Wool Works: Textile talk and brunch

Join us at Craft NI for the highlight of the Wool Works exhibition, Textile talk and brunch on July 30th with Chris Weiniger, general manager of Donegal Yarns woollen mill and Finnish textile artist and weaver Niina Hiltunen. Chris will talk about Ireland’s rich wool heritage, and Niina will talk about the importance of craft within communities. These talks will then be followed by a weaving demonstration for the audience using a portable loom.

• 10:30 – 11 talk with Chris Weiniger, general manager at Donegal Yarns woollen mill
• 11 – 11:30 coffee/brunch break
• 11:30 – 12:15 talk with Niina: Art & Well-being – Feel the weave and WeaveCreatively™: an introduction to a Finnish approach of textile art in community art practices.
• 12:15 – 13:15 demo with Nina: Feel the weave – WeaveCreatively™ demonstration of how to use weaving and portable looms as a means of community art. Material sponsored by The Donegal Yarns.

About Wool Works:

‘Wool Works’ is an exhibition of contemporary textile design spearheaded by co. Down professor Jane McCann. The Northern Irish textile expert brought together Welsh, Finnish and Northern Irish textile artists who have been working together since 2001. 

The theme of the exhibition is wool and the way traditional motifs and techniques can be reinterpreted in a contemporary setting, embracing links between the cultural heritages of Wales, Ireland and Finland. The exhibits include unique hand-woven tapestries, woollen blankets, framed textile art, one-of-a-kind accessories and garments such as Irish style workwear jackets or house coats (with some of these unique pieces available for sale), and highlight techniques such as felting, free stitching, digital embroidery, knitting, hand weaving and plant dying.

Participating makers have used sustainable materials such as Cambrian and Finnish wool, indigo dyed Merino wool, Irish bainin tweed and Donegal yarns in the works. Professor McCann is passionate about the potential of wool and an advocate of its increasing use in the textile industry. She believes that this unique material deserves to be celebrated and highlighted alongside linen and other sustainable textiles.

Come along to:

Booking:

Please book your free space

Social Media Links and Contacts:

Event page

If you have any questions contact the team at info@craftni.org