Craft NI

1845: Memento Mori
2021-08-27 - 2021-10-07 | Ulster American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Rd, Omagh, BT78 5QU, United Kingdom
1845: Memento Mori is a famine memorial and glass installation of 1,845 blown glass potatoes dedicated to the 19th-century Great Irish Famine, created by Seattle-based Irish artist Paula Stokes.
1845 is significant as it references the year that the potato blight came to Ireland, marking the beginning of a period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration. Between 1845 and 1852, over 1.5 million people died, and 1 million emigrated to Australia, Canada and America. The form of the installation differs in response to specific locations, changing shape and volume depending on light, accessibility and exposure of each site.
At the Ulster American Folk Park it will be installed in the Single Room Cabin, which dates from the late 1700s to early 1800s and is an example of the type of dwelling occupied by many poor tenant farmers. It will be the only venue for the installation in Northern Ireland.
The fragility of the glass potatoes is representative both of the vulnerability and of resilience of those who died and those who survived the famine. Paula Stokes was born in Ireland butmoved to Seattle in 1993 to pursue a career in glass. Her glass work has been shown extensively both nationally and internationally. As a modern-day member of the Irish diaspora, Stokes’ glass installations reflect on her own history as an immigrant to examine historical events that have shaped the present.
She believes that ‘1845: Memento Mori will resonate with a wide variety of audiences as it reminds us of our own fragile humanity and serves as a connection between shared human experiences in the past and present’.
This project has been generously supported by the Thomas Dammann Junior Memorial Trust and is displayed in partnership with Craft NI for August Craft Month.

Sculpture in Context 2021
2021-09-02 - 2021-10-15 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin Ireland D09 VY63, Dublin, Ireland
Sculpture in Context is celebrates its 35th anniversary and 20 years exhibiting in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin in Dublin.
Bringing together the work of over 140 artists using a wide range of media, the works represent the diverse character of Irish and International contemporary sculpture today. From the smallest, most intricate ceramic works to stone sculptures of a monumental scale, visitors to the exhibition will be enriched by the experience of viewing such inspiring works in one location.
Sculpture in Context was established in 1985 to raise the profile of sculpture and provide a platform for artists outside the normal gallery context. It is a not for profit organisation run by sculptors. The exhibition was founded by Cliodna Cussen, Colm Brennan and Gerard Cox and originated in Fernhill Gardens where it ran for 10 years. Since then it has been hosted in the Conrad Hotel, Malahide Castle, Kilmainham Gaol, the Irish Management Institute, Dublin Castle, Farmleigh House and since 2002 has been held in the magnificent National Botanic Gardens.
Sculpture in Context promotes artists and creates opportunities for practicing artists to exhibit their works in a wider public arena. The organisation has provided much needed opportunities for Irish and Non-Irish sculptors in Ireland.

Michael Moore: Intersect
2021-09-10 - 2021-10-23 | Marketplace Theatre and Arts Centre, Armagh, United Kingdom
Intersect presents a collection of sculpture made by Michael Moore since January 2018. It researches mapping of locality. It examines how clay forms interplay and balance, exploring precarious constructions. Grid forms reflect journeys around places of personal importance. Clay forms explore movement and contortion, seeking out unusual, abstracted structures.
Michael Moore is Reader in Fine and Applied Arts at Ulster University. He has works in the permanent collections of the Ulster Museum, National Museum of Ireland. He is an elected member of the International Academy of Ceramics and a registered maker with Craft NI and the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.
Image © Jim Maginn – Intersect 2018 – Hand built Ceramics

Culture Night 2021
2021-09-16 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Co. Fermanagh
Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir celebrates culture, creativity and the arts and seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day.
For 2021 Culture Night Belfast is centred on Writer’s Square, which will be transformed into a monumental, immersive cultural experience running from Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19. In addition, an intriguing interactive trail will help visitors to reconnect with, and explore the rich artistic environment of the Cathedral Quarter
The Ogham Grove invites the public to explore our relationship with our native woodland and environment through a totally innovative and spectacular artwork. Taking inspiration from the Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet a monumental, immersive sculpture will be created within Writer’s Square as the centre piece to a trail of cryptic markers distributed throughout the Cathedral Quarter. Using QR codes linked to these inscriptions participants will be able to divine their own way through the Cathedral Quarter attempting to crack the secret code and discovering the rich cultural offering of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter along the way. The work can be explored both throughout the day or in the evening and will run from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th September to engage with the maximum number of visitors in a safe and socially distanced way.
Culture Night Belfast
Culture Night Derry invites visitors to COME TOGETHER AGAIN with a diverse programme running through the afternoon and evening on Friday 17 September.
Venues across Derry City and Strabane District have thrown open their doors or taken to the streets and invite you to enjoy an evening of diverse, Free entertainment for all ages
and interests.
Culture Night Derry and Strabane

'Beyond Darkness' exhibition by Susan Mannion
2021-09-18 - 2021-10-30 | Flowerfield Arts Centre, 185 Coleraine Road, Portstewart, BT55 7HU, United Kingdom
A new exhibition by Boyle based visual artist Susan Mannion, Beyond Darkness features works of enamel on steel and copper in response to the past few months of living with COVID restrictions. The exhibition includes a large scale enamel work depiction of being contained in a small space and looking towards nature and the outdoors for emotional balance.
The elements of nature run through the exhibition, reflecting our dependency upon it as a means to escape from our enclosed spaces during lockdown. This body of work has grown out of a sense of restless energy and a need for change and adaption.
Originally from Omagh, Susan is now currently based in the west of Ireland where she is a printmaker and copper enamellist. Susan is influenced by landscape and patterns in nature, her work evolving from observed detail captured by sketching then laying down the image onto the block or copper surface creating intricate thread-like lines and fine textural incisions to create an atmospheric, surreal asthetic, distilling a sense of place, time and memory. Susan has exhibited work nationally and internationally with her work being held in several public and private collections worldwide. She has been awarded several commissions and residencies including The Dock, Cill Rialaig, Valerie Earley Award, Tyrone Guthrie Residency Award, Arts-Science Residency Award and the MI-Lab Mokuhanga six week residency in Japan.

Galleries are open Tues, 10-4 / Wed & Thurs, 10-4 & 7-9 / Fri 10-3 / Sat 10-1

Translating Linen
2021-09-25 - 2021-10-22 | R-Space Gallery, 32 Castle Street, Lisburn, BT27 4XE, United Kingdom
Exhibition showcasing the award winning Translating Linen project, which features a digital music piece created from the DNA structure of flax overlaid with the sights and sounds of Northern Ireland’s Linen Mills, and a large scale artwork on linen.
Visual Artist Robert Peters was invited to respond to Dr. O’Kane’s translation of Linen DNA pictorially. He created an image that attempts to encompass the historical use of flax and linen from neolithic times to its demise in post-industrial Ireland. This image has been printed onto linen to form a large scale wall hanging.

Thinking Out Loud
2021-10-06 - 2021-10-27 | Ards Arts Centre, Town Hall, Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4NP, United Kingdom
An exhibition of abstract stitched textiles by Patricia Kelly

Patricia, who lives in Co. Fermanagh, attended the Ulster University in Belfast where she obtained a B.A Honors degree in Fine Craft Design.
Specialising in embroidered textiles, Patricia has always been inspired by the ever-changing colour, light and texture of the landscape and skies in the west of Ireland. She constantly pushes her work in new directions exploring images through drawing and paint, but finally realising her outcomes through the medium of textile employing the use of free motion embroidery techniques.
Patricia’s work has become much more abstract in recent times with a greater focus on the use of the stitched line. The repetitive use of shape and mark has become an increasingly important aspect of her work which imbues a meditative quality.

Irish Craft Heroes: 50 Makers x 50 Years
2021-10-14 - 2021-11-30 | Co. Fermanagh
Irish Craft Heroes, a major exhibition celebrating 50 years of Irish craft, coincides with Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s (DCCI) 50th Anniversary since its establishment in 1971. To mark this landmark occasion, the National Design & Craft Gallery is producing an outdoor, touring exhibition and publication charting the evolution of the craft and design sector in Ireland over the last 50 years, paying homage to the many makers whose work has contributed to the rich tapestry of craft and design practice in Ireland.
Irish Craft Heroes exhibition launched in Kilkenny 23 July to 06 October 2021
Dublin Castle from October to December 2021;
continues to GMIT Centre for Creative Arts & Media, Galway city in spring 2022 – with further venues to be announced.
Online virtual exhibition

What Colour is Metal?
2021-10-14 - 2022-01-29 | Dublin Castle, Dame St, Dublin, Ireland
Group exhibition considering the relationship between metal and colour in contemporary silversmithing and jewellery, with a mapping of relationships and practice in key centres internationally. It examines approaches ranging from colour achieved using the inherent properties of metal to react with other chemicals or heat (or a combination); the reveal of colour as a property of the metal itself; infusing the surface of aluminium with pure colour or image; the use of enamel glazes with varying degrees of transparency and opacity – but always with a fundamentally strong relationship with the surface qualities of the metal.
Jane Adam | Peter Bauhuis | Edmond Byrne | Stuart Cairns | Alison Counsell | Rebecca de Quin | Christine Graf | Koji Hatakeyama | Nicola Heidemann | Kaori Juzu | Toru Kaneko | Ruth Laird | Jose Marin | Cecilia Moore | John Moore | Cara Murphy | Thanh-Truc Nguyen | Cóilín Ó Dubhghaill | Michael Rowe | Ryuhei Sako | Simone ten Hompel | Adi Toch | Jessica Turrell | Roxanne Simone | Max Warren
The exhibition is scheduled to run October 2021 to February 2022, the exact dates published here are provisional.
Accompanied by a series of Meet the Maker online talks in April-May 2021.
Series 2 of online talks in October 2021

'Shuttles & Shafts' Exhibition
2021-10-14 10:00 - 2021-11-11 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
Craft NI are delighted to present the ‘Shuttles and Shafts’ exhibition, a visual journey into the archives of one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent linen manufacturers and an insight into the work of the design partnership that have brought some of their classic patterns into the 21st century.
Previously suppliers to the Ritz and the White Star Line, glass design plates from the Ewart-Lidell Mill in Co. Down, were donated to Belfast School of Art. Senior Research Fellow, Trish Belford and Professor of Design Barbara Dass have preserved, catalogued and digitised the plates for future generations.
Their Heritage Lottery funded project Reviving William Liddell’s Damask Designs preserved a unique collection of 1600 photographic glass plates discovered in 2007 when the Ewart-Liddell linen factory at Donacloney, Co Down was dismantled. Their initial research was exhibited at Lisburn Museum during the inaugural NI Linen Biennale in 2018, and the resulting contemporary textiles are now in production at William Clark and Sons of Upperlands.

Beyond Edges
2021-10-15 - 2021-11-20 | Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, 24 Main Street, Limavady, BT49 0FJ, United Kingdom
Joint exhibition by Andrea Spencer, Nicola Nemec and Sharon Adams.
Beyond Edges presents the work of three women artists living and working in North Antrim, an area of open hills and dramatic coastlines perched at the northern edge of Ireland. Each of the three artists responds to the landscape through different materials – glass (Andrea Spencer); paint (Nicola Nemec); wood and metal (Sharon Adams).
This self-generated collaboration emerges from their common interest in lines and edges; seen and unseen; natural and manmade. Beyond Edges therefore explores where and how the edges of their practices meet and provides a space for their respective approaches to be explored together.
Virtual Launch 2pm Friday 15 October via the Roe Valley Arts Centre Facebook Page
Meet the Artists Event 10am to 1pm Saturday 23 October. Book here

Made in Ireland
2021-10-21 - 2022-02-05 | National Design and Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, Ireland
Made In Ireland celebrates the wealth and vibrancy of Ireland’s studio crafts. The exhibition presents work by over 110 craftspeople each creating beautiful, considered objects using skills honed over many years.
Ireland’s makers, working in and across different sectors, are creating innovative work of high quality. Makers work in local and carefully sourced materials, across all regions of our island. Some are household names, but most work away quietly perfecting their skill and promoting their work regionally. The Irish public has shown itself to have a lively interest in craft, however, is largely unaware of the diverse range and quality of work being produced in the country by skilled makers. At a time when many are showing a considerable preference and appreciation for goods that are Irish made, we can think of no better time to create a colourful, inclusive exhibition that shows the very best of what is MADE IN IRELAND.

140th Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition
2021-10-29 - 2022-01-02 | Ulster Museum, BT9 5AB, United Kingdom
The RUA Annual Exhibition (RUA) is one of the most eagerly anticipated exhibitions in the Northern Irish cultural calendar, providing a unique platform for acclaimed artists and emerging talent to showcase their artwork in the fabulous galleries at the Ulster Museum. It is also a chance for the public to engage with a fully democratic, free admission exhibition.
The exhibition contains examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, video and more. Some of the works reflect the times we are living and allude to isolation, social distancing and surviving in Covid times. Other works share deep messages with hope, humour, passion and integrity.

Open Tuesday to Sunday
10am to 5pm
Free, but booking required

Teatime
2021-10-30 - 2021-11-26 | R-Space Gallery, 32 Castle Street, Lisburn, BT27 4XE, United Kingdom
Tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world, the paraphernalia surrounding the preparation and consumption is immense.
R-Space presents a selection of items surrounding this wonderful beverage.
Five artist/makers based in Northern Ireland at different career stages, working in a variety of media, were selected from an open call for this exhibition:
Amanda Croft
Fiona Jiandani
Paul Mulgrew
Millie Moore
Pamela Walker
Open 11am to 5pm
Tuesday to Saturday
Preview Saturday 30 Ocotber 2pm

'Countryside to Coast' exhibition by Andrea Hayes
2021-10-30 10:00 - 2021-11-05 16:00 | klöver haus, 92B Main Street, Moira, Craigavon, BT67 0LH, United Kingdom
klöver haus in Moira will host ‘Countryside to Coast’ – an exhibition of original art by local textile artist Andrea Hayes. Working from her home studio in Cookstown, Andrea draws inspiration from the vast array of textures, colours and dramatic skylines of the Irish landscape. Each piece is a unique collage created in Andrea’s distinctive style; hand painted, layered with appliquéd hand dyed fabrics and delicately finished with embroidery.

Pinned
2021-11-02 - 2021-11-20 | Ards Arts Centre, Town Hall, Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4NP, United Kingdom
Group exhibition from the Association for Contemporary Jewellers and Silversmiths NI (ACJNI).
Presenting the work of over 20 local jewellers and silversmiths who have each responded to the exhibition’s theme to produce one-of-a-kind pieces beyond the scope of their usual commission or production work.
The exhibition features variations on the idea of a brooch, with versions in both precious and non-precious materials. Traditionally set stones contrast with re-purposed vintage tins and toys, precision geometry meets abstract forms. Gold, silver and gemstones sit alongside found objects in unexpected interpretations that demonstrate technical accomplishment, innovation and creativity.

Inner Journeys
2021-11-02 - 2021-11-20 | Ards Arts Centre, Town Hall, Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4NP, United Kingdom
Ceramicist Anna Smyth presents new work featuring her exquisite crystalline glazes.
From her ceramics studio based in County Down, Anna creates thrown, sculptural porcelain vessels, imbued with meaning, inspired by observations and reflection on life. Recent themes have included relationship, heritage and spirituality.
Following completion of the Craft NI ‘Launchpad’ development programme, Anna’s new work was launched in a group exhibition in the Craft NI Gallery. The porcelain vessels are internally glazed with a selection of crystalline glazes, developed with support from the Arts Council of NI. These stunning glazes in which crystals form during the firing add a further layer of significance to the work. The forms have developed further to suggest fluidity and movement, giving wider scope for expression.
Anna believes that when we engage with items which have been thoughtfully designed and skilfully made by the human hand, it is a valuable and enriching experience.
Contact Ards Arts Centre to confirm days and times.

The Gift - as Heirloom
2021-11-18 10:00 - 2021-12-24 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
A Gift has the potential to cause change, create bonds within families and communities.

Craft NI and the Association for Contemporary Jewellery & Silversmiths NI welcome you to The Gift – as Heirloom, a contemporary jewellery exhibition which promises to awe the viewer with a rich tapestry of techniques, materials and concepts, making this Christmas Jewellery Selling Show a must-visit over the coming weeks.

CRAFT NI are delighted to welcome ACJ NI to Craft NI Gallery for a second Christmas jewellery selling show. ACJNI will bring the most accomplished new work from nine of their members and associates who are practising contemporary jewellers in Northern Ireland. This year the selected makers will create neckpieces and earrings in response to the title of The Gift inspired by Lewis Hyde’s book of the same title.
Jewellery has a strong association with being gifted, usually as an act of love, devotion, or a memento to mark an occasion. It carries deep personal stories and powerful narratives that connect us through generations and time – an heirloom.
The Gift is an exhibition that will represent the richness of approaches and a diversity of materials, skilfully combined to create meaningful stories about our culture and values. It is also an opportunity to see and purchase the work of our best contemporary designer makers brought together at the CRAFT NI Gallery.
Participating jewellers are Anne Earls Boylan, Jill Graham, Cameron & Breen, Clodagh Molloy, Lotus de Wit, Fiona Kerr, Camilla Prey, Eddie Doherty and Celine Traynor.

Land and Lore
2022-01-28 10:00 - 2022-03-05 16:00 | The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh, 9 Market Street, Armagh, BT61 7BW
Textile artist Ruth Osborne’s exhibition will explore the relationship between nature, landscape and folklore, which can shape our understanding and responses to the natural world. This exhibition brings together textile art, printmaking and natural materials to inspire a connection to nature and explore the historical symbolism and beliefs embedded in our landscape.

'Curved with Intent'
2022-02-03 10:00 - 2022-03-27 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
Craft NI are delighted to welcome you to ‘Curved with intent’, an exhibition of contemporary design in wood. ‘Curved with intent’ is Craft NI’s first event of a varied 2022 exhibition programme and promises to raise interest in the beautiful medium of wood and admiration for the talented Northern Irish designer-makers who work with it.
Wood as a construction material and man have had a very long relationship – not surprising since it is so extraordinarily versatile. The ability to create curved forms in wood is an example of its extreme adaptability to different needs and types of objects and construction, and it perfectly illustrates the theme of the exhibition – gentle and purposeful mastery that transforms a simple organic material into beautiful and/or functional craft objects.
Wood can be shaped in many ways, and the work displayed in the exhibition will demonstrate both a variety of objects and methods, including carving, turning, laminating, steam bending and cutting from solid.
The participating designer-makers are David Cousley, Mark Hanvey, Ronan Lowery, Brian McKee and John Piekaar.
Each participating designer-maker speaks through their work to the audience of their own particular relationship with the material: the shapes they produce are more or less practically and/or aesthetically purposed. They are very deliberately envisaged – they are curved with intent.

WWt Castle Espie Group Exhibition
2022-02-05 11:00 - 2022-02-27 16:00 | WWT Castle Espie, 78 Ballydrain Rd, Comber, Newtownards, BT23 6EA
North Down Craft Collective have organised a group exhibition at WWT Castle Espie wetlands showcasing a selection of ceramics and art from selected designer-makers. Running from the 5th to the 27th of February in the Graffan galleries, the exhibition will have work available for sale via the Castle Espie retail team with a catalogue available in the gallery. Keep an eye on North Down Craft Collective’s socials – there will be artists in-stu on various days.

Bending Glass
2022-03-03 12:00 - 2022-03-06 18:00 | Flax Art Studios, Havelock House, Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1EB, United Kingdom
Initiated and organised by artist Johanna Leech with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive (DFA) in partnership with Flax Art Studios, Bending Glass tells the story of master glass bender and neon sign maker Adrian McNevison of AM Light. This exhibition illuminates the former UTV studios with artworks made from light and archive footage from the UTV vaults.
Courtesy of the UTV Archive, this is illustrated throughout with footage of local television programming which was made visually distinctive by neons supplied by McNevison. Presented alongside the screenings and stills are contemporary neon artworks produced by AM Light for Michael Hanna, Stuart Calvin and Johanna Leech, self-made neons by Kevin Killen, lightboxes by Susan Hughes, a written guide by Paula Blair, and a video interview with McNevison and his son Chris.

Please note the exact opening hours below:
Thursday, 3rd of March: 4pm – 9pm (Opening night, Late Night Art)
Friday, 4th of March: 12 – 6pm
Saturday, 5th of March: 12 – 6pm
Sunday, 6th of March: 12 – 6pm

'Masks'
2022-03-24 11:00 - 2022-04-02 17:00 | Artcetera Studios, 43B Rosemary St, Belfast, BT1 1QB, United Kingdom
Organised by Kingsroad Studios and their first solo show, this exhibition is about a lot of things. Masks are worn to celebrate, to threaten, to protect. They are parts of rituals and ceremonies and have been used for centuries by people around the world.
Recently, they have been part of our daily vocabulary and attire. A mask can be invisible, worn to hide our feelings and mental health.
For this project, Kingsroad Studios decided to include a range of raw materials and techniques to represent the diversity of mask making: leather, bark, suede, beads, Jesmonite, resin and paint were used in the process. Each mask has been decorated and finished by hand, while the original forms that the moulds are made from were sculpted individually using papier mâché amongst other things.
The Opening Night is on Thursday, 24th March between 6pm and 9pm. This is a free event, everyone welcome. The exhibition will run until Friday 1st April.
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm and Sat 12-4pm.

ABLE 30th Anniversary Exhibition of Bobbin Lace
2022-03-29 10:00 - 2022-04-10 16:30 | North Down Museum, Town Hall, The Castle, Bangor, BT20 4BT, United Kingdom
Ards Bobbin Lace Enthusiasts (ABLE) was formed in 1991 by Unagh McCullough, the current WI Homecraft assessor, to promote bobbin lacemaking, which is a heritage craft both in Ireland and worldwide.
ABLE has staged every quinquennial exhibition of their handmade lace items, from all skill levels, at the North Down Museum in Bangor.
Now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, members worked on individual Torchon lace squares, designed by Unagh, to create a handmade tablecloth which will be raffled during the exhibition – all monies raised going to a local cancer research charity.
Exhibition admission is free.
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Sunday 12 noon-4pm

'Land and Lore' Exhibition
2022-05-05 10:00 - 2022-05-28 16:00 | Ards Arts Centre, Town Hall, Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4NP, United Kingdom
In the exhibition, textile artist Ruth Osborne brings together visual explorations of the relationship between woodland landscapes, folklore, and a range of creative processes that rely on the use of organic material. The union of process, material and history/heritage have shaped, and continue to shape, understanding and responses to the natural world.
In recent years there has been renewed interest in the protection and re-establishment of woodland on the Island of Ireland, which was once (many hundreds of years ago ) a more densely wooded island than today. Initiatives in replanting and rewilding have focused on native broadleaf species to try and rebuilt the woodlands that would have once been characteristic of this area. Mapping and research has also been undertaken to create an overview of the existing areas of ancient and long-standing woodland so that these can be protected and monitored. These recent developments in woodland conservation, coupled with an increasing understanding of the benefits of spending time in nature on our wellbeing, has seen a renewed interest in our relationship and our historic connection to woodlands. In this sense Land and Lore touches upon and prompts the viewer to consider these current issues and our contemporary relationship to woodlands.
The exhibition is comprised of a range of works, including installation textile hangings, framed works and artists books. Works will be created using nature printing processes on Irish Linen, willow and paper. The processes of using plant material for mark making and colour are historical historical ones, which have been used for centuries by artists, botanists, scientists and storytellers to document and interpret the natural world. Using historical processes in a contemporary way Land and Lore both taps into the history of these process but aligns them with contemporary concerns. All the Artworks have been made using foliage native to the island of Ireland that is imbued with symbolism and lore, which is provided for the viewer to support interpretation.

'Peter Meanley: New Works'
2022-05-05 10:00 - 2022-06-11 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
Craft NI are delighted to announce their upcoming exhibition ‘Peter Meanley: New Works’. This solo show will feature new works by renowned salt glaze potter Peter Meanley, which he has developed over the last three years.
Peter Meanley has won international acclaim for his abstract spouted pouring vessels and his mastery of the salt glazing technique. Formerly Head of Ceramics at the University of Ulster in Belfast, Peter has been awarded a PhD for researching salt glazing in 1999 – a process which involves throwing salt into a kiln, whilst it is fired at high temperature, resulting in a characteristic ‘orange-peel’ pitted surface.
Peter’s work initially consisted of strikingly engineered teapots and other functional forms. In time, his focus and never tiring curiosity for the world around him and its possibilities led him to make new forms that can ‘contain liquid’ and can be used to pour from. His fascination with these new forms and his continuous exploration of the salt-fired process yielded the compelling spouted pouring vessels which form the core of this exhibition.
Puzzle Jugs
Apart from his spouted pouring vessels, the exhibition will show Peter’s puzzle jugs. A technically complex piece, the puzzle jug has a perforated collar, making it impossible to pour from, unless the drinker knows there is a hole, or number of holes which they must cover with their fingers, to allow the liquid to flow without spilling. The puzzle jugs were Peter’s lockdown project which he found inspiration for in the early medieval puzzle jugs which served not so much as a drinking tool but as a drinking game (a well-known example of this puzzle jugs is the Exeter Jug, which dates back to 1300 AD). A keen collector of Medieval ceramics and other beautiful objects, Peter waited almost 50 years for this idea to materialize: a broken jug he acquired in 1969 was the exact piece that inspired him to start this project in 2019. The resulting puzzle jugs, with their intricate spouts, double walls and multiple holes pique the curiosity of the viewer, whilst their engraved Latin quotes or tongue-in-cheek dares make a great conversation starter.
Peter’s enthusiasm for the world around him is infectious; his ideas continue ‘to stare him in the face’. Impressions, whether they’re an artifact in the National Museum of Crete, a lily flower, a broken jug from his private collection, a handsaw, a French antique dealer he meets abroad – they all spark ideas and put in motion a fascinating chain of processes: drawing, experimenting, changing positions, sculpting, throwing at the wheel. Seeing the world materialize through Peter Meanley’s eyes is a privilege which challenges one’s perception of ceramics.
The following events are scheduled throughout the exhibition:

TALKS PROGRAMME
Exhibition opening night and Peter Meanley talk
Venue: Craft NI Gallery
Date: 5 May at 6pm
For the opening night of the exhibition, Peter will give a talk on Puzzle jugs and his spouted pouring vessels. Craft NI Gallery will be open until 8pm, part of Late Night Art.
The opening event is kindly sponsored by Boundary Brewery, Belfast.

Technical Talk: Salt Glazing with Peter Meanley
Venue: Craft NI Gallery
Date: 21st May at 12pm
Peter Meanley will share his technical knowledge of the salt glazing process. This talk will appeal to college students who may want to learn about this technique, but also to ceramicists who wish to pursue salt as their particular process. Peter is one of the very few ceramicists on the island of Ireland who specialise in salt glazing, with almost 40 years of experience.

Peter Meanley: Reflections
Venue: Ulster Museum, Lecture Theatre
Date: 26th May at 2pm
Throughout this talk, Peter will reflect on 50 years as a maker and why he turned to salt glazing. Peter will bring in sketch books and things dear to him to explain what has triggered the various changes to his style technique and philosophy, as he will unveil lots of items in wood, metal, paper and of course fired clay to exemplify. This talk will appeal to collectors and curators in particular, but also to a wider craft audience who takes an interest in ceramics and salt glazing.

R-Space Gallery, Spring Fling Art and Craft exhibition
2022-05-14 11:00 - 2022-05-25 17:00 | R-Space Gallery, 32 Castle Street, Lisburn, BT27 4XE, United Kingdom
The Spring Fling Art and Craft exhibition and sale takes place from the 14th-28th May, 11am-5pm at the R-Space Gallery. Featuring:
Sarah McWilliams is a multidiscipline practitioner whose work ranges from assemblage to painting.. She has a background in lens based media and uses digital foundations to develop painting compositions.
Janet Hackney the span of Janet Hackney’s career in art and textiles reflects her artwork itself – strands of textiles, embroidery, modern digital technology, heritage and colour all coming together to create a unique and memorable range of pieces.
Zara Lyness graduated with a BA in Fine Art and is not a potter, but often includes ceramic work in an interdisciplinary practice. The craft elements in some of the work she makes her reflect the rural scenery close to her home.
Robert Martin has an extensive career in the creative sector spanning roles from artist, educator, curator to director. Starting his professional artistic career in 1975 as a glass maker, his path has taken him through many roles in different countries, creating a world wide network of contacts.
Please note the gallery is only open Tuesday-Saturday.

Light in the Trees Exhibition
2022-06-25 10:30 - 13:00 | Magy’s Farm, 59 Dechomet Road, Dromara, Co Down, BT25 2HQ, United Kingdom
As part of the Festival of Women’s Writing, three local designers and makers have been invited to exhibit their hand made works inspired by nature on 25th June at Mary’s Farm, a music venue in the Dromara Hills.

The visual showcase, called Earth, Sea and Sky, will feature pieces of ceramicist Annita McKee, silversmith Lou Gillett and textile artist Rachel Fitzpatrick, all of who’s work has been inspired by nature.

Annita McKee utilises the sea’s impartiality as a way to find freedom and explore her ideas to articulate psychological scenarios and navigate memories. The sea is part of her artistic process and is where she often photographs her porcelain sculptures either on the shoreline or underwater. Lou Gillett background in architecture as well as the environment in which she lives in is a key influence on her jewellery designs. From clean sharp lines through to organic forms she is influenced by both the man-made built environment through to rural landscapes and work can vary from mirror finish to highly texturised pieces. Her work is often concept driven. Rachel Fitzpatrick uses industrial textiles and materials creating sculptures inspired by the rhythms of the land and sky to create pieces which are at the interface of art and design.

The Earth, Sea and Sky showcase will run alongside the Festival of Women’s Writing event hosted by Maggie Doyle, author of ‘Mountain Notes, A Nature Diary’ and writers will discuss their work inspired by the natural world and local landscapes. The event will include readings by poet and teacher Anne McMaster, ‘Walking off the Land’, and author, journalist and teacher Rosie Schapp who is currently writing about the coastal village of Glenarm, together with an open mic session for writers who would like to share their writing inspired by the natural world.

If you’d like to attend this event or book an open-mic slot to read your work, please email magysfarm@gmail.com.

'Wool Works'
2022-07-07 18:00 - 2022-08-05 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
CRAFT NI are delighted to welcome you to their upcoming event – ‘Wool Works’, an exhibition of contemporary textile design.
Co. Down textile expert professor Jane McCann is behind this innovative exhibition bringing together Welsh, Finnish and Northern Irish textile artists, who have been working together since 2001.
The artists found they shared so many values: high quality craft, ethics, sustainability and ecology. Following a successful research trip to Finland in 2018, the idea for a joint exhibition was born. The newly established connections helped develop new ideas and friendships, compare working methods and cultures and ultimately create the new exciting work seen here.
Traditional made Modern
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.
The exhibition will be supported by valuable workshops and demos led by the exhibiting artists which encourage participation from the public. Also, an exhibition highlight will be our Textile talk and brunch on July 30th with Chris Weiniger, general manager of Donegal Yarns woollen mill who will talk about Ireland’s rich wool heritage; as well as Finnish textile artist and weaver Niina Hiltunen who will talk about the importance of craft within communities and also do a weaving demonstration for the audience using a portable loom.

Exhibiting artists: Sue Shields, Mandy Nash, Lynda Shell, Elspeth Thomas, Alison Moger, Jane McCann, Sirpa Mörsky, Susan Smith, Claire Cawte, Alison Taylor; local collaborator: Cecilia Stephens.
The schedule for supporting talks and specialist craft workshops can be found on our ‘What’s On’ page under workshops/talks.

Irish Craft Heroes
2022-08-04 10:00 - 2022-11-07 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
Craft NI are delighted to partner with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and Belfast International Arts Festival who have brought this unique exhibition, the Irish Craft Heroes outdoor panel trail, to Belfast Botanic Gardens, showing until November 7th. The outdoor exhibition will introduce you to some of the most influential makers on the island of Ireland, as nominated by the public and then selected as part of the 50th anniversary of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.
To accompany the outdoor trail, Craft NI is very pleased to be able to show this capsule exhibition of work from the Northern Ireland-based Heroes. We hope you’ll enjoy the opportunity to see their stunning work up close, a perfect complement to the outdoor exhibition in Botanic Gardens.
Makers: Seliena Coyle, Jack Doherty, Sara Flynn, Bob Johnston, Alison Lowry, Michael McCrory, Peter Meanley and Cara Murphy.
