West Cork Craft &
Design Guild
County Cork-based Crafts Association:
History, Membership, Crafts, Courses, Events.
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West Cork Craft &
Design Guild |
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MORE CRAFTS |
West Cork Craft & Design Guild• Introduction Frankly, I've always been a bit confused about the difference between art and crafts. If someone spends days or weeks creating an original work of real beauty, then as far as I'm concerned that's art. So let me introduce you to 22 of the most talented artists in West Cork - all very different, except for one thing: each has an obsessive dedication to their craft, the materials they select and the techniques they use. I mean this entirely as a compliment, not just to the creativity of their individual works but to the sheer perfectionism they display. The impact of postmodernism may have robbed fine art of much of its traditional craftsmanship, but judging by the skills and ingenuity illustrated on this page, supreme workmanship is alive and well and living in West Cork. West Cork Crafts: The Role of the Guild In some ways it's no surprise. County Cork has a long tradition of nurturing great artists and craftspeople. Even so, "craftwork" is still viewed and treated as a second-class occupation when compared to visual arts as a whole, especially the conceptual stuff that art administrators seem to love. Funding is lower, training courses are fewer, exhibition opportunities are scarcer, and the whole infrastructure of crafts in Ireland - from Dublin to county level - has less power and authority than the state-run art system. All this helps to explain why it is so important for craftspeople to combine together to form bodies like the West Cork Craft & Design Guild. Like a miniature version of the Crafts Council of Ireland, a crafts guild makes it easier to raise funds, establish a brand, organize shows, pool expertise and increase the profile of crafts within a particular area. And this exactly what the West Cork Craft & Design Guild has done. Yes, it benefits from the presence of the West Cork Arts Centre; even so, it has definitely succeeded in drawing the attention of administrators and the general public (tourists as well as locals) to the rich vein of creativity which exists in this beautiful part of Rebel territory, and this is no mean feat. The guild was launched in 1998 with film-star Jeremy Irons as patron, with the aim of bringing together a group of talented craftspeople in order to generate the momentum needed to raise the profile of the crafts industry in West Cork. Since then, through a combination of brochures, exhibitions, fund-raising and other activities, the Guild has helped to promote West Cork as a centre for innovative design and quality of craftsmanship. The overall "brand" is exemplified by the output of Guild members, though none of them would suggest that they are the sole source of quality products. The area is home to an extraordinary range of excellent craftspeople who are not and never will be members of any artist group - however useful it may be. The West Cork Craft & Design Guild is open to applications from any craftsperson working in West Cork. However, in order to be elected a member, a candidate must undergo a tough vetting procedure operated by existing Guild members in order to maintain standards. Thereafter, once elected, in addition to paying the annual subscription, each member is expected to contribute something to the organization and running of Guild activities. In return, members become part of an important brand whose strength grows year-on-year, receive a listing on the Guild's website, have access to all exhibitions and associated brochures, and benefit generally from the advantages of being part of something bigger. Guild Website: www.westcorkcraft.org The website for the West Cork Craft & Design Guild lists all members, together with several images of their craftwork. It also lists forthcoming exhibitions, as well as a range of crafts courses run by members. It is an essential point of reference for potential members, and also for trade buyers of craft products who can view works, email individual members about their work, or discuss commissions. If you are interested in buying items from Guild members, one thing you can be sure of, is that you won't find better quality anywhere in Ireland. |
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One of a handful of professional cutlers in Ireland, Rory works with steel, wood, brass, silver, copper and leather to produce the highest quality hand-made knives, for kitchen, home and outdoor use. His clients include all manner of culinary celebrities, as well as local fishermen who depend upon the quality of his blades at sea. He will also repair and sharpen your treasured favourites. Contact Details |
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A former student at Dun Laoghaire School of Art & Design, Etain draws on influences like Persian carpets, Christian Icon paintings and the vivid colours of geometric-style Islamic art, to produce her richly decorated ceramic bowls, paper clay paintings and exquisite Byzantine-inspired sculptured heads. Exhibited in Ireland, the United States and Japan, her work is represented in many public and private collections. Contact Details |
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Specializing in relatively large, non-functional
pieces of wood art, made from native hardwood (eg. oak, ash, elm, beech,
yew ) in a way that highlights the timber's natural character, Kieran
also sculpts some of his work and embellishes with other techniques using
silver, copper and other metals. A member of the Cork chapter of the Irish
Woodturners' Guild, he handcrafts a range of outstanding bowls, platters,
hollow-forms, vases, and other items, often inspired by ancient cultures,
early pottery and ceramic art. In addition, he specializes in creating
pieces from bog oak. Contact Details |
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A first-class honours graduate of the Crawford College of Art & Design, and the holder of a Masters in Medieval Japanese Ceramics, Robert is a contemporary Irish ceramic artist of the 21st century, noted for his mastery of porcelain clay and glazes, which he employs to produce a range of beautiful sculptoral works, vases, bowls, and serving dishes. His works have been widely exhibited across Ireland and are represented in several public collections, such as Farmleigh House and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Contact Details |
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A BA Honours graduate in textile design,
Paula specialises in producing unique knitwear for couture houses and
the retail sector, as well as Italian wool fibre napkins, wall-pieces
and other one-off items involving combinations of collage and embroidered
or knitted textiles. She has run a number of Machine and Hand Knitting
Workshops, teaching a variety of machine-based techniques including how
to make a throw, a drape or a window feature. Contact Details |
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Noted for her extraordinary pieces of stoneware and ceramic sculpture, characterized by her own distinctive glazes, Patricia produces domestic ware, lamps, clocks, and figurative items. She continues to develop new techniques and designs in order to expand her range of innovative products. Contact Details |
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A graduate in Arts from University College Cork, Pat is one of the few professional cutlers in Ireland. In 2007, one of his pieces was awarded 1st Prize in the annual RDS National Crafts Competition (Metalwork category). In addition to fulfilling numerous one-off commissions, Pat is launching his new Scian Collection - a standard range of top-quality blades designed to fill the gap between the very expensive bespoke knife and the mass produced products that we buy by the rackful. Contact Details |
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Noted for her expertise in Goldsmithing and Jewellery Making, Aoife specialises in the design and creation of silver and gold, diamond and pearl jewellery, such as rings, pendants, earrings, brooches, bracelets and necklaces, made from 18ct yellow & white gold, platinum, magnificent diamonds and coloured gems. Her designs reflect a variety of different influences, both from nature as well as artistic styles such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau, to name but a few. Contact Details |
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Renowned for her one-off porcelain wallpieces, evoking the raw colours and textures of the Irish landscape in a fashion similar to the great Chinese ceramicists, Roberts also produces a range of ornamental clay sculpture for company reception areas, boardrooms and the like. Her award-winning works have been exhibited in a number of solo and group shows throughout Ireland. Contact Details |
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Working with materials like wool, silk, acrylic fabric, and crepe, Sharon creates a range of contemporary ladies knitwear and other items, including knitted wraps, hats, bags, tops, skirts and one-off textile pieces. Her designs and textile work have gained numerous awards, including the 2000 Scottish Entrepreneur Award, and the 2001 National Framework Knitters Award (London). In 2007, she was nominated for the Muriel Gahon scholarship at the 2007 RDS National Crafts Competition. Contact Details |
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David Seeger: Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting One of the most learned and skilled artists in West Cork, David Seeger is a full time sculptor, potter, and painter. In 1961, he graduated with the National Diploma in Design (NDD) in sculpture and pottery from Leeds College of Art, and afterwards combined a career in teaching with his ceramic and painting practice. He became a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Polytechnic (1964-1988), as well as occasional visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London, and also to many art schools throughout the UK. During this time he showed his works in a number of prestigious venues across the UK. In 1990, after completing a Masters at the Birmingham College of Art, he moved to West Cork where he has devoted himself to a number of artistic projects. A master in the design and application of glazes, his complex and unique ceramic pieces are renowned for their rich colours and arresting imagery. To contact David Seeger, please visit the
West Cork Craft & Design Guild website: www.westcorkcraft.org |
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After gaining a degree in Art at Brighton, Sally spent 5 years in the Australian bush, studying native medicine, colour and the healing energies possessed by animals and plants. For most of the last two decades, she has worked as an artist, healer and teacher, and in 1998 moved to Ireland where she has exhibited her textile designs in shows and exhibitions around the country. All her work is hand-painted, hand-printed or batik, in materials like silk, muslim and rich cottons. Their colours are specially blended for healing and energy. Her work ranges from sumptuous silk and satin wedding clothes, to hand-painted silk wall-pieces. Contact Details |
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The holder of a 1st Class Arts Degree from Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology, Aberdeen, and a Masters Degree from Cardiff University Wales, in Ceramic Design, Julian Smith has been working and sculpting in clay for over 20 years. In 1995, he moved to Ireland and one year later established his own studio in Kinsale. He specializes in spectacular hand-built ceramic pieces (using the raku method), such as Human Body casts with swirling copper glazes, or unique narrative wall panels decorated with glazes enhanced with gold and silver leaf. He is now one of Ireland’s leading Raku artists. Contact Details |
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A constant innovator with a unique evolving style, Helen has been making felt for almost 12 years. A restless experimenter with colours and differing threads, including silk fibres, flax and even metallic material, her contemporary designs (particularly her extraordinary three-dimensional works) have catapulted this ancient craft art into the 21st century. Now using traditional Shibori dying methods, her range of wool felt products includes felt lamps, lights, baby slippers, table runners, wallhangings, and various vessels. Contact Details |
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Considered to be one of Ireland's foremost ceramic artists, his works have been shown in prestigious venues, both in Ireland and abroad, and are represented in numerous public and private collections, including the Crafts Council of Ireland. A master of shaping, slips, glazing and decorative techniques, all learned through many years of continuous exploration, Jim now specializes in one-off sculptural pieces with distinctive textured surfaces. A lecturer in both pottery and sculpture, he has held a number of seminars and workshops in his chosen disciplines, and now offers a range of courses at his studio in West Cork. Contact Details Review written by Neil Collins (Editor) (Dec 2008) |
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