Live From Dublin: Cork City and Back

St Anne's-Shandon with salmon weather vane

One of the P51 designers needed a courier to Cork to deliver some items to customers, so off I was sent on an overnight south. After deliveries were made, I saw the sights and visited a few different artists’ groups. The Designworks Studio, run by goldsmith Tuula Harrington, is a great shop with a full jeweler’s studio at the back, visible behind a glass partition. She and another jeweler work from this studio space, selling their own creations as well as the work of other renowned jewelers from around Ireland. The Cork Printmakers and Backwater Artists Group is housed in an old 3-story industrial building that provides studio space for over 30 artists. There is a gallery space on the first floor and on certain days of the year, the group hosts open studio nights where the public can see the artists and their work processes up close and personal. And finally, the National Sculpture Factory, also housed in an old industrial building, provides space and use of certain equipment to help facilitate the creation of large-scale artwork such as sculpture, ceramics, and installations.

Sinead Clarke, Essen C Designs

Had some great craic at my “Welcome” party from P51 on Thursday, lots of laughs, and finished the week revisiting the National Museum at Collins Barracks. On my previous visit, had only time to make it through 1.5 of the 4 floors total. So now I’ve seen it all from top to bottom and I was in heaven! At least 3 rooms of nothing but silver work and objects…and tools. Ahh, such a metals geek. Helped my flatmate, Sinead, break down her stall at the Cow’s Lane Market on Saturday. She sells her knitwear there every week and it was entertaining to watch all the different people go by.

My week ended strangely enough- I did my first load of laundry in Ireland; we have a washer but no dryer, so everything is put on clothes horses. Once it had dried, I stood in our living room steam ironing my (ah-hem) undergarments so they wouldn’t be so stiff. Must say that’s a first for me. Then our water heater gave out so I boiled water in the electric kettle in order to do dishes and was stuck with a cold shower. Heater is fixed now so I can already look back and laugh. 

(I spoke too soon...the heater gave out the next day. So now, a few days later, the electrician has been in and fingers crossed- We'll leave it at that now so's not to jinx it. ; )