Niki Collier – Page 2 – Feltmakers Ireland

Meet the Maker- Niki Collier

Published on Aug 25, 2020Mar 14, 2023 by Feltmakers Ireland

The Exhibition title- Endangered?- how does your piece respond to the title? your inspiration and methods etc

The sculptures are the culmination of a conversation in wool which started for myself a decade ago.
Today I witness with overwhelming sadness that ”my viruses” have brought the whole world to a standstill in 2020.
The dichotomy between function and form in viruses is commonly an immediate reflection on their existence measured to our own.
You would see it in the narrative of artists who are just starting on their journey with microorganisms as a result of current realities.
Humans have the weakness to put ourselves in the centre of the universe rather than grasping the idea that more often than not we are part of it.
And more often than not we are threat to every living organism – including our own kind.
A virus veteran myself I study the impact of viruses on a personal and global level.
The work has been a mechanism to explore humanity, how we operate in a crisis and how we process the impact of trauma within our relationships and our belief system.
The lessons I have learned are of growth, hope and kindness.
I strive to share this experience through my practice.

The choice of Common Cold and Corona are not random.
Common cold is probably the most resilient virus and arguably one of the older organisms in the species.
It evolves and our bodies do as a result of it.
This strain of Corona is registered during this millennium and is presenting us with the challenge to evolve and work together outside our comfort.
Are we going to live up to the challenge and live to tell the tale?

I believe constructive textiles allow the privilege to embody materials which authenticate the experience.
I use this in making my work.
The Two pieces are constructed by a crust and a core. The crust is a combination of animal and plant-based fibres which communicates the spread of the virus and the impact it has on our bodies. The respiratory spread is embodied in undyed wool to emulate sensory experience. The fearmongering of geographical containment is communicated by silk and Italian fibres. The core is a combination of rubbish created during the pandemic which has been covered in wool to develop felt.

Crafting through the current crisis, with the pandemic have you found more or less time to craft, has it inspired you or have you found it more difficult- discuss

I do not sneak in time to craft – I do craft as a core of who I am, both through my full time practice and in my life.
What I did as soon as we were in lockdown was to donate classes, felting kits and tools and products.
I was lucky to get a big commission to develop online teaching content for Cruimnniu na nOg- a project commissioned by Creative Ireland, RTE and Art Council.

https://youtu.be/nFKZC2AZxYE

Meanwhile I found it a special time to become part of international artist led tutorials which connected me with artist from all over the world.

I tried to use the time as a resource to do my bit- I donated materials and classes. After all who knows better the joy of receiving a craft packet in your mailbox?
My family was somehow more roped into craft. My girl was on light duty for 30 days with the 5 feet felt moon we lit every night on our roof.
I used the time to give time to others.I would like to use this opportunity to remind every member of Feltmakers Ireland that they could have 20% off niki&nikifelting tools, craft kits and classes through my website, just say you are a Feltmaker Ireland member.

It also gave me more time to develop my pieces and apply to opportunities that I sometimes miss. I was humbled to have three pieces accepted into Kaleidoscope-
International Felt makers Association exhibition of contemporary felt art.

Felt- how you discovered it, what it means to you
I discovered felt through an idea for a lampshade.
Felt came to me to save me from my failures.
For almost six months I tried various materials and ideas to make the light as it was in my head.
It wasn’t till I was shown the process of felting that I knew – That was it!
I am delighted that it was mutual love as the craft community has given me some of the most illuminating experiences. So for me it means hope and love.
Each happening in my practice has been a gift. From solo exhibition in Shanghai to being part of international exhibition in National Design and Craft Gallery Kilkenny each steps is a privilege. The way I see it I engage with folk who loves craft and art. Whether I teach in corporate setting like Facebook, or a group of underprivileged girls in a small village in Bulgaria it has always been just a way to create meaningful experiences for others.Currently I am working on residency with University of Atypical as part of Craft Month Northern Ireland.
My big joy is my solo show Viruses Nov-Jan University of Atypical which would include the pieces from Endangered. First art residence by invitation.

I would like to thank Feltmakers Ireland for the opportunity and all the hard work they have put in putting this exhibition together.

Niki Collier Visual Artist
website: https://www.nikicollier.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikicollierfelt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikicollierdesign/?hl=en

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpnfyH6gqus5hK5nSyhIK8Q

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikicollierdes

Niki Collier, PhD
Visual Artist

m:0876615066
herself@nikicollier.com
www.nikicollier.com

Studio 24
The Courtyard
Marlay Park
Dublin 16

CIFD and GANS Collaboration.

Published on Sep 3, 2019Mar 14, 2023 by Feltmakers Ireland

Report by Breda Fay- GANS rep (edited by Tamzen Lundy)

Breda Fay/ Michelle Kearns — GANS & CIFD collaboration

Since the beginning of April, some members from Felt makers Ireland have been working with designers from the fashion world on a collaborative project linking craft persons and designers.

Today – August 29^th– was the culmination of our work, when our projects were modeled as part of the CIFD Fashion Show/ Media Day. The fashion show itself was amazing and one could only be inspired by the address and commentary of Eddie Shanahan, chair of CIFD, a truly enthusiastic and inspiring speaker.

For the last few months, Carmen Garcia, Niki Collier and Breda Fay have been engaging with our partner designers from the council of Irish fashion design. We had been randomly matched to “accentuate learning and ensure innovative engagement”.

I worked with Michelle Kearns, a milliner from Tuam.

Breda Fay/ Michelle Kearns

Michelle and I shared stories of our likes and dislikes, dreams and history to come up with a theme for the design. We also discussed different textures and shades of felt. Samples and photographs went back and forth until we finally decided on a very fine and feathery black Merino and Silk with embellishments of cerise Tussah silk that Michelle would incorporate into a wire structure. The finished work would illustrate overcoming adversity (thick and gnarled branches) growing into more open structure with birds and blooms of hope and resilience.

In all, 15 pairs brought their projects to completion and the resulting hats, baskets, dresses, scarves, etc were amazing. The crafts of calligraphy, metal smith, lace making, felt making, basket making, crochet, textile art and embroidery were all represented.

Carmen Garcia's collaborative work — GANS & CIFD collaboration

This is the second year of the collaboration and I would urge members to watch the GANS page of the website and read the blog posts for notice of next year’s event, when we will once again advertise this opportunity. For those that managed to get along this year and became involved it was certainly and enriching and lasting experience.

See a word from Eddie in thanks below.

www.irishfashiondesigners.com

The below was received from the Council of Irish Fashion Designers

Ladies & Gentlemen,

On behalf of all of us in CIFD I wish to express our gratitude to you for the skill, inspiration, dedication and creativity you brought to our collaboration project.

It is not often that one of Ireland’s most eminent journalists declares an event as ‘Triumphant and emotional’ – but those were her first words at the end of our presentation on Thursday.

My colleagues and I have enjoyed the process, our respect and admiration for your skills is difficult to put into words. Design and Craft came together last week in an engaging evocation of Irish culture, proving beyond doubt that our heritage crafts can be extremely engaging in a contemporary context.

I hope you too enjoyed the project and the presentation.

I know Mary has exciting plans to give the work further exposure and I will also be seeking extra opportunities in the coming months.

We can expect some newspaper and magazine publicity in the coming weeks. In the meantime I am sending you a hi res image of your contribution by WeTranfer. I hope to have some video clips of the pieces in the next short while and will also forward those in due course.

I look forward to the possibility of working with you again in the near future.

Best regards,

Eddie

The Final 3 featured Artists showing at “Something Red” in Finland

Published on Aug 6, 2019Mar 14, 2023 by Feltmakers Ireland

This is the final in a series of posts featuring the Artists whose work was selected for the “Something Red” exhibition in Finland. This week we look at the work of Niki Collier, Marika Miklosi Manning & Nessa McCormack.

Luckily as most of us have not been able to see the exhibits in person, we look forward to the Irish exhibits returning and featuring as part of the Shorelines Arts Festival 8th-22nd Sept in Portumna

Niki Collier

Artist – Niki Collier

My Egg. Do Not Sit III

An interpretation of the human ovary in fibre, mounted on a transparent structure. Discussing women’s freedom and the perception of ownership.

Sale price. €875.00

Materials – merino wool, silk fibres, Nuno felted knit mohair, vintage silk from the artist’s grandmother, Russian silk from her mother, Blueface Leicester fibres, fibre from a dog who had miscarried, and fbres from a sheep who won the national championship at Gosford.

Artist – Marika Miklosi Manning

Red Between the Lines

We can easily miss or are blind to trouble or pain, sometimes we are in denial about the “red” between the lines.

Sale price. €125.00

Materials – Kap merino wool, tussah silk fibres, merino wool

Notes – this is intended to be displayed standing with the long cord casually laid on the table, encircling the vessel.

Artist – Nessa McCormack

Untitled.

I have always loved groups of things, little colonies of harmony repeating themselves. It’s a reassuring feeling, the process of repeating, making and slowly building layers. I am very drawn to rolls of delicate paper and fabric with the selvedge exposed. I think these elements have influenced me in making this piece.

Red is not a colour I usually work with. In the process of making this piece I learned how much I liked the intensity of saturated warm colours. It was nice to be surprised in this way.

Sale price. €325.00

Materials – fine merino fibre, pieced and stitched.

Once again our sincere thanks to DCCoI for the part funding received that enabled Feltmakers ireland to take part in these exhibitions.

crafts-council

Interview with Niki Collier

Published on Feb 18, 2019Mar 15, 2023 by Feltmakers IrelandLeave a comment

NikiCollier Art Ivaylo Petrov Photo Celebrations Haloween

NikiCollier Art Ivaylo Petrov Photo Celebrations Flower Day

Photo credit: Ivaylo Petrov

Niki Collier is a long term member of Felt maker Ireland. She contacted us to let us know that her work has been selected to be shown at the National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny as part of an international Exhibition started on Feb 9^th and running through to 23^rd June. The exhibition is called

“Monumentality/ Fragility”

www.ndcg.ie/exhibitions

We decided to ask Niki a little about her life and work as a felt maker.

Tell us a little about you as a person? E.g. upbringing/ work other than felt etc.

I think as a person I am always open for change. It is always very difficult to state I am this or that as when life presents its challenges, we end up reinventing ourselves.

I am a Dublin based visual artist and maker based in Marlay Park. I come from a small quiet town in Bulgaria and all the horizons that felt and creative community has offered to me still make me pinch myself.

Some people like my garments and accessories. Others get my sculptures of microorganisms. Or people see my passion for felt and teaching and get fired up about felting when we have a workshop. But who am I? I am all these things and a hot headed disabled woman from Bulgaria, who had the audacity to marry an English bloke in Ireland? Wow, I am lucky!

I do all my projects with an urgency informed by the realisation that next moment in our life everything can go south. My nuclear family has a girl with complex health problems and often our team- me, my husband and my other daughter need to readjust not just schedule but also plans and priorities. Still she is the constant source of my inspiration and the foundation of my artistic practice

We live in a tiny two up to down terrace house on South Circular Road with Bongo, our cat. All members of the family love felt. They wouldn’t dare not to.

Here is a link to an interview on you tube- this gives you more insight into my life as a felt maker.

www.youtube.com

Before I committed to practicing felt making I had tried a few different paths. I graduated as a teacher and after teaching for a short while I won a scholarship for doctoral research in UCD. After finishing the PhD I lectured for a few years. I loved lecturing, but it was not enough. After my daughter Coral, who has special needs, was born, I had to grow up that bit more. Then I found felt and that was it!

_P9A3101

How and when did you start Felting… what is your experience, tell us a little about your journey?

The enlighten to start working in felt came up from an idea for a lighting unit- I tried to make a prototype in various materials, but it was only when I made it in felt I knew I have resolved not just this project, but I opened up possibility to limitless creativity. I love wool and how it could express everything and could resolve all.

I wanted to try felting and contacted Felt makers Ireland who took me under their wing and gave me access to their knowledge and projects. I loved every minute of it.

Since I was a newbie I was very eager to learn. I have learned from many: Sheila Ahern, Nicola Brown, Horst, Lisa Klakulak, Diana Nagorna, Marjolein Dellinga and Nina Demidova.

I was gutted when I couldn’t get a place on Judith Pods and Gladys Paulus workshops with Felt makers Ireland, due to them being oversubscribed but I am thankful that being part of the group has allowed me to travel and network with other communities while participating in alternative workshops with them.

NikiCollier Art Ivaylo Petrov Photo Celebrations Children Day

Photo Credit: Ivaylo Pretrov

Tell us about your process from conception to creation and what is your motivation?

My process is simple. It starts with something that I see as a problem and I look for ways to solve it.

This need transpires into a collection that people wear or in sculptural pieces that I share with folk with passion for visual interpretation of us and our world.

In all my work I start with complex ideas and an array of materials and I use the process to learn and simplify both the idea and the materials so that they are welcoming to many.

What currently inspires you?

My current source of hope comes from the wonderful thought that my viruses would be at the National Design and Craft Gallery till the summer.

I have just finished a two year long project on Celebrations. The project profiled Bulgarian community in Ireland arguing that growth comes from personal, geographical or professional change. It also explored boundaries of communities as they often include complex origin make up. For example in the Bulgarian community we have an American, many Irish and some Latvian and Nigerians. As I say in one of the stories- Children Day- our origin is Earth, my religion is Love, and the only politics I care for is Freedom.

At present I am working on headpieces and garments which interpret the perception of women as powerful creatures. The work has just begun. I work from a grid based ideation, followed by a lot of research- actual reading on the topic, usually scientific.

Then I do sketches. Then I do samples. Then I photograph the piece and re-do it again. Only then do I try to share it with others.

I am developing currently some pieces as embodiment of my interpretation of sin and virtues. My aim in terms of technical goal is to explore consistency of colour but create pieces that are juxtaposed in texture- solid complex sculptures and delicate textured garments. I am trying to answer the question: Why are we afraid of Virginia Wolf and could we still get away with it?

I am applying for some financial support for my work, but to be honest I would be doing it regardless of whether I receive it or not. If I believe in something, I need to get it out of my system. The journey is my necessity; the possibility to communicate it to others is a privilege and an award which I often have not been granted.

NikiCollier Art Ivaylo Petrov Photo Celebrations Hope Faith Charity

Photo Credit: Ivaylo Pretrov

My Workshops:

apply at nikicollierdesign.com/workshops/

or www.facebook.com/nikicollierdesign/

I am pleased to offer 3 different type of felting workshops in 2019. Please read about them below.

Felt Fridays Feb & Mar 19

Six week course introducing the magic of felt making.

8th Feb Flower	15th Feb Picture	22nd Feb Purse
1st Mar Jewellery	8th Mar Toy	15th Mar Neck Piece

Price: €56 per class / €240 for all 6 classes

27th Jan	Picture	Unravelling techniques with fibres and textiles.
24th Feb	Bag	Strong felt with closures and surface detail.
31st Mar	Scarf	Using cashmere, superfine merino and silk

Fearsome Felters

Monthly classes creating fabulous felt.

Price: €110 per class

Felt Fun

Creative fun for Children of all ages

17th Feb	Flower	First Flower of spring would be made by you.
10th Mar	Parade Hat	Make your St. Patricks Parade Hat
16th Apr	Easter Egg	Make a felt egg and get a chocolate egg as a reward.
19th Apr	Easter Basket	Make your own basket and Easter Egg Hunt in the Park.

Monumentality & Fragility- Exhibition

Published on Jan 30, 2019Mar 15, 2023 by Feltmakers IrelandLeave a comment

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

nikicolliersm

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”.

Two Summer Solo Shows not to miss

Published on Jul 23, 2015Apr 20, 2023 by Feltmakers IrelandLeave a comment

Feltmakers Ireland are delighted to announce two solo shows by our members for the month of August. We held a call out earlier this year for interested members to submit ideas for an exhibition in the Visitors Centre in the Phoenix Park. The two successful members were Claire Merry and Niki Collier.

Claire will be showing some of her beautiful felt clothing and pictures from 1- 14 August

Niki Collier will present a selection from her exciting new Autumn/Winter 2015-16 felt clothing collection entitled ‘H’ (for hope). Her work will be on show from 16-31 August. http://www.nikicollier.com/