I am currently exhibiting a range of glass pieces at Canvas Gallery in Stranmillis, Belfast. The exhibition, 'Made' opened on Saturday and will run until 16th November. It's the final exhibition of the 'Making It' group that I have been part of for the last 2 years. 'Making It' is a business start-up programme supported by Craft NI, which gives a studio space, business advice and mentoring. There were six of us on the programme, all working in a variety of materials and styles. Therefore the 'Made' exhibition at Canvas Gallery is a really interesting mix of pieces.
The other exhibitors are: Alison Lowry: Glass Diane Lyness: Jewellery and precious metals Eamonn Higgins: Metal Michelle Stephens: Mixed Media Katie Brown: Textiles
The exhibition will then move to Craft NI's gallery, Waring Street, Belfast from 2nd -13th December.
Canvas Gallery, Stranmillis
'Eye Candy, Green and Pink' and 'Urchin' in the window
I'm getting ready for a group exhibition which will run for the duration of August. 'Making It 11' is the name of Craft NI's business start up programme, which commenced in 2011 and which placed me at Flowerfield Arts Centre. There are 5 other participants, who all have completely different approaches to craft so the exhibition at Seacourt Print Workshop in Bangor will show this diversity in a wide variety of works.
The other makers are: Eamonn Higgins -Steel is Eamonn’s main medium. He pushes, then balances traditional blacksmithing skills with contemporary fabrication techniques, creating an ‘up-cycled’ material unique to him. Diane Lyness - Diane is a designer and maker who produces unique pieces of fine, handcrafted jewellery and objets d’art, using precious metal, precious and semi-precious stones to make functional 3-dimensional pieces using traditional techniques that show precision and skill. Alison Lowry - Her work is inspired by her interest in objects and antique Irish textiles. This fascination with lace and embroidery started with some family ‘heirlooms’ - a collection of beautiful and intricate Irish white work hand made by female relatives generations ago. Katie Brown-Katie uses carefully calculated combinations of dye to add vibrant colour and graphic pattern to fabric, mainly silk. Katie works with screen-printing, combining digital with traditional techniques. "My prints are inspired by the urban landscape and focus on transforming industrial images with soft, flowing silk" Michelle Stephens-Her work combines quality craftsmanship and aesthetics with a highly conceptual approach. She utilises laser-cutting alongside woven construction techniques, with potential of adapting work to a variety of architectural and public spaces. The exhibition opens at 7pm on 1st August and will run until 31st August. Seacourt Print Workshop, Unit 20, Dunlop Industrial Estate, 8 Balloo Drive, Bangor BT19 7QY Telephone: 028 9146 0595
Several weeks ago I took part in a project which involved having my portrait taken by Belfast photographer Christopher Martin. He came up to my studio in Portstewart and spent one hour chatting with me and took several photos (not many, he prefers the pre-digital approach to photography; more consideration, less snapping) in order to get one image of me.
It was an interesting and slightly intense process, although Christopher put me at my ease, it was hard to look into the camera in a natural way and to not smile . Seeing the resultant image below was also a strange experience as I have never seen myself photographed in this way, I'm normally grinning or have my eyes closed! However I have now gotten used to it and am very happy to have such a high quality, profession portrait shot.
To see more of Christopher's work take a look at his website: www.oppositepage.com
Last Thursday, 16th May, I attended the breakfast (!) launch of ICON (Irish Craft Original Names) at Brown Thomas' Dublin store. The exhibition of irish craft has been very successfully curated by Angela O'Kelly so that the luxury department store is a perfect setting to display high-end, beautifully handmade objects. I think the pairing of international, luxury designer goods, such as clothing and shoes with contemporary craft works because they share an incredibly high level of quality and attention to detail. My work was chosen along with 15 other craft makers who have, as curator Angela O'Kelly describes, 'international appeal and flair'. This is the first time that the Crafts Council of Ireland's Irish Craft Portfolio has been exhibited in a retail environment. Brian McGee, Head of Market Development at CCOI, says of the exhibition; “The pieces of Irish craft on display in this very special exhibition at Brown Thomas as part of ICON are the Irish design collectables of the future, true expressions of the international standing of Irish culture and creativity in a globalised world,” Creative Director at Brown Thomas, John Redmond who was instrumental in developing the ICON concept in store commented that: "The special place that craft occupies in the hearts and minds of Irish people is unique and undeniable and to be the first retail store in Ireland to exhibit the work from the Irish Craft Portfolio programme for our customers is truly a tremendous honour." The street window displays look very impressive, craft pieces have been used to compliment mannequins dressed in the latest fashion, creating a bold statement that craft is very much a part of leading contemporary design.
A substantial collection of my blown glass sculptural vessels can be seen in the Designer Rooms on the first floor. Other exhibitors: Derek Wilson, Roisin De Buitlear, Jennifer Hickey, Jack Doherty, Sasha Sykes, Alison Fitzgerald, Stuart Cairns, Killian Schurmann, Joe Hogan, Sonja Landweer, Nuala O'Donovan, Michael McCrory, Cóilín O’Dubhghaill, John Lee and Paula Stokes. The exhibition will run until 15th June.
My blown glass vessels
'Urchin's in the foreground, this is the first time I've exhibited them!
From 16th - 20th April Flowerfield Arts Centre, through Creative Causeway and funded by the Garfield Weston Trust, hosted a range of hot glass activities, including workshops for University of Ulster students in glass blowing with Scott Benefield and lampworking with me. On the Saturday Scott and I gave public demonstrations in glass blowing. It was great to have the very skilled and knowledgeable Scott onsite with his wonderful portable studio! And I had the rare opportunity of blowing glass in Northern Ireland!
Adam Frew put together a short film of the events:
Over the next few weeks there will be quite a bit of hot glass activity happening at Flowerfield Arts Centre.
Renowned american glass blower Scott Benefield will be bringing his portable furnace to the Arts Centre in order to offer workshops to University of Ulster students and also for 5th and 6th form students of local schools to view glass blowing demos. This will take place from Wednesday 17th -Friday 19th April.
On Saturday 20th April from 11am-3pm there will be public glass blowing demos by Scott and myself. Needless to say I'm really looking forward to doing some blowing, and also seeing Scott at work.
Film of Scott glassblowing at Flowerfield last year
For the first time I will be teaching a night class in lampworking. This is due to start on Tuesday 16th April and run for five weeks, from 6.30-9.30pm every night. This course will allow me to help students get a firm grip on making beads and also learn and experiment with form and pattern application. Fee: £82, £77 concession
I will also be teaching a one day class on Saturday 4th May from 10am-4pm. Students will learn how to make a basic bead and also a variety of colour and pattern techniques. Fee: £55
For more information or to enrol on either lampworking class contact Flowerfield: 028 70831400
Two weeks ago I was over in London for a group exhibition curated by Karen Fleming for Craft Ni at the Craft Central Gallery. There were 13 makers in total and a wide variety of materials and styles, showcasing the breadth of technique and inspirations by some of the top makers in Northern Ireland.
The photos below were taken on the opening night, which was incredibly busy and a great opportunity to talk to some very interesting people. All in all the five day exhibition was a perfect platform to show work in London and to approach useful contacts such as galleries and collectors.
The exhibition will be shown in Belfast at Craft NI's gallery opening Thursday 4th April from 6.30-9pm and running until 26th April.
I am busily grinding some new 'Eye Candy' pieces for an exhibition curated by Craft NI and which will be held at the Craft Central Gallery in London. I was at Stourbridge Glassblowing Studio 2 weeks ago to make the pieces. Once again I was assisted by Ian Bamforth and we worked well together over the 3 days to get a good selection of pieces made.
I am just back from a trip to Stourbridge to make some of my blown glass sculptural vessels 'Eye Candy' for my forthcoming exhibition at Craft Central in London....more on this later!
Fortunately I had booked my flight from Belfast City Airport which meant that I would finally have the opportunity to see the jewellery exhibition run by Craft NI and hosted by House of Ireland in the departures lounge. My work was selected along with 6 other makers: Fiona Kerr, Jill Graham, Lynsay Raine, Rachel McKnight, Eric Robinson and Janice Gilmore. The exhibition will run until the end of February.
Please note, you must have an airline ticket leaving the Belfast City airport in order to visit the departure lounge!!
My lampworked glass and silver jewellery next to Rachel McKnight's work
My work beside Rachel's again, the colours work well!
I am currently exhibiting in a lovely old museum case (originally from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London) at the University of Ulster's Belfast Art College. It's on level C, above the library. I am exhibiting a range of blown glass vessels and lampworked glass jewellery. Next to me , in another case is goldsmith Diane Lyness showing a range of lovely jewellery and candleholders.
If you are interested in seeing the exhibition contact me via email: catherinekeenan126@gmail.com
Striped Vessel and 'Eye Candy, Green and Purple Striped'
'Urchin, Yellow and Purple'
'Humbug, Green and Red' with 'Posy' Hoops and 'Molecule' Earrings
Renowned Belfast based photographer Michael Taylor called into my studio last summer to use some of my blown glass pieces to create solargram photographic images (created by using specialist photographic paper exposed to sunlight). My 'Wild Flower' bowls proved particularly successful. Now that we are in the darkness of winter I hope that sharing these images will be a hopeful reminder of the long summer days to come!
