming along nicely.

When did you discover Felt Making?

I discovered felting at the Knit and Stitching Show in the Rds. I sat in on a learning curve class and made a flower. I still have that flower..I came across felting some years later and decided to join Feltmakers Ireland..I have now  been felting for about 14 years  and  I am still amazed at how versatile it is. There are so many different types of  wools to discover and the beautiful colors to inspire you. I find felting  calming   and very relaxing.  I love the whole process of felt making and enjoy  learning new processes and developing new  techniques.

Thank you to Marie for her commitment to Feltmakers and lovely to again see another wonderful piece of work from her.

3 Irish Artists: Something Red

If you are regular follower of our blog and Feltmakers Ireland you will know that we have spent the past year preparing together with Filtti- Finnish feltmakers association, for a joint exhibition running this summer 01.07-04.08.2019 called “Something Red”.

Many of our valued members submitted excellent pieces of work. All of a very high standard making the job of the two independent adjudicators very hard indeed. The entrants were evaluated both in digital photo submissions and then as actual pieces and a final selection was made. The Judges remarked that Feltmakers Ireland can be very proud of the standards of its members and congratulated everyone on their efforts in taking part and helping to promote the art and craft of feltmaking.

Over the next few weeks we will feature the work of the successful submissions, In blocks of  3.

I hope you enjoy this detailed look at the Irish works.

Today we look at the works of Anne Walsh, Vicky Blomfield and Marie Dunne.

This exhibition has been part funded by DCCoI, with thanks to them for their continued support in heritage arts and crafts.

 

Artist – Anne Walsh

Red Sky at Night

Red Sky at Night is a study in optimism and our search for signs and assurances that all will be well in our world. The world depicted is one of tranquility but expectant of adventure and exploration. It is the way I like to approach everything  in my life. 

Sale Price €325.00

Materials – Nuno felted with hand painted silk, embroidery and needle felting.

I Won’t be Cold

 I Won’t be Cold is a study in colour and the feelings I associate with each colour. It seeks to embrace as much colour – and feelings – as possible that I may wrap all of those around myself and wear them with an ease that reflects my inner self. But critically each has to work together in just the right way to ensure harmony and integrity. 

 Not for sale

 Materials – Nuno felted with hand dyed silk and silk handkerchiefs, finished with knitted sleeves.

Artist – Vicky Blomfield 

The Red Rocks

On the Hill of Howth, north of Dublin, there are red rocks down by the sea.

Sale price €75.00

Materials – merino wool and tussah silk

 The Red Button

This is about resisting temptation, with a nod to Father Dougal

Sale price €75.00

Materials – natural piku and merino wool, tussah silk, Wensleydale locks, cotton muslin, free motion machine embroidery.

Notes – can you please have a note that says “please DO touch” .

Artist – Marie Dunne

Masquerade 

Having felted for over 10 years I decided to step out of my comfort zone and design and felt a blouse. I was not quite sure how it would turn out, or whether it would be successful or not. I called it Masquerade. 

Sale price. €185.00

Materials – felted with merino wool and silk fibre. Silk chiffon sleeves and trim, with felted cuffs.

Fire

Fire. A contemporary Wrap or an Evening stole, based on the Galway shawl. Inspiration was a photograph of a young girl wearing a fiery red shawl wrap taken in 1913 in an area of Galway called the Claddagh. This is an area where women wore the Galway shawl. Materials: Merino wool, silk fabric, silk fibres. Technique:: Nuno Felted, Resist frill, hand dyed and Raised Applique. My Great Grandmother wore the Galway shawl. The shawls were hand woven and edged with a fringe. It was a very precious piece of clothing and was often handed down from  mother to daughter. I chose the heart shape to represent this. The double frill represents the fringe. 

Not for sale