Tiki Tiki!!( again)

 I've done a few posts already about my love for Tiki designs. Its been one of my most popular posts ever, here on my wee blog. (See here!). So when the theme of this years Feile na Bealtaine parade was announced, as 'Masks', I knew immediately what I wanted to do.


For a few years now, I have worked with the local boy's school here in Dingle, designing and making their Feile parade costumes and props. I thought the theme of Tiki masks would suit the boys down to the ground.

Workshop: Electric Picnic 2015, Co. Laois

Just a quick note to say I'm off to Electric Picnic tomorrow. I'll be taking part, once again, in Greencrafts, Craft Village, delivering workshops to kids and adults in making Yarn Mandalas, or Ojo de Dios (God's Eyes), as they are sometimes known. I first came across these many years ago, in a book about Mexican Weaving. They were little offerings, good luck charms, very similar to our own St. Bridget's Cross. I loved making them. Such beauty with just a few pieces of yarn and sticks.

DESIGN & MAKE: Feile na Bealtaine

 

Every year I take part in our local Arts Festival, Feile na Bealtaine. Everything from installations, workshops, exhibit, etc. This year, I was asked to help the school my son goes to, to design and make a series of costumes and props for their participation in the Feile Parade. Naturally, since I love parades, and its my son's school, I gladly took part. The theme this year was games, and the school chose 'Cowboys and Indians'.

DESIGN: Ponc Press Commission

I recently was commissioned by Ponc Press, a lovely little letterpress company based in Dingle, to create a series of images our most famous resident, Fungi, the dolphin. It was a lovely project to work on, and a great excuse to go out on a boat, and catch up with our own Fungi, all in the line of research.  A beautiful day when we set out on the boat...

PROJECT: Artist in the Community, Kenmare. Co. Kerry

I had mentioned in an earlier blog post, I received funding through Create Ireland for research and development into a project with the Kenmare Lace Festival. (Read more about it here).

Losing, then Winning with 'A Year of Festivals'

I thought I'd write about a little whimsical, mm, not sure what to call it, project thing, I've done this past week. Bear with me, its a cute story, if I do say so myself...

Artist in the Community Project with Kenmare Lace Festival

 

One of the projects I had in the pipeline for this coming winter, has just been given the green light, and I'm absolutely delighted! I've just got word I will be receiving a bursary from the Arts Council, via Create, the National Development Agency for Collaborative Arts, to work on an Artist in the Community research project with the Kenmare Lace Festival.

XXIV Mostra do Encaixe de Camariñas

Its 5.30am, I should be fast asleep, but instead I'm up doing last minute computer stuff, updating blogs, sending emails, printing info leaflets, boarding passes etc, etc. The next 3 weeks are crazy hectic, and I'll barely get the chance to sit down, let alone blog!

The Feile Project (As yet officially untitled )

Above is a hint of what I have been up to, among other things, over the past fortnight. I'm delighted to have been asked by Feile na Bealtaine to create a visual display, (instillation, don't ya know), as part of this years festival. The theme of the parade is Children's Literature, a lovely theme indeed, and golly, wide open to interpretation.

Ar Gor - eggs, geese, women, feet and other stories

Here's a sneaky peek at a piece I'm nearly finished making for an exhibition here in Dingle this April. 'Ar Gor/The Hatchery' is a group exhibition in An Lab, with a theme of eggs, geese and other associations.  'Tá an gé ar gor' - The goose is hatching. From some research into this project, I have been drawn into the murky world of eggs, geese, feet, distaffs and other stories...

The Tailor and Ansty, Blue Bags and a little Colour Theory

A book has been following me around for the past month or so. It began with a simple conversation with my mum over Christmas, about a possible workshop I might be doing in the Gougane Barra in Cork. (Will tell more soon!!). She told me a story about a trip she did, years ago, to see a play The Tailor and Ansty. There ensued an amazing conversation (with step-dad and friend joining in) about the Tailor and Ansty and a bag of blue.

Post Lá Le Bríde (and God's Eyes)

 

Despite the terrible weather, a lovely crowd showed up to Murphys Ice-Cream, where there was lots of cross making, ice-cream eating, tea-drinking, and fund-raising for the Irish Seed Savers Association.

2014 and a new studio

Woohoo, I'm finally in 2014! Blog wise anyway, so I can start giving my my 2014 news. I've a few exciting projects on the go, but first up...

NEW STUDIO!!

I've taken up temporary residence in The Courthouse Studios in Dingle Town.

Last year I did two workshops, experimenting in knot-making, plastic, and crochet. Part of a largescale community project between local artists and Tidy Towns Dingle, supported by NEKD and Údarás na Gaeltachta. I'll be working on this project, a large lace yarn-bombing in Dingle town, among other things.

National Circus Festival of Ireland 2013

National Circus Festival, Tralee, 2013 from Rory Kirby on Vimeo.

Last blog post catch up of 2013. The last gig I did last year was for the National Circus Festival of Ireland (previously known as the Tralee Circus Festival). My second year doing the decor for the Festival Club of the festival. As is my love, the theme was handmade or vintage, with a circus, stage, playing card theme...

Post Kenmare Lace Festival!

Had a cracking time at the Kenmare Lace Festival! Met up with some lovely lace makers, some I knew already, some I never met before. Above is a pic of my bobbin lace, made in a workshop taught by amazing lacemaker Ann Keller. I am now fascinated with bobbin lace, especially with the use of metallic threads in bobbin lace. Oh, all nice and shiny! I know Textile Support in Italy runs these kind of courses. I wonder...

Kenmare Lace Festival

I'm off on another mini road trip. This time to the lovely town of Kenmare in South Kerry, where the first Kenmare Lace Festival is being held.

Valentia Isle Festival!!

I haven't finished unpacking the car, and I'm not going to bother. Instead I'm going to pack it up again, because I'm off to the Valentia Isle Festival!!

Today I did a whirlwind trip down to Valentia with fellow festival crafter, Pat Lawless. To do a site visit and confirm up last min details for a craft village. So, we're on folks!

Electric Picnic 2013

Its that time of the year again, ELECTRIC PICNIC time!!

The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and I'm celebrating my 5th year of working at it. As with previous years, I'll be setting up shop in the Greencrafts area.

Workshop on Knotmaking and Crochet Lace Plarn, Dingle

Next Thursday, 25th July, 5-8pm, I'll be hosting a workshop in the Dingle Library, on crocheting lace with plarn, recycled plastic. Alongside me, there will be a local fisherman, demonstrating knotmaking techniques. This workshop is the first, of what I hope will be a series of workshops, as part of MÓIDE+, a public art project in Dingle.  

MÓIDE+ is a Tidy Towns initiative supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta, NEKD and Leader. A cross-organisation, cross-craft, ambitious project to re-claim some of Dingles derelict buildings, and turn them into works of art.

International Freeform Fibrearts Guild

Every year, the International Freeform Fiberarts Guild votes on a theme for the annual challenge. Work is made of a period of a few months, and is then presented in the form of an online exhibition and a book. We dont publish the pics anywhere online until the exhibition is live on the website. Which it is now, go head over for a min and have a look www.intfff.com/