Leitrim Design House & the Dock

invite you to celebrate the launch of Craft in the Classroom 3rd-20th Oct

& Ri Ra Children’s Art Festival 12th-18th October.

The launch takes place at 2pm on Sat 3rd Oct and is a fund raising event for St Ciaran’s Childrens Respite Service. Come along to an afternoon of fun and activities

Craft in the Classroom, sponsored by the Crafts Council of Ireland placed an artist into 14 schools within the County Leitrim; St Patrick’s Boys NS, Ballinamore, Scoil na Maighdine Muire, Carrick-on-Shannon, Hunt NS Mohill, Four Masters NS Kinlough, Ardvarney NS, Dromahair, St Claire’s Manorhamilton, Masterson NS Manorhamilton, St Brigid’s Drumcong, St Mary’s NS Drumlea, St Brigid’s Drumkeerin, Scoil na Muire,Bornacoola, Rossan NS, Carrigallen, Scoil Naisiunta Brid Naofa, Driffreen NS, Manorhamilton, and Culfadda NS in Ballymote Co Sligo.

The artists worked with the teachers and children, from junior infants up to sixth class over approx 12 weeks resulting in this wonderful collection of work. Projects were grounded in the Visual Arts curriculum taking in many strands and great links were made across the curriculum to other subjects. Working in a variety of disciplines: drawing, painting print, clay, fabric & fibre, and integrating geography, environmental science and history, the pupils produced an inspiring body of work; boats, bears, bowls, masks and plates; fish, dinosaurs, jewellery and even a complete town land form part of the collection.

Leitrim is well known for its creativity and this creative energy is highlighted by the Craft in the Classroom exhibition. Leitrim Design House, sponsor of this exhibition would like to invite you to call in and discover for yourself the wonderful creativity of our younger generation.

A night of entertainment, discovery and adventure across the country as hundreds of arts and cultural organisations open their doors until late.

Starting from 6.30pm and continuing until late The Dock and the Leitrim Design House have joined forces to bring you one great party, with events ranging from drawing classes to DJ’s to comedy…and best of all its all free!

As well as all this there is a chance to win some amazing prizes.

Designer Eileen Abbott and Milliner Wendy Louise will be sponsoring a prize of a hat and a voucher for best dressed on the night - the theme being Retro Fashion!

Also Professional Make-Up Artist Amanda McCarthy will be offering a lucky someone a chance to win a make-up session in the comfort of their own home.

For full line up see the following link http://short.ie/c2y2×0 or check out the blog on www.thedock.ie/blog

We would also like to say a big thank you to all the artists involved for being so generous with their time and talent.

 

Artist and designer, Suzanne Woods, will be our Meet the Maker on Saturday, 19 September. Suzanne, who is a textile artist creates a range of fashion and home accessories using luxurious fabrics and also makes a range of room and fire screens with painted imagery. Visitors to the Leitrim Design House will be familiar with some of Suzanne’s products which include felt brooches inspired by garden flowers including poppies and roses and her silk and merino scarves with velvet corsage. Suzanne who began her business in 2005, holds a B.A. in painting, and an M. A. in art history.

Currently Suzanne is working with wool felt which she forms into three-dimensional shapes for use in her wall-hangings and jewellery. Of her new designs Suzanne says, “These new pieces have a more dynamic and contemporary feeling than my other work which I think of as having a vintage feel. Felt is a fantastic fabric to work with. It has such a rich surface and such potential for exploration”.

Suzanne will bring samples to work with on the 19th and would be delighted to discuss her work and share ideas with visitors to Leitrim Design House on the day. Come along between 2 and 4pm and meet Suzanne. These Meet the Maker days are special promotional events with fantastic offers available on the day.

For more information visit www.aroo.ie

Over the coming months Leitrim Design House will focus on different craft media. Our September focus is on wood and we look at the work of Roy Humphries, Olga Mc Carrick, Niall Miller and Chris Killalea. These four makers highlight the different propensities of wood and offer you very individual stories.

Chris Killalea uses bog oak, cast iron, mild steel, copper, brass and stone to create a collection of interior products. His collection ranges from clocks and mirrors to furniture and sculpted items. Chris works primarily with bog oak, a material more ancient than the pyramids of Egypt and the prehistoric monuments of Newgrange. The bog lands of Ireland are a vast living treasure trove for this precious and most coveted material. This special timber, which has been miraculously preserved for thousands of years, is given a new lease of life through Chris’s hands.

Roy Humphreys is the 4th generation of the Humphreys family working with wood. He is a self-taught turner - it started out as a hobby and has developed into a business. He has been woodturning for over 12 years now. His studio is based in the Granary, beside the family home outside Mohill. His family has been farming for generations. Roy uses all native timber in his work: yew, beech, oak, elm and ash.

For Roy, woodturning is a journey of discovery: acquiring the wood and imagining all its possibilities; the turning process itself; removing the turned piece from the lathe and when the wood has been left to dry for a number of months, rediscovering it again - applying oil to the raw surface and seeing the richness and depth of colour and grain spring magically to life. View Roys collection of delicate wooden bowls at the Leitrim Design House

Two Leitrim-based designer makers, Erika Marks (Jeweller) and Brigitta Varadi (Textile Artist), have collaborated on a range of high-impact, statement pieces of jewellery in silver+felt. The work was first showcased in the ‘Art of Fashion‘ catwalk show in November 2008. Then following a very successful retail debut at the National Crafts+Design Fair in the RDS last christmas, their work featured prominently in the Irish Arts Review Spring Edition this year.Their jewellery has now been selected for exhibition at ‘Gifted‘ in the Wexford Arts Centre, as well as for ‘Designers & Makers‘ at the new F.E.McWilliam Gallery in Banbridge later this year. In addition to featuring in these exhibitions they will launch a new collection this Autumn which will also be shown at the next Crafts+Design Fair in the RDS from the 2nd - 6th december 2009.

Are you interested in learning new skills, developing new opportunities,or creating additional income opportunities through a programme targeted to women directly affected by the troubles.

The Supports for Women project could be for you

Leitrim Design House Creative Learning Project is targeted at women who have been

Displaced or adversely affected by the legacy of conflict

Marginalised from society

Not benefited from other educational or creative opportunities

Supports for Women is a creative learning project tailored to the needs of women living in County Leitrim to help deal with the issues of trauma and release these issues in a creative way.

Supports for Women is a Leitrim Design House project developed with the support of European Union PEACE 111 funding. The project may appeal especially to women living North of the County whose lives have been affected by the conflict.

The aim of this project is to help women to deal with the effects of the legacy of the conflict and to share their personal stories of trauma in a creative way. It aims to enable women in County Leitrim to learn new skills to develop their creativity and their potential to become employed in a creative way. The Leitrim Design House has been running women’s initiatives for 10 years.

Over 70% of the craft businesses involved with Leitrim Design House are ran by women mainly part time self employed. Supports for Women will involve a tailored personal development programme which will help participants on the project to release the impact of trauma in their lives taking participants on a journey of self discovery, release, learning and action to create new options and reach true potential. It will challenge old negative beliefs and emotions, build self esteem and move participants to positive action. It aims to empower women to create new life and career options and to build their self confidence and self esteem.

A professional counselling service will be offered to participants who feel it necessary during the programme. A series of creative journaling classes built into the project will enable participants to begin their creative process. The journals are a great way to kick start creativity regardless of participants previous experience in art, craft or design. Each Journal will become an autobiographical journey reflecting the reality that all participants are women, wives and mothers living in County Leitrim, impacted by their culture.

The creative process can be a very powerful therapeutic tool in enabling individuals to work through their past and can give confidence and a sense of acknowledgement of the different traumas women have faced. Art, Craft and Design classes will be provided to teach the techniques of textiles, print and mixed media provided by a panel of accredited art and design tutors. Participants will use their new skills to develop a collection of art and craft pieces for exhibition in 2010.

This exhibition Changing Arts and Minds will be launched at Leitrim Design House and will travel to other venues in Ireland. A series of networking opportunities to meet other womens groups cross border and visit galleries in Northern Ireland and will be built into the project. Participants on the project will develop new skills to prepare for setting up their own creative business.

They will also have the opportunity to have their work promoted and sold through the Leitrim Design House. The Supports for Women is a one year part time project July 2009 to September 2010. The project will take place at various venues in County Leitrim including the Dock Arts Centre. Study visits including to Northern Ireland will take place three times over the year.

Ongoing support to the participant will be provided through the project manager as well as advice and support through the trainers and tutors. This project has been funded by the PEACE III Programme through the European Unions European Regional Development Fund which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. For further information and an application form please contact Anna-Marie ORourke, Project Manager, The Leitrim Design House, The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon.Tel 071 96 50533 email annamarie@leitrimdesignhouse.ie. Application forms will be available from community and resource centres throughout County Leitrim

Closing date for applications: 8^th of July 2009. Limited places available so apply today.

Leitrim based Blacksmith Jonathon Ball will be here in the Leitrim Design House on June 6th from 1pm to meet the public and talk about the skills and techniques involved in traditional blacksmithing. Come along, meet Jonathon and enjoy the special offers available to customers on Meet the Maker day.

Jonathan will showcase a collection of beautiful crafted interior items from candle holders to lamps, coat stands to vases and bowls alongside a series of smaller items such as door handles. Jonathan’s work is very affordable and his beautiful hand forged items would make an ideal gift for anyone looking for something different for a wedding, birthday, retirement or any special occasion. Visit the Leitrim Design House on Saturday June 6^th to meet the Jonathon and choose from the best selection of his work ever found under one roof.

The Leitrim Design House will host a series of exciting MEET THE MAKERS days at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon over the summer.

Sunday 28^thJune Alan McCluney Ceramic Artist

Sunday 28th June Brigitta Varadi

Saturday 4^thJuly Peter Fulop Ceramic Artist

Saturday 1st August Soraya Ricalde Jeweller

Jonathan will showcase a collection of beautiful crafted interior items from candle holders to lamps coat stands to vases and bowls alongside a series of smaller items such as door handles. Jonathan’s work is very affordable and his beautiful hand forged items would make an ideal gift for anyone looking for something different for a wedding, birthday, retirement or any special occasion.Visit the Leitrim Design House on Saturday June 6th to meet the Jonathon and choose from the best selection of his work ever found under one roof.

The Leitrim Design House will host a series of exciting MEET THE MAKER days at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon over the summer.

Sunday 28th June Alan McCluney Ceramic Artist

Sunday 28th June Brigitta Varadi

Saturday 4th July Peter Fulop Ceramic Artist

Saturday 1st August Soraya Ricalde Jeweller

Echo’s of the Past is an educational project organised by the Leitrim Design House for Carrick-on-Shannon Community School. The project which took place over the past four months was designed to fit the transition year programme at Carrick Community School coordinated by tutor Paul Byrne.

A series of new explorative art works using the curriculum subjects -Architecture and Archaeology were created by twenty four transition year students. Leitrim Design House member artists Brigitta Varadi (textiles) and Peter Fulop (ceramics) worked with the students using Art and Design skills to create art objects using the historical themes of the Cistercian monks and the Mark Masons.”The underlying rationale behind this aspect of the Transition Year Programme Option is to bring students through a sequence of four modules designed to introduce them to construction techniques, freehand sketching and architecture, both past and present from a design and constructional point of view and to give them an experience in the field of archaelogy”. “The modules are designed to build on the students skills and experience from Junior Certificate, and to explore different ways of learning. It is intended to focus on skill development, activity based learning, experiential learning and education for the world of work in fields related to architecture” said Paul Byrne, Transition Year Co-ordinator at Carrick- on- Shannon, Community School. The project work created by the students explores the architecture of the Irish Cistercians though a variety of techniques from print making to textiles and ceramics.

The Leitrim Design House is dedicated to supporting the creative industries in County Leitrim. As part of our 2009 Business Development Training, Leitrim Design House will run a New Product Development Programme beginning on April 15^th at the Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon.

A member based business development and marketing organisation the Leitrim Design House is dedicated to promoting excellence and economic development in the field of contemporary art craft and design. The Leitrim Design House provides a strong support system for artists designers and craft workers based in Leitrim and is a very clear example of how the talents of local people can be turned into a viable enterprise. The New Product Development Programme will enable designers and makers to develop new suites of products or additions to existing ranges. It will help those working in creative business to determine what it is they really want to achieve from their own business. In these challenging economic times all businesses are looking at creative ways to develop and grow. The programme is suitable for people from a wide range of disciplines including fashion, art, home wares, traditional and contemporary craft, photography, print and publishing and any organisation or individual wishing to develop their brand and promote a product or service. Led by Eddie Shanahan this practical programme will address key issues from market research and consumer trends to sources of inspiration and competitor analysis.From research through to development it will cover crucial topics such as introduction to marketplace and promotion, market structure and strategy.All aspects of developing your own creative business will be dealt with from marketing and design to range development protecting intellectual property brand development and presentation to market.Eddie Shanahan works with a host of leading Irish and international companies and individuals and is one of Irelands leading experts on fashion lifestyle and retail.He is a business consultant to several leading Irish design companies including Louise Kennedy The Kilkenny group Enterprise Ireland and Dunnes stores. His practical advise and guidance means this programme will be very hands on working with real product created by individual designers . Participants will be supported and encouraged through a group dynamic and they will have the opportunity to learn from the experience of others as the programme progresses. Delving into influences on contemporary lifestyle and how it assesses design value and service participants will explore the emotional rational dichotomy of selling.The programme will define the characteristics of strong brands and assist participants in leveraging the power of their brands as a launch pad for new products.

The programme starts on the 15^th of April and will run one day per month from 10.30 to 4pm on May 13^th June 10^th and July 15th.The programme fee is 200.00 per person.

For a booking for or further information contact Anna-Marie or Geraldine at the Leitrim Design House on 071 96 50533 or email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie

The Leitrim Design House supports local creative industries and helps conserve the cultural identity of County Leitrim.

Handbag and accessory company Hope & Benson have long been known for their retro style tweed, floral embellished handbags. Designed and produced by Manorhamilton based designer Angela Hope together with her business partner Daniela Benson, the collection is stocked by over 170 shops throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe, the US and Japan.