29th February 2008

Everyone’s welcome to “Afternoon Tea” March 13th

Docpot ceramics -Derry and Adam Frew’s teapots
Here at the Leitrim Design House we are always searching for inspirational ideas to make available to you. Makers today may express themselves through a wide range of media from ceramics, to textiles, paper to glass, and graphic design to sculpture. Whatever the medium, craft practice demands a unique combination of hand, mind and eye - the technical mastery of material, aesthetic sensibility and design skills. The best craft work involves a fourth element too: passion. All the makers at the Leitrim Design House have a common goal - to make beautiful things and put them out into the world. In the process they aim to enjoy what they do and to learn from their work.
This Easter we are delighted to invite you to “AFTERNOON TEA” a stunning show of teapots and tea making paraphernalia which encourages you to stop your rushing and turn up the calm!! ….
A special launch of the exhibition by Councillor Sinead Guckian, Leitrim County Council will take place on Thursday the 13th of March at 5.30 pm at the Leitrim Design House, everyone is welcome along. This exhibition will run until April 21st 2008.



Left to right - DOCPOT, Deirdre OCallaghan, Jelena Fischer’s teapot and jugs by Adam Frew
“AFTERNOON TEA” involves the work of twenty six of Ireland best contemporary applied artists who all work to a common theme which everyone will be familiar with “the art of tea making”. This exhibition is all about seeking new and unexpected experiences, making tea an essential part of the process.
For centuries people have known that wisdom and advice, love and support, news and gossip all go better with a cup of tea. Tea and philosophy go hand in hand. The story of teapots begins with their necessity…. the development of tea and its regular consumption required an efficient and later an aesthetically pleasing vessel for drinking and brewing.



Left to right - Rosemary Durr porcelain, Ruth la Gear’s animation, Rosemary Durr porcelain
Adam Frew a young designer / maker currently artist in resident at the Flower Field Arts Centre in County Antrim exhibits his range of functional ceramic teapots. Adam has created an arrangement of distinctive, hand thrown contemporary teapots. The pottery wheel allows for endless possibilities in terms of shape and containment. The aim is to captivate a sense of movement and freshness, in the soft clay resulting in asymmetrical form, giving each piece an arresting quality that calls the eye to look more closely. Adams teapots are uninhibited and whimsical as they engage with each other.
Leitrim’s designers and makers, Peter Fulop, Brigitta Varadi, Erika Marks, Angela Hope, Suzanne Woods, Jelena Fischer, Ann-Marie Gearty and Jonathan Ball have created unusual teapots which range from the functional to amusing, in silver, clay, textiles and metal.
To add a more innovative slant to the show Emer O’Sullivan a young designer from Donegal will show a collection of stunning feminine prints based on functional utensils for the kitchen. Ruth la Gear is a recent graduate of Galway Institute of technology where she specialised in Sculpture. Ruth’s brings photography and animation to the exhibition through her collection “series with the teacup”. Jenny Mc Kenna also a student at Galway Institute of Technology uses a method of wrapping / coiling to make forms to create a cup and saucer matching tea pot and tray using washing line wrapped with wool.
This creative exhibition of teapots, cups and saucer, jugs, egg cups and a whole array of other tea time necessities will inspire all tea drinkers to enjoy a cup and spend a while. A range of refreshing seaweed teas from a member business VOYA in Sligo will accompany the exhibition. New collections by established Irish companies Big Leap, Nicolas Moss, Thomas Diem , Breeogue Pottery and Rosemary Durr will by complemented by brand new collections at the Leitrim Design House from DOC POT, Belfast, Emer O’Sullivan, Donegal, Andrea McCullough, Antrim, Hilary Jenkinson, Kilkenny, Orion Ceramics, Sligo amongst others.



Left to right - teacake tower, Andrea Mac Cullagh, textile work by Suzanne Woods, Jepena Fischer’s porcelain teapot
As part of “Afternoon Tea” children from the primary schools in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim Village and Annaduff National school are participating in the exhibition. The children are designing imaginative teapots and their artwork will be displayed at the Leitrim Design House for the duration of the exhibition. An award for the best designs will go to the class who come up with the most innovative ideas. The winning design will be transformed into a real teapot created by Breeogue Pottery , Sligo.
If you would like to find out more about this exhibition or any of the artists involved please get in touch with us on 071 96 50533 or email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie
Artists at Afternoon Tea…..
Adam Frew, Derry, Andrea McCullagh, Antrim , Angela Hope, Leitrim, Ann-Marie Gearty, Leitrim, Adrian Wistreich, Cork , Big Leap designs, Mayo, Brigitta Varadi, Leitrim , Breeogue Pottery, Sligo, Callery Ceramics, Sligo, Charlie Mahon, Cork, Deirdre O Callaghan, Derry, Diane McCormack, Tyrone, Erika Marks, Leitrim, Emer O’Sullivan, Donegal, Hilary Jenkison, Kilkenny, Jenny McKenna, Galway, Jonathan Ball, Leitrim, Jelena Fischer, Roscommon, John Ryan, Sligo, , Jerpoint Glass, Kilkenny, Peter Fulop, Leitrim, Rosemary Durr, Kilkenny, Ruth La Gear, Galway, Suzanne Woods, Leitrim, Thomas Diem, Meath,
