Live From Dublin: The Masters

So just who are some of these artists I’ll be working with? Some of the most respected and distinguished metalsmiths Ireland has to offer.

Aidan Breen

A native of Dublin, his early fascination with Celtic design came from frequent visits to the National Museum as a child, to see such pieces as the Tara Brooch and Ardagh Chalice. He apprenticed at the firm M.H. Gill & Sons working on ecclesiastical vessels. After other positions with a variety of firms, he started working on his own in 1978 and was out in front when Celtic-designed work made a resurgence in popular culture. He considers himself a silversmith who specializes in repoussé and chasing and has been commissioned by the Dublin Assay, Government Ministers, and the National Museum of Ireland among others. His work will reside in the permanent collection along side the very masterpieces he gazed upon, awestruck as a child.

Watch an interview of him from Irish Craft.tv:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YJjt6JWcwQ

And view some of his current original designs available for purchase at:

http://www.celtarts.com/Breen.htm

Brian Clarke

Having worked closely with the National Museum in Kildare Street, Dublin for the past ten years, Brian has researched ancient Celtic metalwork and the techniques used to create them. Techniques that were thought lost, he rediscovered. He has discovered how the ancient metalsmiths formed the famous Ribbon Torcs and has recreated exact 22K gold replicas of the Lunulae that now reside in the National Museum. These torcs were forged from a single ingot without any cutting or filing and thus without any waste of materials. He and his wife run workshops from their studio in County Wicklow as well as the south of France.

Discover some of the great works he’s created by visiting his website’s gallery:

www.silversmithingworkshop.com

Additionally, I will visit several metalsmiths who, while unable to sponsor me in my research, have invited me to visit their studios and speak about their work. These include but are not limited to:

o        Seliena Coyle: independent jeweler, former Professor of Metals at the Savannah College of Art and Design, current resident of Dublin and lecturer at the National College of Art and Design.

o        Kevin O’Dwyer: silversmith, specializing in the design and creation of contemporary silverware (no, this doesn’t mean just flatware!). www.millennium2000silver.com

o        Breda Haugh: after working for several jewelry industry businesses, she set up shop for herself in Dublin where she designs and sells her own work as well as creates commissioned pieces. www.bredahaugh.com

o        Seamus Gill: silversmith and jeweler creating work from his own studio in Dublin. http://www.seamusgill.com