rockpool candy

Ireland Ho!

As the saying goes, "I've been up and down like a bride's nightie" (to the south of Ireland) just lately. It would appear that the people in the south of this beautiful isle are liking the artistic path that I tread.

Firstly, Dubh, the show that took me to New York's 5th Avenue last October, has come home to roost at the Oliver Sears Gallery in Dublin.

The setting is great: a gentrified house hosting beautiful black objects. Sadly, the Steinway piano didn't travel back with my piece, but curator Brian Kennedy placed my installation to echo the sweeping lines of Vladimir Kagan's chair. An honour to be side by side with a piece from such a respected designer.

The show is on until the 15th March. Go knock the huge door and see some finely crafted pieces from US and Irish creatives.

 

Secondly, my foray to Dublin on the 1st March will see me sitting on the ethics comittee for Trust Me, I'm an Artist.

I have the honour of being one of the panel deciding the fate of Anna Dumitriu's pitch to build a lab in a gallery. The debate will be filmed before a live audience at the Science Gallery, Trinity. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. Event 6pm-8pm.

 

Then thirdly, just a few days later, on the 7th March, FOOD FIGHT hits town. I'm really looking forward to this one (as for once I'm just a spectator). 

 

My fabulous husband, MyTarPit, will be livepainting and exhibiting his new body of work, Cereal Killers.

If you've ever wondered what dangerous cereal looks like, then get yourself down to the Cathedral Studios.

These are just his works in progress. He's just putting his finishing touches to his paintings as well as his limited edition boxes with prints and badges as I type.

 

There is a fourthly and a fifthly, but I'm going to save them for my next blog because the organisers are still, well, organising them. But rest assured, my little sculptor's fingers are busy, busy, busy. 

'Til next time.....

Dubh opening

The 7th October was a beautiful day in NYC. And I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be walking across Central Park to the American Irish Historical Society on 5th Avenue to see my piece in a show. That building opposite is The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Now it's fair to say that we got a few strange looks.

Me in my lime green Doris Day dress.

And Andy in his clan tartan, fully kilted, especially in the hot sunshine (27C, in October, go figure).

But it was a wonderful night. Filled with talented craftspeople and many a compliment. Followed of course by tipsy giggles with friends being far too kind.

But truly, it was an honour. A privilige to be part of the show, to work with someone like Brian Kennedy again.

To have access to such an incredible building.

And to be given the opportunity to try and reflect the icon that is a Steinway Piano.

All photo credits, photographer, Ari Espay, 2011.

 

When livepaints go bad

Also titled - always step back and look at stuff from a distance.

Whitewash III took place recently. It seemed to be going so well.

The rubbed-back textured surface, the spray-painted lace, the handmade paper roses, the ribbon-tied branches, the paper bird. I was happy with the minute details.

but why-oh-why, did I not step back at the first stage?

My spray painting at the start was as ropey as an 80's espadrille. I let myself down badly. And in front of the public too. But I learnt a massive lesson. Don't get caught up in the tiny details without stepping back to take a look the bigger picture.

Luckily MyTarpit and Lee Boyd weren't making the same mistake beside me.

They were both on fire. Everyone was blown away.

To the other side was the amazing Chris Cunningham.

Organising the event was the ultra-talented Dermy. The man has magic art fingers.

For more Whitewash pics check out their facebook page.

And come to their next event!

 


 
 

First cut from the loom

The time has come to release my first weave from my little bluebird.

Providing me with a hall-length of yardage.

Replete with woollen slubs, velvet tags, varied stripes appearing from my hand-spun yarn,

also have varied textures and weights within the weaving.

The surface is pretty delicious close up.

Since these pictures, I've fulled the length. I wanted it to be really hard wearing as it's being turned into the new covers for my kitchen stools.

QR - 3D project: Make, share and exhibit textile QR codes - as featured in Molly Makes Magazine

You know me - can't resist a chance to mix different craft techniques with a bit of science, so when my mate Sally asked me to make a piece for her QR-3D project, I jumped at the chance. 

QR codes are traditionally a two-dimensional device used by barcode readers and camera phones consisting of smaller black squares on a larger square white background. The information contained within usually directs code readers to a website, but can also be used to hide text messages or other information.

I chose to take the QR code for my blog, and that of MyTarPit, and just as we are joined in matrimony, joined them. Then used them in one layer of a four-colour separation screenprint on velvet. 

padded it.

And embellished it with vintage beads, stamens and buttons from the 40s and 50s.

The result was an edition of two headboards.

Each slightly different, entitled. Marital code: 1 and 2.

The project is open to public involvement.
Sally explains, “I hope people will be inspired to find out what QR codes are and what they do. I want to see how people experiment with different sorts of textiles to try and create QR codes that function and will direct people to a website. I’d love to see all sorts of people involved, those who love the internet and digital technology, or craft and making, people who just love pattern or secret codes, there are so many appealing things about it. It would be great to think that through this, more people will become familiar with how QR codes can magnify the power of the internet. For example, to help promote their small business, find other like minded makers, or be inspired to try something new.”

The project is open to everyone, people who make for fun or professionally. To get involved visit
www.qr-3d.weebly.com  Simply choose your website, turn it into a QR code (instructions are provided on the website) and recreate it with textiles. Then add it to the online gallery by July 31st. Full details of how to do this are on the website. A guest panel of craft and digital professionals will choose pieces from the online gallery to go into the exhibition held at Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK, in autumn 2011.

Crafted Creatures, The Ark, Dublin

 

opened last Monday.

For which, I'm lucky enough to have been invited to install my giant jellyfish smack over a cathedral-like drop of four floors.

Climb the spiral staircase past my fan corals.

Run your fingers through the tentacles of my pulsating Queen jellyfish

Stare down into wall anemones 

and shell forms,

clinging above plastic sea creatures nestled into the 1st and 3rd floor window spaces.

Dare you put your arm into the Wall Cave's ever-decreasing space?

Run up the stairs and peer through from the tiny hole at the back of the cave to see what's living down there....

Or lift the flap on one of the top-floor cabinets to see collected treasures from my studio.

Or down in the basement, you can torture yourself with a video loop of me talking about my inspiration.

But you know me. It's the quirky detail I love. So here are my fave bits...

the ghostly pillar jellyfish,

the basement jellyfish

and their fourth-floor friend. All of whom only come out at night.......

 

 

For One Night Only, Pop-Up Gallery for Valentine's

I've been working on some love tokens for a show we're putting on.

I Caught Your Eye.

Your Kiss Is Infectious.

A Simple Love Token

All are going to be on sale at our pop-up gallery on Saturday night.

 

Firsty? I hear you ask. What's that?

The seaside town of Bangor is a smallish place, often over shadowed by Belfast.

But do you know, it's got THE most creative bunch of people living here.

Thirsty for a lively arts scene, we thought it was about time we had a proper voice, just like all those places me and MyTarPit are lucky enough to visit on our travels.

So along with a few like-minded souls, we garnered our creative minds and set up a group back in October.

We have over 70 members already! They're out there busy networking, skill sharing and promoting each other.

And our first show is on Saturday, with 30 of us taking part - many of whom are established international artists.

If you're in Ireland, come along. If you're not, find us on facebook and check out our albums. Join us virtually. Or better still, set up your own group. Take the creative minds of Bangor as inspiration to get out there and make things happen. You never know where it might lead......

Monkey Spawn Installed

It's taken a year to create all the elements of this monstorous piece;

delicate little screen-printed footprints on stones that change in the rain,

individually printed and sewn monkey embryos,

bleached animal bones meticulously wrapped in fine embroidery cottons and stacked into a nest,

plants from my garden pounded to a pulp through muslin and made into paper sculptures,

fabrics and hides surface printed with lino cuts and crocheted forms,

paper and silk mushrooms crafted and decorated,

mounds and mounds of grass sewn by hand,

organisms imagined, dyed, spun, woven, crocheted and wired,

all brought together into one great knoll.

 It is akin to a consumption that has held me in its grip. And finally let me go.

So here it is. My malady in 3D. I am released.

 

'Monkey Spawn'

It is by just a tweak of nature or environment that we are here in our current form. Evolution has many branches. Had the World been a wetter place, would we, or indeed would monkeys, have evolved to spawn like frogs instead of give birth to live young?

At first engagement, I want the onlooker to feel safe, familiar even, with my installation. It looks like a quiet glade. But as you inspect, you begin to feel a disquiet. A nest made of wrapped bones. Strange footprints that appear to be made by a one-footed animal. And above you, a huge ball of monkey spawn, suspended in spit. What creatures made these marks? How large is the mother of this nest? Is she nearby? Is she watching you? Are you indeed safe? The onlooker becomes an intruder. How long dare you stay?

 

'Monkey Spawn' will show at the FE McWilliam sculpture gallery in Banbridge, Northern Ireland as part of 'Another Dimension. Print in 3D' until 15th May 2011.

My Song of Protection Failed You

Whitewash II, Millenium Court Arts Centre, Portadown, last Friday. If you weren't there, then you missed an awesome livepaint.

I got a crack at the public wall.

Creating my piece, 'My Song of Protection Failed You.'

Four hours of painting song swirls with a minute brush gave me hand cramp, I can tell you.

But I hardly noticed, I was so absorbed. I'm really getting to love livepaints. You just have to seize the moment and go for it. No arty-farty procrastication possible.

The whole event was organised by Dermin8r.

One talented son of a gun.

Headlining were Dre.

Verz.

And Filth.

With MyTarPit guesting.

Along with Hawkie.

And others on the public mashup walls.

Here's a video link to the night.

Whitewash III will be in August, when MyTarPit will be headlining and I will be guesting.

Watch out for it, join us, and enter the raffle to win pieces created on the night. What's not to love?

S'later!

 

A Little Bluebird Sings Again

Over the last few years, I've leapt on any unattended loom in my vicinity and relished weaving. But I knew that a loom of my own was a long way off. Extra-wide, 8-shaft countermarch looms aren't cheap, or that readily available on this side of the Irish Sea.

Then a little, brown sparrow of a loom came into my life.

Woodworm-ridden, rusty 

and delapidated after 30 years in a stable, it had lost its voice.

But I treated her wounds, painted her metal-work gold, and gave her a new coat of blue.

Missing pieces were replaced using reclaimed mill bobbins and timber.

Pretty bows

And lace bobbins now adorn her limbs.

Spare findings hang in her basket.

And she's started to sing again. Her voice was as rusty as her heddles had been.

But the cloth is starting to flow, winding around.

We've a way to go. The weavers amongst you will spot that the harnesses are hanging too high and need adjustment; and that my tension in the 30-year old warp that was on her isn't even.

But Rome wasn't built in a day. And wings take a while to get back their strength. And one day, I plan to turn her into an 8-shaft too.

But for now, in the early-morning autumnal mornings, she and I are humming away together, enjoying our new friendship and getting to know each other; making our new slice of Ulster history.