Maireadholohan's Blog

The dark plum colour is from leaves of the blackberry bramble, the orange is from onion skins,

		Blackberry leaves VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

It is mad to say that it is already the middle of March and as my Facebook thing keeps telling me I have not posted in a month!

It has been a busy month in some ways but I think like a lot of people this winter it has been hard to get up and running with things so I have had to prioritise and this blog lost out…..it is a dilemma these days, we are all so busy doing things but nobody believes us unless they see the evidence and that takes a lot of time from doing. I mean I could be making things right now not sitting in front of my computer doing three things, a proposal for the Ferrybank group; a poster for a group exhibition in Thomastown and outlines for the Textile level 3 group. Sunday a day of rest. I should be at a point to point in Borris…might get there yet!

It is safe to say the Point to point is not going to happen for me. Below is a sketch in charcoal and burnt cork that I did at a workshop yesterday in the Old schoolhouse Enniskerry with David Begley. Very happy with the day, the sketch could be better of course!

Some work from my diary

One day when I must not have been in the studio for  a few days I found this poor starling in the stove, dead and cold so I drew him

In preparation for a workshop painting the nude in oil I thought I had better work on the drawing skills to be ready!

Tuesdays VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

More work from tuesdays… Wednsdays are doing more theory and we had a lovely visit to Garter Lane to plan the next stage of the group!

I have to apologise for not being here in ages. Santa brought me an  Ipad Mini for Christmas and I have been trying to persuade it to upload to this blog….not very successfully. So I have had to give in and go back to the auld PC!

I have been busy trying to catch up with myself and get back into the flow. We started back in Ferrybank on the 14th and 15th of January. The exhibition was supposed to be moving to Christchurch for the past few weeks but they have had logistical problems getting the stands up. All going well we will install the work this week, if not I think we may leave it and move on. Sometimes you have to do that in life and work.

We have some new women on Tuesday and we have been concentrating on the drawing for design aspect of the module while waiting for materials.  This Tuesday group are preparing for level 3 textiles, in fact i have just been informed by my superior that we now have access to two more level 3 component modules, Applique and Embroidery soe we have loads to get our teeth into. While it is good to learn new skills it is also useful to get accreditation for existing ones. Some have been with me for a good while and just did not submit last year as we got side tracked by the Library exhibition. So now Tuesday is for level 3 which is very basic,  and should not intimidate any one….you know who you are!  This is perfect for such a mixed group as it is confidence building for all. Then next year this group can progress to the more challenging higher level modules. Those with previous skills are a great asset to the group as I am a firm believer in peer learning. We all learn together, from each other.

Here are some shots of what we have been doing so far……………………….

		Ferrybank tuesday VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The Wednesday group is morphing into a network that will carry on and exhibit in its own right. They are doing a fetac component module on Exhibition techniques and perhaps one on event management. I see the skills that they are learning being of valu both to these women on may levels.

Garter lane have already said they would be interested in the group submitting for a show. so the aim for this group is to learn how function as an independant entity, by learning how to function in the art and craft world. Putting together proposals, planning and executing professional exhibitions and events for themselves and their communities. Soooo Exciting!

Here are some examples of work done over the christmas by members of the group.

		Wednesday group own work VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

So all in all loads of food for thought, Wednesday will be a lot more theory than previously but it is of interest and value if you wish to progress to another level. It will not be just learning stuff that you will not need and use if you intend to show your work at any level. We all need to know what we are making and where it needs to shown.

So I am now going to do my assignment for a level 6 module that I have been participating in, never give up the learning it makes you dull and you get too relaxed!!

The work has been hung. We had a little party to celebrate and it looks amazing. If anyone is in Ferrybank before  next wednesday go and have a look, it is worth it!

Here are some pics of the event!

Ferrybank exhibition VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Nearly ready, there are just a few things left to do such as finish some of the work, then hang and label and show it all off. I am getting very exited if no-one else is.

I do hope that loads of people come along at some stage to see the work. I think we will probably take it down next week, not sure to be honest.

Nearly ready! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I have finally gotten around to doing some of my own work. Five small scarves and three large hand-painted Nuno felted shawls/scarves. I am pleased with them and am doing a small craft fain New Ross Wednesday evening from 7-10 opposite the Dunbrody in Dawn’s place.

		Ferrybank Library Exhibition and my return to Showing! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

		Dying from plants from the garden VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Some years ago one of my pupils mother was a dressmaker and she gave me a load of off cuts of fabric. I never throw anything away so luckily I have been able to use these white silk remnants with a white flower embroidered into it and have been experimenting with the bundle dying method. Thanks to Nicola Brown for her tips on the use of Iron Water it is getting better!

The threads are part of my treasures bought at the Knit an Stitch show a few weeks ago. I think that I will be suing these to tell a story of some sort…maybe…..maybe not!

It is difficult to get going at my my own work again. I am unsure as to what it is. I want to create but I want to find a new direction. This new direction may be the same as my old work, I just want to explore and be sure it is honest. As I tell my students we all know what we can do. The difficulty is to do it to its limit and by that I mean both skilfully and to push to the limit of ourselves, not just to stay in our comfort zones. I want to push my self to create work that challenges me and perhaps those that view it. This will probably mean that some people will not ‘like’ it. I do not want to create art that is a commodity that some person wants to own, just because it is valuable. I want to create something that means something to me and that if it means something to someone else they are willing to give me something that I will value in its place. This something may be money, to help me to live or a service or something that enhances my life in some way.

There are those of you will say I am a flake and perhaps you are right. I am also aware that my thinking is very much a first world dilemma, were I living in a third world country I would just want to be able to live well and the dilemma would be food and shelter.

However I do not and I am lucky that my concerns are so trite and trivial really.

Lately like a lot of textile artists I have been playing and toying with the idea of natural dying and using local and recycled items in my work. Apart from anything it is cheaper and hope fully kinder to the environment. Now you will say silk is hardly produced in Dranagh, so I am trying to work my way around this. Any ideas?

We were hoping to have an exhibition of the work from our community arts group in Christchurch Cathedral before Christmas but due to circumstances this will now (hopefully) be in the Library in Ferrybank at that time and in the cathedral in the new year.

Here are some samples of the collaborative pieces in progress. I can say now they are going to be fantastic and the groups that have stuck it should be so proud of what they have done. It is not easy to create in a group situation but the compromise makes for really creative and interesting work.

Collaborative work in progress VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Things are getting on in Ferrybank.

I have two textile art groups in Ferrybank. One group meets Tuesday and the other Wednesday. The Wednesday group are mostly together the longest, they have done a level 3 fetac textile minor award and some have done 4 and 5 monir awards. At present this group are doing a community arts project based loosely on Christchurch Cathedral in Waterford City. The aim of this project was to encourage group participation as artists, to learn to collaborate, to learn compromise. This has been interesting as I also have had to learn to compromise. Some of the participants have had to go on their own as their partners do not turn up and that is awkward but that is group work.

The second group are in the formative, skill learning, getting to know what they can do stage. They are preparing for the level 3 textile minor award. This is a very useful exercise as it allows a lot of freedom which enables the students to show true learning.

Here are some example of what this last group are doing at present

Tuesday 12th November VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Last Friday I went tot he Knit & Stitch Show in the RDS Dublin with a small group of ladies from Ferrybank Textiles. We were driven to the door thanks to Kilkenny VEC Community Education. This was fantastic as some of the group have mobility issues.

The idea for the group to go from my perspective was to see first hand the variety of approaches that go under the banner of textiles. The ability to see such work by the top people on this field and ordinary everyday crafts people is very inspiring. The ladies went off by themselves for the first half our trip, which gave me the opportunity to search for exhibits that I felt would allow them to think about the diversity and the fact that any thing goes and that they already have huge skills that just need a direction that is personal to them. I really wanted the group to be inspired to do their own work and to see the uses that other crafts people put the skills that they are acquiring with this group.

The other essential aspect of a show like this is of course the possibility to shop! It is not easy in Ireland to be able to see and touch items that we use before buying them and even to see people demonstrate.

There were opportunities to do workshops at the show which we did not avail of, perhaps we did not have the  money and also it is possible to just stand and watch the workshops as they are being run so lots of opportunity to look and learn.

I certainly came away refreshed and inspired to go create and even bought a few bits!!

		Knit and Stitch VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Playing with items bought at Knit and Stitch! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

What a lovely time we had in Dranagh Studio on Saturday. I wanted to test my studio for space for life drawing. There were four of us with model…Thanks Linee..I reckon we can do five and even six if I  move things a bit more…so watch this space!

		Life drawing at Dranagh Studio VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I am not saying who did which, I will say we are a bit rusty!