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Feile Clai is approaching the end of it's current project. This will finish officially at the end of October in Wales. We will continue to work with our Irish partners and intend to extend the project with them in the near future. We are writing a comprehensive report on the project which will be available, on request, at completion. Some of our recents events are described below.
Report from Thomastown "Wild Geese" Workshop. 3rd and 4th April 2007
Gus Mabelson at The Pottery Skills Course in Thomastown had organised for three potters with Irish connections (The Wild Geese) to give workshops for his students on the occasion of them attending a conference in Kilkenny on the preceding weekend. The Irish Feile Clai team co operated in this by opening the event up to other beneficiaries in Ireland. Thomas Kerrigan, Matt Kelleher and Robert Brisco demonstrated their practical skills and talked continuously about their philosophies and experience.
Bob Brisco was hugely informative about his long experience of working as a “production” potter in Minnesota and his appreciation of the many Art Fairs in the states. He showed examples of the promotional materials from these and the “Annual Pottery Studio Tour and Sale” in his county. All this to reinforce his original determination “to be a potter, longterm” (He is very successful)
Bob Brisco throwing
Tom Kerrigan has been makingsculptural ceramics for a very long lifetime. He showed slides of his work and his work environments. He uses a method of pinching fairly small pieces of clay together, often starting upside down and often resulting in large, monumental, double skinned vessels. He worked meticulously and slowly but was able to complete a medium sized form within the two days of demonstrations. Matt Kelleher, is a younger potter, very much the academic, only 10 years out of college. He has been working in residencies in the states and has a very different outlook on what it is to be a potter. He had a great deal of information for students or starters about how to approach colleges and where to go. He also had some advice about Gallery selling, “I have rules with galleries” which he suggests devising and applying if potters need to deal with them. The hard working and motivated students at Thomastowm were obviously impressed by the three ceramicists. They asked pertinent questions and received very practical answers. Everyone present agreed that this was one of the most enjoyable and useful events to be held at the pottery skills workshop.
Tom Kerrigan Matt Kelleher
’17 Prime Makers’ focuses on the work of 17 established makers from Ireland and Wales. These established artists are continuously perfecting the skills of their craft, creating works which incorporate new influences and innovative methods. The featured works illustrate how the artists pursue their individuality whilst meeting the challenges of expressing their ideas in contemporary ways.
This exhibition of established makers opened in the beautiful Farmleigh Gallery, Phoenix Park, in Dublin on 25th April and ran until 11th June when it transferred to Wales. Sales from Ireland were in the region of €22000.00 which indicates the appreciation of this exhibition. The exhibition at Aberystwyth Arts Centre was held in the Ceramics Gallery and opened by Phil Rogers on 16th June. There was a large attendance at the private view. The exhibition was well received at the International Ceramics Festival with 26 sales being made. It will run until 16th September. Many Galleries and private buyers have are already show a great deal of interest. The exhibition has had the benefit of wide publicity coverage both in Ireland and Wales in “The Ireland Sunday Business Post”, “Cambrian News”, “Western Mail”, “Ceramic Review” and more. A hard backed 64 page catalogue was produced which gave weight and professionalism to the exhibition. Copies of the catalogue were sent to all the major galleries to alert them to the Féile Clai project. Phil Rogers wrote in his foreword ‘This major exhibition marks a significant moment in time. Not only does it provide the cement to further bind the union of Irish and Welsh ceramic endeavour but it is a timely reminder of the quality and depth of contemporary talent with which we are blessed in out two countries”.
Sandy Brown Weekend At Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 26th and 27th May
This renowned potter and sculptor demonstrated, and ran a hands on workshop as part of the Feile Clai programme of events this year. She also addressed the issues about the environment that are of special concern to ceramicists.
Sandy's Japanese method of kneading clay
FREE MINIGAMA WORKSHOP with AKIRA YOSHIDA FROM JAPAN 25th June – 1st July 2007
This was an opportunity to participate in a 7 day workshop with the Japanese Master, Akira Yoshida, in the week leading up to the International Ceramics Festival and during the Festival itself. Ten selected delegates made and fired his quirky minigama kilns with him.
“The size of the basic minigama is about 20" long, 12" wide. It has the basic components of a kiln: air intake-opening, grates, stoke hole, ware chamber, flue, and chimney. The firing process to be 3 hours long, using charcoal and a hair dryer.”
During the week the delegates worked with Akira san, making minigamas, biscuit firing them, in a purpose built kamigama (paper kiln), as well as firing them on the Saturday of the Festival with Akira san.
Akira Yoshida with minigama
Firing the minigama with charcoal and a hairdryer
FEILE CLAI Ceramics Ireland International Festival 8TH / 9TH / 10TH SEPTEMBER, 2006. THOMASTOWN, KILKENNY
THE DEMONSTRATORS WERE: (please click on the name for more information about the artist) Shao Ting Ju Taiwan Figurative sculpture Geoffrey Healy Ireland Wood fired domestic ware Daphne Corregan France Sculptural raku John Ffrench Ireland / USA Decorative vessels Sasha Wardell UK Slip Casting Eric Astoul France Greg Crowe Australia Wood fired Ceramics
The weekend consisted of
EXHIBITION In conjunction with the weekend there was a private viewing for all event participants on the evening of Friday 8th of September
Thomastown is a vibrant small town which is home to many artists, crafts people and their studios. The picturesque town provides local accommodation, lively pubs and restaurants.
DETAILS ON VENUE: This beautiful venue lies on the river Nore an old mill, which has been renovated to facilitate the Crafts Council of Ireland Pottery Skills Course which was set up at Island Mill, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny in 1990 to provide Ireland's commercial potteries with key skilled staff who would be able to assist in the expansion of production while also helping to maintain quality. The course has enabled people to gain the necessary experience and skill to find work in the pottery industry. Now in its eleventh year, the course has been extremely successful in meeting its goals. It has established an excellent reputation in the industry. To date 145 trainees have completed CCoI Pottery Skills Training. In 2004 the course changed from a one year to a two year course. www.ccoi.ie
USEFUL INFORMATION:
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Joe Finch, exhibitor, with his display 
