Tag: National Botanic Gardens

Heads up: application date for Sculpture in Context coming up.

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Fiona Leech

Sculpture in Context is a large outdoor and indoor sculpture exhibition taking place in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin every year. the exhibition was set up in 1985 by sculptors whose aim was to work on behalf of fellow sculptors to provide space for exhibiting work of sculptors in venues outside of the normal gallery context.

It has been successful in that aim over the years and and is a very popular event every autumn where visitors can see the magnificent gardens and chance upon art works around every corner.

The Botanic Gardens is a huge space for a sculpture exhibition and that gives the organisers leeway to welcome new and unknown artists and makers as well a better known names. This makes it a great place to dip your artistic toes into applying to show your work to a wider audience. There is a lot more space outdoors than indoors, so you have a better chance to be accepted with outdoor works. Some felted art will be fine to stay out doors for the couple of weeks the exhibition is on for. Otherwise you may want to look at some kind of weather proofing of your work. If this is an area you are interested in, get in touch and we can do another blog post on the subject, or discuss it at one of our Sunday sessions.

As far as we know, only three members exhibited at last years exhibition: Fiona Leech, Ramona Farrelly and Annika Berglund. If we missed one of our members exhibiting, get in touch and we will add your work to the next blog.

Ramona Farrelly

So, we suggest you give it a try this year!

Here is all the important information:

Sculpture in Context is a pivotal event in the Irish arts calendar and the most important sculpture exhibition in the country. The annual exhibition attracts a large public and critical audience and is the highlight of the National Botanic Gardens calendar.  Sculpture in Context is a key event for both public and private buyers of all levels.

Open to all artists working in three dimensions in any medium. Proposals may be durable or time-based artworks, including performance or video.

Important Dates- Sculpture in Context 2022

Submission Deadline – Friday 8th April

Artists Notified – End of May

Outdoor & glasshouse Installation– Thursday 24th and Friday 25th August from 5-9pm

Gallery Drop off – Saturday 27th August from 11am to 2pm

Opening – Wednesday 31st August

Exhibition Take down- Saturday 8th and Monday 10th October (See details below)

Exhibition Dates – Thursday 1st Sept to Friday 7th Oct

Site Visit

If you would like to visit The National Botanic Gardens to see the venue; the gardens are open to the public seven days a week, admission is free.

Important Changes

Over the last few years as the exhibition has grown, our running costs have risen. To help cover these costs we have had to make some difficult decisions to ensure that Sculpture in Context continues to successfully support artists and promote sculpture in Ireland.

We have introduced a new entry fee of €15 per entry (max. of 3 entries) and new commission rates- 25% commission on all work up to a value of €15,000 and 20% commission on all work above €15,000.

New Installation Details- In line with the National Botanic Gardens new health and safety requirements ALL outdoor and glasshouse work will be installed outside public opening times.

Outdoor and glasshouse works- Thursday 24th and Friday 25th August from 5-9pm

Gallery works- Drop off to gallery on Saturday 27th August- 11am to 2pm

Entry forms and conditions are attached. Applications by email to info@sculptureincontext.com

Please send all information in one pdf attachment only using your surname and first name in the file name ie.  ‘Smith_John_EntryForm2022.doc’

Applications by email to info@sculptureincontext.com.  Please send all information in one pdf attachment only.  Complete all relevant sections on the attached Entry Form and include additional pages with the following:-

1. Two Images or drawings for EACH proposed sculpture

2. Written description of sculpture to include details of materials, dimensions and proposed method of installation (max 500 words).

3.Two images of previous work

Payment of Entry Fee can be made to Sculpture in Context by bank transfer. Please use your surname and first name as a reference on all transactions. Bank details can be found on the entry form.

We have tried to make the entry process as easy as possible, but if you are struggling with internet issues (submission or payment) please contact us at info@sculptureincontext.com  directly and we can make alternative arrangements for you.

All enquiries regarding the exhibition and/or siting must be directed to the Sculpture in Context Committee at info@sculptureincontext.com

Entry form:

EntryForm2022Download

Good Luck Feltmakers!

Annika Berglund
Annika Berglund

Sculpture in Context at the Botanical Gardens 2021

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

In its 35th year, Sculpture in Context is held in the oasis of calm and peace that is the Botanical Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin.  Run by the OPW every year and according to them is the ‘longest-running, largest and most important sculpture exhibition in the country, this pivotal event in the Irish arts calendar attracts a large public and critical audience and is the cultural highlight of the National Botanic Gardens calendar’.

Sculpture in Context in the Botanical gardens

If you fancy a relaxing walk in this beautiful space with wonderful and inspiring art of over 140 artists around every corner, then this would be the place to visit and explore.  The exhibition runs until the 15th of October so there is still time to see it in situ and it is free of charge to visit.  A total of 164 pieces are being shown at the exhibition both outdoors and indoors. This year again there are several Feltmakers Ireland members taking part at.  Annika Berglund, Fiona Leech and Ramona Farrelly all have pieces at the show.  Most of the pieces are being shown outdoors but both Annika and Fiona have also have pieces in the gallery space. Fiona’s piece is a triptych made from sustainable merino wool fibre and is shaped into three different size pods.  Her process involved wet felting the pods themselves and then needle felting the bright yellow spots and tendrils on once the pods had been shaped and dried.  These additions to the pods are a nod to nature’s strength to find its way and take over. Fiona used colours and blends of wool to reflect the natural environment.  Her beautiful piece can be seen at the gallery which can be booked here:

Sculpture in Context Gallery Viewing Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Felt Pod Triptych – Fiona Leech

Annika has two separate pieces, a wall panel piece indoors at the gallery (fig.2) and another piece made of multiple-coloured butterflies hanging in one of the rhododendron trees along the outdoor sculpture route

Verdant – felted wool wall panel – Annika Berglund

Annika’s second piece consists of a set of nine butterflies, three of which have already sold through the exhibition.  The butterflies are wet felted over a metal armature and have been waterproofed for outdoor hanging with stiffener material.  They are of varying colours and would brighten up anyone’s outdoor space as can be seen from this picture.

Butterflies – Felt over metal armature – Annika Berglund

Ramona’s piece is also located outdoors.  Her piece Akashic hangs in amongst the ferns and sculptures in the Mill Field area by the river. It is a small structure composed of 11 felted wool tablets which have been stiffened with waterproofing medium and painted with various coloured pigments. The whole piece was then strung together with rope constructed of tree bark.

felted wool stiffened and coloured – Ramona Farrelly

There is lots of interest for any visitor to this exhibition and it may require several visits to see all the work in detail, but even if only some of it is seen, it is a wonderful way to spend some time in the lap of nature whilst also experiencing the creative juices of the artists taking part.

Some of the other works that can be seen at the show include the following:

Hybrid – Ceramic and Metal – Michelle Maher
Of Woman Born – Ceramic – Jen Donnery

There is Life in this Autumn Breeze – Stone, Mirror – Sunny Wieler
Shape Shifting Dynamic – Ceramic and Mirror – Agata Lipianin
Close Whisper – Irish Larch – Sara Cunningham-Bell
Delinquescence I – Acrylic Resin and Mixed Media – Ayelet Lalor
12  Harvest – Weathering steel – Kevin Pierce
The Souls of the Trees, Ebony and Oak – Ceramic on Wood Base – Merce Canadell
 

Map of the Botanical Gardens.

Sculpture in Context 2021 | National Botanic Gardens of Ireland

Last chance to see our exhibition

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Today was the last of our workshops in the Botanic Gardens during the run of our exhibition Kaleidoscope. The exhibition ends tomorrow so if you haven’t seen it and have the time to get to the Botanic Gardens you are in for a treat.

Best wishes to our wonderful Treasurer and committee member (and today’s tutor) Misha Markova who is heading off to the Czech Republic tomorrow to take up a lecturing job for the next year. We will miss you Misha!

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Join us for the opening of our exhibition Kaleidoscope

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BOtanic_FrontGate

We would be delighted if you could join us for the opening of an exhibition of new work by members of Feltmakers Ireland.

Kaleidoscope: The Changing Shape of Felt

Thursday 11th August at 6pm

National Botanic Gardens

Glasnevin, Dublin

Kaleidoscope Invitation

 

The exhibition runs from the 4th – 24th August

Image: Marie Dunne Carnival

Curator: Gabi McGrath

Exciting Exhibition Plans

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BOtanic_FrontGate

Kaleidoscope – ­The changing shape of felt

4th – 25 th August 2016

Feltmakers Ireland is inviting all members to participate in its exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens. Handmade felt can take many shapes and forms. This exhibition is hoping to showcase how felt adapts to changing techniques and technologies. In this process our natural world provides constant inspiration. The exhibition is open to entries from all current members of Feltmakers Ireland

What are the conditions of entry?

1 The work must explicitly reflect the maker’s response to the natural world.

2 The work must be original and predominantly made using the technique of felt; every hand­made

felting technique is accepted.

3 Other textile techniques (as well as non­textile media) may be included, though hand­made felting

techniques have to prevail.

4 The work must be personally hand­made and after January 2015.

5 Work done during courses or under the guidance of teachers is not allowed.

6 The exhibition will be mounted in the gallery of the Information Centre in the Botanic Gardens.

7 Each entrant may submit up to three pieces of work.

8 All entries must be submitted in suitable packaging for safe return. The cost of returning the work is the responsibility of each maker.

9 All entries must be clearly labeled and have detailed hanging instructions. Two­ dimensional works intended for wall hanging must have hanging devices attached. Work intended for freestanding display must be supplied with any rods or devices necessary for its display. Makers should include a photo or drawings to show how the piece should be displayed.

10 No glass will be accepted and Feltmakers Ireland does not take responsibility for any damage to the entries during the transportation or installation of work.

11 The exhibition will be invigilated by members of Feltmakers Ireland and all successful entrants are asked to invigilate for at least half a day over the duration of the exhibition.

 How will the work be selected?

There will be a panel of three judges, one from Feltmakers Ireland and two external judges, who will select the work to be included. The selection will be based on three criteria:

­ quality of work

­ interpretation of the theme

­ innovation in feltmaking design

What is the time scale?

 

The exhibition will take place from 4th – 25th August 2016. Photographs of entries to be submitted by 17th June 2016, and those that get selected from that round must be sent for final selection by 8th July.

 

Fees – there is a participation fee of €20 for a single piece, €30 for two pieces and €40 for three. Make cheques or postal orders out to Feltmakers Ireland or you can pay online by transfer – see application form for details. Application forms are available here: Kaleidoscope Application Form 2016

 

Insurance – Feltmakers Ireland carry public liability Insurance and will do everything possible to make sure the work is safe however It is the maker’s responsibility to insure his/her works independently. The exhibition is being held in a very secure environment and the exhibition will be invigilated at all times

Catalogue and publications – Feltmakers Ireland will be publishing a catalogue to accompany the exhibition

Sale of Work – the work will not be for sale during the exhibition, however details ofprices will be available and interested purchasers will be encouraged to contact the maker directly. There will be no commission taken by Feltmakers Ireland

 

 

Workshop in the Botanic Gardens

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We ran workshops every weekend for the three weeks that our exhibition was on in the Botanic Gardens. Yesterday was the last workshop and we had a terrific group of people from all ages and nationalities – pictured here with Gabriella McGrath who taught the workshop and gave a wonderful guided tour of the exhibition. Many thanks to everyone involved for make the exhibition such a success.

Botanics Workshop

Images from our Exhibition

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To view a slideshow of images from our current exhibition Origins: Felt in the Natural World please click on the link below.  You can also read through the catalogue here by clicking  Origins catalogue

The exhibition runs in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin until 6pm on Sunday, 25th August.

Curator: Gabriella McGrath

External Judges: Carmel Creaner & Caroline Scofield

Photographs: Joanna Sieczkowska

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Origins: Felt in the Natural World

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We hope you can join us for the launch of Origins: Felt in the Natural World on Wednesday 7th August at 4pm. You will have  an opportunity to view the work, meet up with your fellow members of the guild and enjoy some floral refreshments.

Participants:

 Muriel Barnwell, Rosaleen Fleming, Fabienne Herbert, Nessa McCormack, Anne Walsh, Natzaret Sindreu, Kay McKenna, Mette Roche, Elizabeth Bonnar, Nicola Brown, Claire Merry, Marie Dunne, Suzie Sullivan, Aiveen Reid, Sheila Jordan, Mary Hayes, Holly Angle, Katalin Szucs, Mel Bradley, Annmarie Donnellan, Maureen Cromer, Joanna Kidney, Vicky Blomfield, Marika Miklosi-Manning & Gabriella McGrath

Displacement by Anne Walshe
Displacement by Anne Walshe

Exhibition Invitation

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Invitation to Exhibition

Feltmakers Ireland are delighted to invite you to the opening of our exhibition Origins: Felt in the Natural World at 4pm on Wednesday 7th August in the Gallery at the National  Botanic Gardens in Dublin. We’d love to see you there.