This exhibition will be opened on Saturday the 28th of June at 3pm by award winning ceramic artist, Peter Fulop. Peter will give a presentation on his ceramics which were inspired by recent residencies abroad and created in his Leitrim Studio. Peter will be exhibiting at the Hatfield National pottery and ceramics festival in the UK this summer. He has also been selected for SOFA a world renowned contemporary decorative Art Fair in Chicago which takes place in October

The Leitrim Design House has been at the forefront of cultural development in Leitrim for over ten years, it is widely recognised for a commitment to standards of excellence in art, craft and design

The Leitrim Design House retail gallery was established in 2000 by Leitrim County Enterprise Board. Now in their 8th year of business, it is seen as an innovative centre of excellence providing the ideal platform for recent graduates and fledgling creative businesses to achieve economic growth through product and business development. Providing support through sales, exhibitions, events and marketing opportunities for over 260 designers and makers. The Leitrim Design House was noted, in the Sunday Independent “as a vehicle for the renaissance of the Irish Craft Industry”.

For further information please contact the Leitrim Design House on 071 96 50550 or email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie.

at the Leitrim Design House .

On Thursday the 8th of May the Leitrim Design House will present an exhibition of drawings created by the WILL/WAVE Partnership. Women from Leitrim (WILL - Women Living Independently in Leitrim) and Fermanagh (WAVE - Women Making WAVES) have come together to creatively engage with the self-image of women with and without disabilities in a cultural and artistic context, building on the Peace and Reconciliation process.

To accompany the exhibition Kathy O’Leary a member of the Leitrim Design House and facilitator with the WILL/WAVE Partnership will present a workshop around the theme of “Identity and Women”, “Shared Spaces and experiences”. Kathy will endevour to address the issues facing women with disabilities through the artwork of surrealist painter Frida Kahlo.

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), one of the most influential Mexican painters of the middle twentieth century. From 1926 until her death, the painter created striking, often shocking, images that reflected her turbulent life. She did not originally plan to become an artist. A polio survivor, at 15 Kahlo entered the premedical program at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City. However, this training ended three years later when Kahlo was gravely hurt in a bus accident.

The day long workshop and exhibition at the Leitrim Design House aims to develop positive relationships between the participants North and South of the border by focusing on the shared experiences of women with and without disabilities.

“The Partnership is ready to open up to the public having built up relationships through Art and Drama. They would like to work on the theme of shared spaces/experiences and the event at the Leitrim Design House is a building block for this work” says Kathy.

A presentation on the life and work of the artist will be followed by a self portrait drawing workshop.
A viewing of the academy awarding winning film FRIDA will take place in the afternoon at Carrick Cineplex. The artwork made during the workshop will be exhibited with a body of work recently made by the women from the Partnership.

As part of the workshop the group will also look at the work of Scottish Artist Chrissie Orr As a practising artist for the past thirty years her focus has been on producing work for and with communities. Her work is based on the premise that the artist, when directly involved with the community, can address complex issues and bring people together in a shared experience. It is her belief that art can transcend politics, cultural barriers and socio-economics.

Her project in Arizona worked with Native American and Hispanic Youth from treatment Centres to create a safe space for Youth in trouble. These adolescence were suffering from alienation of their ancestors and had turned to gangs and killing each other through conflict. Through working with these Youth she uses photography to raise issues of Peace and the Peace Process and the concept of what Peace meant to them.

The artwork made during the workshop will be exhibited along with a body of work recently made by the women from the WILL/WAVE partnership. This exhibition “Identity and Women” will be shown at the Leitrim Design House as an installation on panels similar to the projects developed by Chrissie Orr. The idea to expand and travel the exhibition to other public venues in the region.

This exhibition will be shown at the Leitrim Design House from the 8th to the 22nd of May. The WILL/WAVE Partnership is funded through the Leitrim County Councils Task Force.

The Leitrim Design House aims to engage with the wider community through organised events and activities to accompany its lively exhibitions programme. If you are interested in getting together to creatively engage with other women and explore the self-image of women with and without disabilities in a cultural and artistic context please contact the Leitrim Design House on 071 96 50533.

This day long workshop will take place on the 8th of May 11am to 5.30pm. Admission is free please book early to confirm your place.

Experience stunning Irish Craft at Bloom 2008 - the Garden Show

Visit Leitrim Design House at Bloom - meet our talented craftspeople - see the work, find out the inspirations, hear the stories behind these unique and beautiful pieces, and experience the fun of making.

An exciting addition to Bloom 2008 is the new Craft Trail - offering visitors a chance to live the craft experience. Follow the craft trail at Bloom; see and enjoy;

• Large-scale pieces of hand-made craft from some of Ireland’s most talented designer-makers

• Demonstrations, in a variety of skills and disciplines, from some of the countries most talented
  craftspeople - and have a go yourself

• Crafted Design - a select area where you can browse and purchase a wide variety of products
  from over 20 of the Irish craft world’s most talented makers.

The craft trail has something for all ages - whether you want to wonder at the inspiration that influenced the one-off pieces, or you’d like to try your hand at a craft you’ve always liked, or even if you are just curious to see what’s involved in crafting a piece - the opportunities are all there at Bloom.

And of course if you want to bring home a piece, treat yourself or a friend, buy for the house or the garden - the choice of beautifully design, hand crafted items is sure to tempt and delight you.

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,

20th January 2008

Millinery Masterpieces

Hats for the races…
Hats for going places…For a garden party, wedding or special occasion.

Following on from our special ’sell out’ Art of Fashion event the Leitrim Design House brought a visual feast of millinery masterpieces to the North West celebrating Easter 2007.

What do you get when you combine colourful straws and silks, exotic plumes, crinoline, dazzling beads with a splash of glamour? The answer is breathtaking hats. The current Renaissance in the craft of hat making gives inspiration to all of us to produce the ultimate accessory.

Eight of Irelands top millinery designers Lina Stein, Linda McKay, Carol Smith, Suzie Mahony, Brigid Higgins, Wendy Knight, Maureen Patterson and Jamie Mc Eleney collectively showcased their talent and precise craftsmanship. This group of well established Milliners have come together to exhibit their creations and place Irish Millinery under the spotlight. Traditional, evocative, ephemeral styles were on display and for sale for the first time ever in Ireland. Yet another innovation championed by the Leitrim Design House.

From left to right: Linda McKay, Brigid Higgins, Wendy Knight, Suzie Mahony and Lina Stein.

To celebrate the festival of Easter we held a lunchtime talk on Thursday March 29th 2007 with all eight of the top Irish Milliners. The talk was given by Mayo based Lina Stein. An Easter Bonnet cake by Sharon Sweeney of Cannaboe confectionary Ballinamore and a little pampering with one of Carrick-on-Shannon’s leading beauticians helped to make the day extra special for our customers who travelled from Galway and Northern Ireland to get first hand experience of seeing this collection and meeting the milliners. From Grafter’s hair company, in Carrick-on-Shannon, Lorraine Keogh demonstrated how to style your hair in a creative fashion to compliment your hat, while Joleen from Beauty by the Shannon carried out special “mini make overs”.

This launch was a fundraising event to “Support an athlete” for the Special Olympics Ireland campaign.

Due to demand and to compliment this innovative exhibition we organised several Millinery workshops with top milliner Jaime McEleney at the Dock Arts Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon. Jaime McEleney is a Galway based designer who creates one of a kind hats and headpieces for theatrical productions and individual clients, both nationally and abroad. His work has won numerous accolades, and been featured in many high profile product launches and advertising campaigns, by clients such as Red Bull, and the Hilton Hotel group.

These workshops were attended by people from all over Ireland and were a great success!! Described as very useful and interesting, with great tips and as well worth the trip… One participant even managed to make all her own beautiful wedding headpieces in one session…
A programme of workshops for 2008 will be available on the website from Easter. Classes are kept small to facilitate individual tuition… Please get in touch with us for further information.

18th January 2008

Pleasure and wayward distractions

“Pleasure and wayward distractions” Leitrim Design House exhibits diverse artworks by the students of the National College of Art & Design

Last summer the Leitrim Design House took a new direction & followed trails to unchartered territories.

Our summer calendar of exhibitions and activities began with an exhibition exploring - PLEASURES AND WAYWARD DISTRACTIONS - by the students of 3rd year painting at the National College of Art and Design. Laura Burke, student at NCAD and native of Carrick-on-Shannon spent time working with us to bring this unique collection by her classmates to her home town for the month of June.

Artist, Mark Garry who opened the graduate show in Dublin sums up this unique exhibition in his own words…

“The works and positioning of the artists in this exhibition are both diverse and various
and it would be difficult to find a definitive theoretical mechanism to encapsulate this
complex diversity, indeed one of the defining features of this era of
contemporary art practitioners is a move away from movements.
Perhaps a commonality can be found in the desire to find something new?
To develop a new language, a new means to view oneself and the world?
A quest ultimately aimed at the discovery of something that had been previously unknown.”

One of the young painters, Owen Boss, used family photograph collections embedded with meaning as the inspiration for his works. “These photographs reveal an abundance of information regarding relationships, power and life” says Owen. The family photograph does not release all its information. The photograph contains a residue that infiltrates and permeates.

Owen Boss 2007

Laura Burke’s work questions her experience as a child - Panic stirred me. Awakened by a ringing phone. Why do bad things always happen on nice days?

Judy Carroll Deley tells us that her recent work deals with interiors, especially the home. “Sometimes they include figures. Often what is depicted is a psychological space rather than an actual one. There is an uncanny element denoting the dual nature of home a place both of nurture and sometimes of oppression. The home enforces rules and conventions, but can also be the site of rebellion against the norm.”

Siobhan Conway’s interest is focused on the individual word and its perceived meaning. Words are items to be interpreted. It is not until they are interpreted that they have meaning. There is no neutrality in language: each individual has their own interpretation of a word. This project endeavours to explore how arbitrary this process is - how time, context and actual interaction between receiver and the word will affect the interpretation of that word.

Siobhan Conway 2007

John Donohue explores the importance of film stars and other media personalities and characters in his life. Looking at current iconic stars and moreover those of the last century that are rapidly changing in status and meaning as well as the likely and unlikely associations formed by the viewer.

Niamh Farrell works with a variety of media and encompassing the use of organic shapes, bright colours, biomorphic forms and pattern to explore idealistic fantasy as an escape from prevalent convention.

From left to right: Niamh Farrell 2007 - Sabina McMahon 2007 - Oisin McGovern 2007

Caroline Kennedy’s work is the stuff of glossy magazines, Hollywood films, fairytales, newspapers, love songs, popular fiction, TV sitcoms, advertising imagery, travel programmes…the material out of which we craft our dreams and aspirations, material that is dripping with fantasy and which occupies a space somewhere between the sublime and the ridiculous.

Sabina Mc Mahon asks “What it would be like to be a saint everyday? How could you play tennis if you had to stand on a dragon the whole time, or bring a sword on holidays and carry your eyes around on a plate? How can you lead a normal life if all you really want is to be martyred in a giant frying pan?”

Oisin McGovern had two influential sources of imagery throughout his childhood - Fundamentalist Christian magazines & Manga Cyberpunk and ultra violent comic books. The content of the two would appear to clash. Yet, both portray similar themes, such as their own versions of total destruction and the afterlife. Oisin creates paintings, which would combine these two different yet similar worlds.

Michelle Melody work is based on historical homes and lives, especially the Georgian House Museum, while Lesley-Ann O’Connell has been exploring the nature of the environments we live in and using colour and pattern to either enhance or confound characteristics associated with a particular place.

Michelle Melody 2007

Martin Smyth feels that the sense of isolation within the development of a modern cityscape can be felt by all walks of life. Our traditional identification of community spirit is left behind when the speed of such development is realised. As we reach for a sense of belonging…monetary value and ownership take precedence over connection, people and community.

Kathy Tynan has been investigating the processes of recording and reproducing memories as well as the authenticity of the individuals recalled memories. Kathy has made a series of drawings which refer equally to blank spaces and informed spaces, allowing me to include my own memory while creating a trigger for the viewer to connect with his personal experiences.

The link between The Leitrim Design House and National College of Art and Design has evolved through our links with the Continuing Education courses in advanced crafts skills and the art of Fashion last November. Over the past two years we have established links with third level institutions both North and South of the border. We offer a business development platform for graduates and fledgling businesses. If you are a student or recent graduate and would like to become involved with the Leitrim Design House please give us a call.