Glass Alchemist
Glass artist Sharon Dollar, who lives in Co. Leitrim, is something of an alchemist. Disappearing into the workshop where she keeps her kiln at the back of her home, she emerges with rainbow glass creations as delicate as snowflakes. Dollar has a fascination with the fluidity of glass, and the way that it transforms from liquid to solid. Her company name Siku is one of the 100 words that the Inuit use to describe water. One of her many decorative techniques, layering and laminating enclosed leaves, like holly, has led her to collaborate with woodturner Niall Miller with whom she is producing a series of wooden bowls with a glass inset for 2005. Miller, like Dollar, is a member of Leitrim Design House and came to craft from a background of horticulture and sustainable wood and management. ‘Over the years I collected many strange and twisted pieces of wood! I began wood-turning because I wanted to highlight the variety and colour in native timber species.’ Miller also works with the Coppice Association of Ireland and displays green woodworking and coppice crafts using small dimension native timbers. His refreshingly practical pieces range from garden tools to honey spoons, potato mashers, pot stirrers and garlic crushers.
 
Dublin design trail
Design Week is organised by the IDI – the Institute of Designers in Ireland – to promote awareness of design excellence. This year a group of Dublin-based designers and retailers undertook a parallel venture – a design trail through the city. As many of the designers, who ranged from the Shane Holland Design workshop to Retrospect, offered liquid launches along the way, the trail developed as the design equivalent of a literary pub crawl. On a more serious note, the trail also offers a wonderful opportunity for buyers to see what’s happening in modern design and to meet designers and retailers who are passionate about their work. We hope they do it again in 2005.
 
Plan Expo 2004
Standing out from many less interesting shows at the RDS, Plan Expo has long been a key date in the construction industry’s calendar. Among the many highlights, the new Opus Design and Construction Awards represent the amalgamation of the Opus Awards and the CIF Construction Excellence Awards. The new awards honour both architect and contractor, taking in all aspects of the project from initial design to completion. Another exciting element to the exhibition itself is the Product of the Show Awards won in 2003 by glass designer, Deirdre Rogers, which showcase some of the most imaginative new products on the market. The list of exhibitors for 2004 includes some well-known designers, as well as new names to watch out for in the future.
 
Bespoke lighting design
In eight years of business, Niamh Barry Design has filled a gap in the market for specialist bespoke lighting designed and manufactured in Ireland. Some of the designs, which are characterised by their simplicity, will be familiar from the Ice Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel, the Cellar Bar at the Merrion Hotel, and the O2 Point Club. ‘Our bespoke service is deliberately simple,’ says NCAD graduate Niamh Barry. ‘First of all we discuss the specifications with the client, both practical and aesthetic, and then we try to create the perfect fit. The aim is to create precise and beautiful lighting that covers all the client’s needs without unnecessary complications.’
 
Swirl Metal Finishes
Swirl Metal Finishes is a specialist metal finishing company with, quite literally, the Midas touch. Their secret is simple. They take liquid metal and apply it to a solid substrate (almost any substrate will provide a suitable base). The range of metal finishes is equally wide, including copper, bronze, brass, aluminium, pewter, iron, tin, zinc or stainless steel. Dublin drinkers will already be familiar with the bronze pitted bar counter at Harry’s Café, made in MDF and seamlessly coated by Swirl in a bronze pitted finish. A normal bronze casting on this scale would have had weld lines, and been extremely heavy and costly. We look forward to lots more fun and shiny metal coatings!
 
National Craft Fair
The National Craft Fair will take place at the RDS, December 8-12, and this year the Crafts Council is planning something a little different. Instead of individual stands grouped under the Christmas Presence brand, a large gallery space will display craft from a broad range of craftspeople who have either exhibited in the National Craft Gallery in recent years or who have the potential to do so in the future. The annual National Craft Fair always includes some new names among the familiar faces — this year, look out for the ceramics of Mandy Parslow and of Jim Kelleher, who has just graduated from the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Pottery Skills and Design Course, Liz Nilsson’s textiles and the jewellery of Fiona Thornton.
 
Scudding Clouds
The innovative Dublin-based company, Scudding Clouds, is equally committed to making us rethink materials and how we use them in our homes, offering sustainable alternatives to the transient traditionals of wallpaper and paint. The company presents three main types of plaster finishes—an encaustic wax plaster—similar to Italian stucco which is lustrous, smooth, and custom-coloured; a rougher scratch plaster, which can also be custom coloured and is suitable for both interior and exterior applications; and an exclusive line of Japanese Tatame plasters, which come in an expressively muted and organic palette and are said to have holistic properties.
 
A Sense of Design
Another lighting company exhibiting at this year’s Plan Expo, Design Sense
specialises in commercial lighting: ‘We’ve built up a reputation for stylish, modern light fittings, which have excellent light output as well as being energy saving. We offer a consultation so that we can modify the design to suit
particular requirements and, as we design as well as manufacture, we can offer a more specialised product. And everything we make is manufactured here in Castlebar.’
 
From Oslo to Dublin
Arthur Duff and Greg Tisdall have just launched their Oslo Furniture range, designed and made in the heart of Dublin and adjacent to their city centre showroom. ‘We have been furnishing peoples home for more than twelve years’, says Greg Tisdall, ‘so we have distilled a lot of customer feedback to understand and produce well-designed furniture’. The Oslo Furniture range
is made of rich walnut, with dark polished stone tops and chrome details, combining a variety of textures that blend stylishly.
 
Boxing Christmas
Down Arts Centre will be hosting Christmas Boxed, an exhibition of art, craft and design by members of Co. Down Crafts, from Friday 3 December to Monday 20 December 2004. The exhibition offers the opportunity to experience a bit of Christmas presence and to buy a few Christmas presents! Down Crafts was formed in 1997 with the assistance of Down District Council in 1997 to facilitate the development of the craft sector in the county. As Co. Down has the highest percentage distribution of craft businesses of any county in Northern Ireland, it is hoped that craft and design will make an enduring contribution to the social and economic regeneration in the region, as it has elsewhere in Ireland. Similarly, crafts in Donegal have long been part of the county’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage. The most significant advance within the craft sector was the establishment of the Donegal Creative Crafts Guild in 2001, with facilitation from Donegal Co. Enterprise Board. Since then craft and design in the area have flourished. This year, Donegal County Enterprise Board and Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council are delighted to present SPARK, a joint cultural initiative highlighting the work of crafts people in Tyrone and Donegal. Inspired by the natural surroundings of the North West, SPARK promotes a wide range of crafts, from handmade glass to carved bog oak, turf and slate, wonderfully coloured weaves to delicate precious jewellery and lustrous ceramics. SPARK invites you to find out a little more about the craftspeople— perhaps you too will be sparked!

 
Natural Beauty
Also exhibiting at Plan Expo, is woodturner Emmet Kane who comes from five generations of master craftsmen in Co. Kildare, where he works from his own workshop, creating an innovative selection of sculptured and functional pieces from native Irish hardwoods. ‘Living in a rural landscape of immense natural beauty along with many exceptional archaeological features dating from the 6th century, has had a strong influence on my work, but specific commissions have also helped my style to develop’ says Kane. ‘My dyslexia has helped me to approach my work differently because I’ve had to learn that there’s no such a word as can’t!’
 
Christmas fair in Dungarven
The Old Market House Arts Centre, Lower Main Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford will hold their annual Christmas Art & Designer Crafts Exhibition from 1-23 December. The exhibition will feature a variety of work from Irish artists and craft workers, including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, woodcraft, paintings, photography, cards, and floral items.
 
Open day at the tower
The designers and artists of the Tower Design Centre, though available all year round— are once again opening their doors and welcoming the public to shop for Christmas presents. This year the Tower Open Days are 15, 16 and 17 December, kicking off with late night opening and a wine reception 5–8pm on Thursday 16. Although the 10% discount is only offered on the open days, Christmas shopping continues until 23 December. The selection of Christmas gifts includes the ceramics of Christine Hughes, and the furniture and accessories of Kate Fine; the interesting work of sculptor and painter Elizabeth O’Kane, and the high-fashion bags of Aishling McLaughlin. The Tower Design Centre is at Trinity Enterprise Centre, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2.
 
Create 2005
Create 2005 has issued a call for applications for the follow up to the tremendously successful Create 2003 exhibition. Create 2005 will take place next October, once again in Fota House, and the organisers are inviting applications from Irish furniture designer-makers wishing to exhibit at the event. All items for the show should adhere to the main objective of Create, which is to exhibit innovative and distinctive work, which sets new standards in design and craftsmanship encouraging craftspeople to keep inventing and exploring while retaining their individuality. Create 2005 will take place against the backdrop of Cork’s year as European Capital of Culture, a perfect scene for what promises to be a wonderful celebration of Irish design and craftsmanship.
 
Little Black number
Waterford Crystal has prepared a little black number for Christmas. The new collection, Black by John Rocha, is the table wear equivalent of a black dress worn with diamonds. You might call it Sparkly Gothic. With more traditional detailing than we’ve seen in a while, and very classy black glass, the Black range can be mixed and matched with a complementary Clear cut range. Even more Christmassy, the entertaining Ruby Jewel Icicles are posh Christmas tree decorations, but at e29.00 for a set of three, you could do worse for your money. The tradition of cherished decorations that are lovingly unwrapped every Advent and equally carefully parcelled away on Twelfth Night, is one of my favourite things about Christmas.
 
fine furniture
Furniture maker John Lee has recently opened his purpose-built cabinet
making workshop and design Studio at Pagestown, Maynooth, County Kildare. Lee’s overwhelming enthusiasm is reflected in his exceptional craftsmanship, with elegant curves, clean crisp lines and meticulous attention to detail. ‘People are now creating more personalised living spaces,’ says Lee ‘and are no longer satisfied with mass produced furniture hence the tremendous upsurge in the commissioning of fine furniture.’ Commissioning a piece of furniture is an exciting and rewarding experience with the client closely involved from the initial two-dimensional design sketches right through to the finished piece.
 
The art of relaxation
The creative team behind the new SeaSpa at Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare — architects Paul Quilligan & Kirstin Simpson, designers Peter Johnston and Sandra Cosgrove, and building contractors Cleary & Doyle — have created a stunning building to draw the visitor through a series of spaces that enhance the therapies as part of the overall experience. The design of the spa reflects its surroundings with stone, timber and sea-pebbles, and rendered walls reminiscent of beach sand. Kelly’s has also opened two luxurious new suites in honour of two of our greatest artists—Bill Crozier and the late Tony O’Malley. Kelly’s has one of the most impressive art collections in the country, and works by Crozier and O’Malley feature strongly, alongside artists such as Louis le Brocquy, JB Vallely, and Patrick Collins. The Bill Crozier suite and the Tony O’Malley suite feature works by each artist and transform a hotel suite into something very special indeed.
 
2004 Muriel Gahan Scholarship
The young Irish designer-maker Garvan de Bruir has won the 2004 Muriel Gahan Scholarship. The prize was awarded by the Irish-American Cultural Institute and will be used to help fund de Bruir’s forthcoming MA in Furniture Design. Although de Bruir is a specialist cabinetmaker, he also works with free flowing and sculptural forms, often using cast aluminium, fibreglass, and leather. With them, he can achieve the elegant slim-line sections that are becoming a trademark of his designs. These materials also enable his work to become more mass producible, while their combination with wood or leather helps them to always maintain a handmade quality.
 
Designyard sparkles
Designyard, the jewellery and design gallery in Temple Bar bought a year ago by contemporary Irish design retailer Whichcraft and relocated to nearby Cow’s Lane, will host a special Christmas Exhibition, opening 8 December, featuring Irish design and contemporary European jewellery. Of particular interest among the exhibits, are the copper sculptures of Liam Butler. Trees and birds, in their varying forms, are a regular feature of Butler’s work and his interpretations are so authentic that they have the capacity to make one look afresh at nature. On exhibit too, one off furniture pieces by Ronan Halpin and batiks by Bernadette Madden, will evoke the spirit of the season, while emerging artists featured include ceramic artists Bernadette Doolan and Clodagh Reddin, and textile artist Renata Brickley.
 
Architectonic glass
Dublin-born Patricia Plunkett produces art glass from her studio at Glendarragh Studios, North Wicklow. Plunkett has been a professional glass artist and designer since 1988. Her primary interest is in architectonic glass and commissioned work where she enjoys working closely with clients’ specific requests. Plunkett also produces unique glass forms for gallery
exhibitions and more recently has been indulging her interest in painting. Each piece is designed in relation to its surroundings and draws inspiration from the essences of nature—energy, movement and light. Plunkett’s work is in many private collections. She has also designed and made corporate pieces and awards for Bord Iascagh Mhara and Guinness.
 
‘wave’ from inchydoney
Meanwhile, in West Cork, Inchydoney Lodge & Spa has enjoyed six years of business, during which it has invested e75,000 in works from local artists. West Cork has always been a fruitful field of art and design, and the company exhibits on an on-going basis the works of Deirdre Crowley, Sandra Bell,
Martha McFarland, Robert Shaw, Majella O’Neill Collins and designer-maker Joseph Walsh among others. Walsh has created two pieces for Inchydoney: a cantilever table ‘Wave’, and rocking lounge chairs. These have met with such enthusiasm that he has been commissioned to refurbish the reception area of the hotel. Walsh uses traditional cabinet-making techniques and wood-working methods, and a range of ‘home-developed’ techniques honed to facilitate specific design needs. His new work fuses innovative design with excellence in craftsmanship to create pieces that are both functional and collectable.
 
countdown to Showcase inJanuary
The countdown is on for Showcase 2005 scheduled for 23-26 January 2005, at the RDS. Craftspeople all over the country are pulling their collections together for one of Ireland’s busiest craft-fests, and buyers are sharpening their pencils. There will be plenty of new faces amid the crowd, among them Mel Murphy whose funky and snug children’s knitwear collection incorporates Irish yarns, embroidery, appliqué and hand stitching. For the grown ups, Linde Wilson’s knitwear collection offers fluid and dramatic cashmere blends with matching scarves and handbags. Ceramics enthusiasts will note the finely textured, hand thrown pottery of Rosemary Durr, which has a finish reminiscent of fine porcelain, and the user-friendly tableware of Mary Gleeson—inexpensive style for everyday use.