GATHERING 2013

About Cork Textiles Network The Cork Textiles Network, established in 1998, offers support to all who have an interest in textiles. CTN successfully promotes exchange with other Textile Networks, artists and enthusiasts in Ireland, across Europe and recently in the USA & Canada. Skills are shared between members through skills exchange events. CTN holds a number of exhibitions of members work throughout the year; some open entry, others curated by guest artists and experts.

Successes include many exhibitions showcased in galleries throughout Cork, Ireland and in the UK. CTN holds an annual conference dedicated purely to Creative Textiles. The conference features International & Irish textile professionals through a weekend of lectures, workshops, exhibitions & local cultural events. CTN also organises and promotes leading edge workshops and classes in Cork. CTN has made significant inroads in bringing fibre art to children both in libraries and in the classroom. The CTN website showcases the wide and varied range of work produced by our members through our members’ gallery pages, and allows individual artists to profit from online exposure of their work Membership is open to all who have a love of textiles! We have members across the country and Europe; membership is not restricted to the Cork area or Ireland. New members are always welcome. CTN is a not for profit organisation.

Freddie Robins Freddie Robins is an artist who challenges our perception of knitting as craft. Her work is internationally renowned, her practice crossing the boundaries of art, design and craft; she uses knitting to explore the contemporary – domestic, gender and the human condition. She is a senior tutor in Mixed Media Textiles at the Royal College of Art in London. She predominantly produces work for public exhibition, and has been involved in a wide variety of different programs that promote and explore the role of craft in today’s society.

Her work is held in private and public collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and The West Norway Museum of Decorative Art, Bergen. Group Critique Sessions & One-to-One Surgeries / Freddie Robins Warm, friendly and humorous sessions with Freddie, designed to offer feedback and support in terms of professional development with an internationally regarded artist and teacher. We will run a group critique session on Saturday afternoon, a seminar talk in the lecture theatre on Sunday morning, followed by one-to-one surgeries in the afternoon. Please note this is not a making workshop. 8 places only. Available for Saturday and Sunday inclusive only Liz Nilsson Born and raised in Sweden Liz studied art and textile design followed by an MA in textile f ine art at Goldsmiths College in London. She is an interdisciplinary artist and since 2000 works from her Dublin Studio. Liz is involved with projects ranging from conceptual installations to textile design both in Ireland and internationally; she exhibits regularly and has an extensive public and private commissions record. She approaches her work with careful methodology, attentively choosing materials and techniques to express ideas relating to memory.

She welcomes challenges and collaborations. Repetition in Blue / Liz Nilsson This workshop will work with repetition of simple shapes and texture, using indigo dyeing and printing. On the Saturday, students will create repeat patterns using two Shibori techniques; Itajame and Kikko folding. These techniques give an instant repeat pattern and are fascinating to work with. On the Sunday, participants will be encouraged to react to their indigo dyed fabrics and to add printing inform of block print and/or screen print. Participants will come away with several pieces, both indigo dyed and printed, as well as knowledge of how to make their own indigo vat. 10 places only. Available for Saturday and Sunday inclusive only.

Debbie Smyth Debbie Smyth is textile artist most identifiable by her statement thread drawings; these playful yet sophisticated contemporary artworks are created by stretching a network of threads between accurately plotted pins. Her work beautifully blurs the boundaries between fine art drawings and textile art, flat and 3D work, illustration and embroidery, literally lifting the drawn line off the page in a series of ‘pin and thread’ drawings. Debbie plays with scale well; her style lends itself beautifully to creating installations in gallery spaces, domestic interiors, corporate environments and public spaces. Textile Drawing / Debbie Smyth The workshop will deliver textile drawing skills and techniques similar to those used by Debbie. As a participant, you will complete the full creative process to make your own threaded image; from drawing to plotting pins and threading your image.

Saturday will start with various drawing games and observational drawings, followed by learning the basics of the technique. On Sunday we will discuss and learn how to turn your sketches into pin and thread drawings. At the end of the weekend you get to take away a thread drawing designed and created by you. 12 places only. Available for Saturday and Sunday inclusive only Jenny Monks Jenny Monks currently teaches costume, design & textiles at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa. Jenny draws images with hand and machine stitch depicting scenes from fairy tales and snapshots from everyday life with cherished collected fabrics embedded in each piece. Drawing with Stitch / Jenny Monks Translate a drawing from paper to cloth. Discover an experimental approach to textile drawing using fabric and stitch. Layer fabrics and create marks that explore various line qualities. Enjoy an inventive and experimental approach to creating unique samples using the sewing machine. 12 places only. Saturday afternoon only.

Marie Brett Marie Brett is a visual artist with extensive experience in the field of participatory and community based practice. She has received numerous awards for her collaborative projects exploring notions of loss or absence. She recently wrote A Code of Practice for Public Engagement due to be published by CCoI in 2012. http://www.mariebrett.ie Art in the Community Seminar / Marie Brett This seminar is for those who’d like to learn more about art in community settings via case studies, discussion plus Q and A sessions. The workshop will cover: context + definitions; where + how community art happens; what’s the difference between teaching, facilitation and collaboration? We will look at project models, ethics + partnerships, research + planning. The seminar is suitable for both those just starting out plus those with experience. 12 places only. Saturday afternoon only. Not a making workshop.

Arlene Shawcross ARLENE SHAWCROSS is a freelance textile artist and teacher with many years experience. Her specialist area lies in embroidery, with a particular interest in free-machine embroidery. Much of her current work is stitched, either on soluble backgrounds to create lace-like effects, or on her own hand-dyed fabrics with glorious rich colourful results. Dyeing To Stitch / Arlene Shawcross Saturday afternoon; learn how to hand-dye fabrics and threads using Procion dyes. Sunday; Combine your hand-dyed fabrics and threads with free-machine embroidery, hand stitch and fabric manipulation techniques to create an exciting rich and colorful composition. 12 places only.

You can book this workshop for Saturday OR Sunday OR both days. If your booking is for Sunday only, please bring fabrics and threads to work with. Christina Jasmin Roser Christina Jasmin Roser is a felt maker with both Swiss and Scandinavian roots and training, so design is very much a part of her life. Simplicity and an eye for detail is very much present in her modern approach to the ancient craft of felt making. Using Pre-felt Within Feltmaking / Christina Jasmin Roser On Saturday, discover how you can use cut out supplied pre-felt to define clear shapes and patterns within felt making. The Sunday session will explore how pre-felt can be cut into strips and woven together to form interesting designs and patterns. Students will also be shown how to make their own pre-felts. 12 places only. You can book this workshop for Saturday OR Sunday OR both days. Eileen France Eileen France specialises in fine art embroidery, Irish lace-making and oil painting. She has been stitching and creating since she was six years old. She has spent time restoring old embroideries, and researching and practicing many methods of stitching.

She is a vocal defender of the traditional skills of hand-embroidery, and lace-making, and their validity and expressiveness in a modern context. Tambour Work / Eileen France A chance to try your hand at tambour work, and explore it’s possibilities. All tambour equipment will be provided. Saturday; An expert introduction to tambour work Sunday’s workshop will look at mixing-it-up and incorporating other techniques, including silk thread work, lace making, hand painting, beadwork and padded embroidery with Tambour work. All the techniques used involve some hand-embroidery, but there is something to suit all levels of skill. 12 places only. You can book this workshop for Saturday OR Sunday OR both days