Press release
Made in Ireland exhibition opens at Farmleigh Gallery
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Published on
Last updated on
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to present Made In Ireland at Farmleigh Gallery, an exhibition produced by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and the creative team of Hilary Morley, Stephen O’Connell and Mary Gallagher. Made In Ireland is launched today (7 July) and celebrates the wealth and vibrancy of Ireland's studio crafts. The exhibition presents work by over 110 craftspeople from 27 of the counties of Ireland, each creating beautiful, considered objects using skills honed over many years.
Ireland’s makers, working in and across different sectors, are creating innovative work of high quality. Makers work in local and carefully sourced materials, across all regions of our island. Some are household names, but most work away quietly perfecting their skill and promoting their work locally and regionally. The Irish public has shown itself to have a lively interest in craft, however, the public is largely unaware of the diverse range and quality of work being produced in the country by skilled makers. At a time when many people are showing a considerable preference and appreciation for goods that are Irish made, we can think of no better time to create a colourful, inclusive exhibition that shows the very best of what is MADE IN IRELAND.
Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, welcomed the new exhibition at Farmleigh Gallery:
“The OPW and DCCI have worked on many projects in the past to showcase the best of contemporary Irish craftsmanship in our museums and within the historic settings of our heritage sites. I am very pleased that Made in Ireland is now on display at Farmleigh Gallery in Dublin, where visitors who have not yet had a chance to see the exhibition can encounter the rich range of Irish creativity, craft and design which the curators have so deftly brought together from Ireland’s four corners.”
CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, Rosemary Steen said:
“We are delighted to bring the Made in Ireland exhibition to Farmleigh Gallery. This exhibition is a true representation of the fabric of our sector – the craftsmanship, creativity, collaboration and community of makers, Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies. It has already been seen by over 13,000 visitors during its time at DCCI’s National Design & Craft Gallery and this stage of the tour will allow even more people to experience the work of over 110 makers from across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
"Made in Ireland allows visitors to engage with both the authenticity and the sustainability of craft, which is a key focus in DCCI’s new strategic plan. We wish Farmleigh Gallery every success with the exhibition.”
The project team of Made in Ireland, Mary Gallagher, Hilary Morley and Stephen O’Connell, said:
"To show what is happening in Ireland’s craft sector today we organised an open call craft exhibition, titled Made in Ireland. The process brings into the light the quality and range of work being produced by Ireland’s makers, encourages their creativity, and in turn stimulates the interest of the public.
"Made in Ireland is likely to be big, eclectic, even messy by modern standards, but it will also be surprising, joyful and inspirational.
"An obvious pleasure of planning Made in Ireland was the opportunity to engage with so many skilled makers. We knew the work of those who were well-established but were especially delighted to discover craftspeople who were stepping into the limelight for the first time or after a long absence.
"This is a rich opportunity to explore a marvellous display of functional and decorative work and to celebrate the skill of potters, glassmakers, textile artists, woodturners, basketmakers, gold and silversmiths, metalsmiths and furniture makers.”
Exhibitors include makers of international renown as well as young, emerging artists and those who have practised quietly in areas of the country such as Clare Island, West Cork and the North Antrim Coast. Some are members of Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s Portfolio Critical Selection, while others are highly skilled makers who practise while away from the spotlight and national attention.
A full list of exhibitors can be viewed on https://www.ndcg.ie/exhibitions/made-in-ireland and includes:
TEXTILES – Beth Moran, Contemporary Tapestry Artists, Anne Kiely & Carmel Creaner, Studio Donegal
GLASS – Jerpoint Glass Studio, Scott Benefield, Peadar Lamb
JEWELLERY – Inga Reed, Janice Byrne, Garvan Traynor
WILLOW – Ciarán Hogan, Hanna Van Aelst, David Purcell
CLAY – Grainne Watts, Cora Cummins, John McKeag
WOOD – Roger Bennett, Matt Jones, David Cousley
METAL – Jane Murtagh, Cecilia Moore, Seamus Gill
FURNITURE – Paul O’Brien, Joshua Gabriel, Mark Hanvey
Official photography from the launch is available from Mark Stedman Photography stedman.photos@gmail.com or 086 367 9394.
Listings Information
WHERE: Farmleigh Gallery, Farmleigh Estate,
WHEN: 8 July – 4 September 2022
Open daily: Tuesday – Sunday except for bank holiday Mondays 10am to 5pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm)
Admission: Free