Song of Amergin/ Louth Craftmark Designers Network Exhibition 2011, continues until 13 September. This open submission, group exhibition featuring the work of 14 talented designers, makers and artists from the north east region is entering its final ten days, so don’t miss a chance to see it. The exhibition was conceived and developed to mark the 2011 Year of Craft, designated by the Crafts Council of Ireland and Craft Northern Ireland, inviting crafts people, designers and artists to respond to an aspect of Irish Celtic mythology, namely The Book of Invasions and the inspirational poem The Song of Amergin. The exhibition showcases works of exceptional design and craftsmanship through a range of processes and materials including textiles, jewellery design in precious metals, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media, wood, paint and print. Drogheda Municipal Art Collection: closing on Wednesday 7 September, Louth Craftmark at Highlanes Gallery presents Meet the Maker – Jewellery for more information about Fiona Thornton log onto
Highlanes Gallery/ Craft Master, this six part television series beginning Tuesday 6 September at 7.00pm. Craft Master is a nationwide search for new and emerging craft and design talent in the fields of ceramics, glass blowing, wood turning, textiles and blacksmithing. Over the course of the six part series presenter Sonya Lennon will meet a total of fifteen apprentices all hoping to represent their chosen craft in the final of Craft Master to be in with a chance of winning the prize, a stand in Showcase – Ireland’s International Trade Show for Irish producers and with the Irish Craft Industry being worth almost half a billion Euro annually it’s all to play for. The series is broken down into six shows with the first five shows focusing on glass blowing with Róisín de Buitléar (Irelands best known glass artist), Ceramics with Colm de Rís (one of Ireland’s biggest exports of pottery), Weaving with Beth Moran (a master weaver originally from the States but living on picturesque Clare Island), Metal with blacksmith Michael Budd and wood turning with Glenn Lucas (one of the fastest wood turners in the World.
Each week Craft Master’s two resident judges, Brian McGee (from the Crafts Council of Ireland – CCoI) and Derek McGarry (from the National College of Art and Design – NCAD) will be joined by an expert in the field of Ceramics, Glass Blowing, Wood Turning, Textiles and Blacksmithing to decided who of three should represent their practice in the final to be in with a chance of winning a stand in Showcase – Ireland’s International Trade Fair. The judging panel will cut the fifteen apprentices to five with the remaining five competing in the grand finale, with guest adjudicators, designers Paul Costelloe and Louise Kennedy at Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, screened on Tuesday 11 October where the Craft Master 2011 winner is announced.
Look out for details Highlanes Gallery’s Autumn Programme including: The Surreal in Irish Art, Recent Acquisitions: Drogheda Municipal Art Collection, the 57th Texaco Children’s Art Exhibition, Thomas Brezing: The Art of Failure isn’t hard to Master, and associated talks, lectures and workshops. Highlanes Gallery is delighted to participate in Drogheda’s second Culture Night on Friday 23 September with two exhibition openings, a gallery talk and a special Transition Year project by Our Lady’s College, Greenhills. www.culturenight.ie and www.highlanes.ie to download the programmeHighlanes Gallery will celebrate its 5th birthday on Saturday 1 October and is grateful to all who have supported, visited, funded and advocated for the gallery. Look out for many free events and taster workshops for you, your family, and friends. Highlanes Gallery grateful for the ongoing financial assistance by Drogheda Borough Council, the Arts Council of Ireland and Irish Cement Ltd to its exhibition, collection and public programmes.
