Live From Dublin: Artist-in-Residence interview

For shame on me for allowing such time to pass before posting my video to the Notebook, but as some of you know who have been following on Facebook, there has been an illness in my family that has taken my time and concentration since my return state-side.

This video was shot, directed, and edited by British photographer, Mark Henderson, who was doing collaborative project work with the design collective I was apart of during my residency. The interview describes my experience within the collective, Project 51, as well as the research I conducted and the work I created during this period of time. The video was shot in December 2011.

Live From Dublin: No Goodbyes- Just ‘Until I See You Again’s

Have been busy the last couple of weeks- went to see another play, this time in Temple Bar; took a turn one afternoon around Phoenix Park, located on the west side of Dublin; and I took a day trip up to Northern Ireland to visit the Giant’s Causeway and Belfast. Let’s just say the giants were roaring! A storm rolled in and the snow blew like mad. The surf was huge and impressively crashed against the cliffs.

It finally happened- took about 11 weeks but I actually had one day where I did not consume not one cup of tea! The next day when I realized it had happened I almost felt out of sorts. HaHa

Eily O’Connell and I took a day trip down to Kilkenny recently. Kilkenny is the home of the Craft Council of Ireland. She did a workshop with jeweler Jane Heuston and I poked around the Kilkenny Design Centre, visiting the various studios and National Craft Gallery. I had a wonderful chat with jeweler and silversmith, Des Byrne, who told me his best advice for anyone was to “do work that you love since you spend so many of your waking hours doing it”. Eily and I also visited the studio of Rudolf Heltzel, a renowned designer and jeweler.

Last week, I met with Michael Kenny, Keeper of the Arts & Industry, National Museum of Ireland- Collins Barracks, who was so generous with his time and knowledge. He took me around all the silver collections in the museum. Even though I’d been through the exhibitions several times before and had spent hours looking myself, like a proud father, he pointed out details and “behind-the-scenes” information about pieces in the collection that I never would have caught otherwise. It was a wonderful experience and I am so grateful!

And finally, I have completed my new collection of work. It is entitled Duiblinn: The Black Pool Collection. It consists of six pieces of studio jewelry, ranging from rings to face adornment. I took my first DART trip (Dublin intercity train/subway) to Clongriffin, northern suburb of Dublin, to have my collection professionally shot by father and son photographers Ronnie and David Norton. I hope to have the images within the next week or two and will be posting them to the site for all to see. In the meantime, the collection has gone up for display at Project 51 and hopefully I will find some venues for exhibition when I return stateside. With things being as busy as they are, this will be the last post Live From Dublin. I’ll continue to post updates to the collection and exhibitions but it will be from the Deep South.

My last days on the island are drawing to a close and a lump is already growing in my throat at the thought of leaving behind all the wonderful people who have made up my life here. You would think the daughter of a pilot and flight attendant, a self-professed world wanderer would be used to goodbyes by now, but they never get easier. So no goodbyes. I will simply say- Till I see you again. May our paths cross on down the way.

Live From Dublin: Such A Tease

So a quick, belated post- went to a “Broadway” play at the Gaiety Theatre called Big Maggie, was a great performance. Over the weekend, spent a day in Wicklow with Eily O’Connell hiking to the Powerscourt Waterfall. We had wonderful weather for it and we certainly earned the sweet treats at the end of day with all our outdoor exercise.

Progress is steady on the workbench front…I would say I’m half to ¾ of the way done with the collection. These are the pieces I’m working on…you’ll have to stay tuned to see how and what they turn out to be! I know- I’m such a tease.

Live From Dublin: A Hallmark Moment

I had the great fortune and opportunity to tour the Assay’s Office of Ireland recently. The very gracious Ronald Le Bas took me around the labs, the hallmarking rooms, the library, the Master Warden’s Office and I got to view the private collection of master works the Assay’s Office has commissioned over the years. The collection includes works from Brian Clarke, Kevin O’Dwyer, and Aidan Breen among others. Ireland and the UK have mandatory testing and hallmarking, unlike the US, so it was interesting to be taken through the process.

Eily dancing outside Rathfarnham Castle

On the culture scene: I enjoyed a wonderful dance performance in Temple Bar called Touch Me, which explored Irish society post-Celtic Tiger and in the wake of the economic recession. Also enjoyed several exhibition openings, among which was one called 21^st Century Icons. Eily O’Connell had a great torc in the collection, so I went with her and her boyfriend, Ross, to Rathfarnham Castle to see it. (Rode a double-decker bus for the first time since being in Ireland this trip!)

In Project 51: The Collective celebrated Christmas early by heading out to a terrific dinner. Everyone went home stuffed and most, inebriated. I’m posting the promised image of my filigree hat embellishment. I’ve completed sketches for my body of work and have begun work at the bench once again. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Live From Dublin: One For The Record Books

It’s official- I’m a Guinness World Record holder! Ok, so really the event took place last week, but I didn’t get official notification until this week. The event took place at Trinity College and was organized by a number of student and non-profit groups working together to raise awareness about mental health in Ireland. The record was for “Most People To Write A Story”, the previous record had 838 participants and our record now stands at 953 participants! The organizing group began the story by depicting the main characters and initial circumstances, then over the course of 12 hours each participant wrote one sentence- the next line of the story until time closed. The story has been transcribed and is now officially published, check out http://www.seechange.ie/index.php/news-and-events/272-see-change-breaks-guinness-world-records-title. I went with Eoin McDonnell from Project 51 and our lines are near the end of the third-to-last paragraph since we got there near the end of day. It’s all pretty wild and funny, and I guess it’s another item to check off the bucket list, haha; I made my nephew jealous at least.

On the studio front, I managed to salvage my filigree sample piece. It’s finished and ready to be used as a hat embellishment. So now I’ll have to have a think about what kind of hat I want Martha to teach me to make… Pictures to follow some time later.

Live From Dublin: Trial and Error

I made another trip to the Design Tower on Grand Canal Quay- this time to visit the hard-working and humorous Seamus Gill. Seamus makes everything from jewelry to tabletop objects to sculpture in a beautifully elegant style. He started selling his own creations by chance when he organized an exhibition of emerging jewelers in Dublin during the 1980s. While the mix of what he makes, jewelry versus large objects and commissions, has varied over the years as the economy demands, he’s been a successful, working silversmith ever since. It’s difficult to pick just one favorite thing but I must say I like some of the bronze pieces he’s begun working on recently. He’s been experimenting with patinas and the finishes on the pieces in his studio were just lovely! To learn more about him and his work, visit www.seamusgill.com. 

I’ve completed my “Creative Quarter” necklace. I ran into some issues with filigree during my sample piece and decided to alter my necklace design slightly, but I think it still turned out well. (Not sure if it’s the difference in torches/heat or if my solder is off or what…) I still might try fixing the sample piece some time later. Now, I’m on to researching and sketching designs for my new body of work. It will be a collection of jewelry and the goal is to have it on exhibition here the last two weeks I’m in Ireland- so fingers crossed! Other than helping the designers set up for the Movember Men’s Fashion Festival pop-up shop in P51, I’ve just been busy brainstorming.

Live From Dublin: Back At The Bench

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with the remarkable and respected Irish jeweler, Breda Haugh in her studio this week. She has been working in the industry for decades, starting out working at the bench for various jewelry manufacturers both in London and Dublin before going out on her own—designing, making, and selling her own work. She was a delight to speak with and I enjoyed her passion for the many topics we discussed regarding jewelry, making, and the art world. She was so generous with her time and even allowed me to borrow a swing on her rolling mill. (I’m starting a filigree piece and needed to make all my wires.) To learn more and see her beautiful work, visit www.bredahaugh.com.

I also started sketching for a new piece. I’ve been asked to participate in a collaborative project with the other 6 jewelers of Project 51 to create a necklace inspired by “The Creative Quarter”, the neighborhood in which P51 is located. This collection of 7 necklaces will then be sold during the holiday season. My necklace is inspired by the lines and shapes found in the Georgian architecture of the historic buildings along our street and will be silver filigree. But to start, since I’m still adjusting to using unfamiliar equipment, I started a sample piece. If the piece turns out and (knock on wood) I don’t melt it, I’ve discussed with Martha, milliner extraordinaire, if it can become a collaboration piece with her and one of her hats. So we’ll see- will post pictures if all turns out.