Mary Heffernan 1947-2016

Mary Heffernan taking part in Filament drawing day in Kilkenny

The members of Filament Fibre Artists would like to convey our deepest sadness on the loss of our dear friend and group member Mary Heffernen who passed away recently. Mary was one of the founding members of Filament Fibre Artists. We have worked together for over ten years and her loss has been keenly felt within the group.

Mary always had a sharp eye for detail and her exacting approach to stitch kept us all on our toes! We miss her terribly and will remember and commemorate her in the continued coming together of the group and in our attempts to produce work that will live up to her expectations.

Filament Fibre Artists wish to express our sincere sympathy to Mary’s immediate and extended family and her many friends as they deal with her loss now and into the future.

Late Fragment

And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth.

Raymond Carver

Mary (fifth from the left) with her friends and fellow Filament Fibre Artists at an exhibition in the RDS

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‘Through The Mill’ exhibition at Grennan Mill 8th-17th August

Filament Fibre Artists’ exciting new work inspired by a disused flour mill in Co. Kilkenny dating from the 12^th century, has something for anyone who is interested in old buildings, local and social history, the beauty of flowing water or the engineering of the massive machinery it powered. Time and nature have impacted on the imposing structure and each of the six artists  represented here has responded to the building through the prism of her particular artistic practice.

Hilary Bell’s printed, felted and stitched pieces convey the beauty of the engineering and function of the mill.

Sarah Dawson has been inspired by river, from the still calm gurgling waters to the raging torrents as it squeezes through the sluice gate.

Lucinda Jacob has focussed on the mass and solidity of this once mighty industrial building through stitch and form.

Sheila Jordan’s work explores what is left behind when the workers have gone, tools scattered and rusting, and the mill is silent.

Jean McKenna has been drawn to the bridge over the mill-race which is decaying, leading to magical, crunchy surfaces and lace-like edges in her work.

Tara Ní Nualláin’s stitched pieces are inspired by the patching and piecing of the wooden floor in the upstairs rooms, and the words ‘preserve’, ‘maintain’ and ‘keep’.

The exhibition runs during Kilkenny Arts Festival from 10am on Friday 8th August to 6pm on Sunday 17th August at the Grennan Mill Craft School in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.  Official opening on Saturday 9th August at 5.30pm. The Filament exhibition is on the ground floor of the mill with five other artists exhibiting through out this beautiful old building,  so its well worth a visit .  Cathy Dineen – Illustration, Gerard Casey – Painting, Klaus Hartmann – Pottery, Larry Kinsella – Candlemaking, and Suzanna Crampton – Photography.

 

Kilkenny Arts Festival Friday 8th Aug – Sunday 17th August

The Mill Project at The Knitting and Stitching Fair 2013

Knitting and Stitching at the RDS Dublin from 31st October – 3rd November 2013

Filament Fibre Artists continue with their diverse and exciting work based on Bolands Mill in Co. Kilkenny. Last year, at the Knitting and Stitching Show they showed work in progress from the beginning of the project. Now we are seeing the progression of their work. Time and nature have impacted on this imposing structure and each one of the eight members of Filament is drawn to different aspects of the Mill and its impressive mechanical workings. Themes of preservation and maintenance run through the work, which is strongly influenced by the people who worked in the mill in the past and the evidence of that work which is left behind in the structure. Using both traditional and innovative techniques the group explore the impact of the physical building and its surroundings, and also investigate the history of this old building and the past generations who worked and lived in the area, each member producing vibrant new work that owes much to the group dynamic yet is entirely her own.

Filament Fibre Artists are at stand number TG30 in the Textile Gallery please come along and view this new and exciting body of work and speak to the artists on the stand. Also on show will be work from recent NCAD graduates Siofra Bourke & David O’Malley.

CultureCraft Exhibition Derry

Caroline Schofield and Tara Ní Nualláin have been taking part in the CultureCraft Exhibition at the London Street Gallery as part of the Derry City of Culture initiative.

The opening of the exhibition launched  Northern Ireland Craft Month and last week was visited by The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina. The president was greeted by curator Seliena Coyle and Gallery staff. He went on to meet and talk to each of the artists and gave a very informed speech on the importance of craft and making.

Caroline Schofield (pictured below) has been facilitating a master class workshop in Derry this week in support of the CultureCraft exhibition.

 

Here is a taste of Tara Ní Nualláin’s work that is currently on show at CultureCraft

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CultureCraft on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CultureCraft/145233802309679

London Street Gallery, Derry

http://www.londonstreetgallery.org/index.html

Craft Northern Ireland website and August Craft Month Programme

http://www.craftni.org/augustcraftmonth

Carloine Schofield at Brown Thomas Grafton Street

Photos of Caroline Schofield’s stitched portrait currently on view in Brown Thomas window in Grafton Street.

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Sheila Jordan at Feltmakers Ireland

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Sheila Jordan I currently taking part in the Feltmakers Ireland “Origins, Felt in the Natural World” exhibition which will open at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Sheila’s work consists of a felted bowl and a felt neckpiece with silver detail (pictured above)

Origins – Felt in the Natural World 7th-26th August

As part of its 10th Anniversary celebrations, Feltmakers Ireland will be holding an exhibition of members’ work in the National Botanic Gardens entitled Origins – Felt in the Natural World. The pieces will represent the makers’ response to the natural world and in particular to the plants in the National Botanic Gardens. Take part in the ‘Beautiful Blossoms’ workshops hosted by the Feltmakers on the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th of August, where you can learn how to make your own flowers from felt. Daily in the Gallery Space, Education and Visitor Centre. Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday & Sunday, 10am-6pm Admission Free. Contact the Visitor Centre for further details on 01 857 0909