Some photos from Fís/Imagine Corca Dhuibhne 2033

Everyone was invited to write their ideas, hopes and dreams of the future on postcards and the walls.

I'd written a very brief post about an upcoming Fís/Imagine Corca Dhuibhne (see here) - An instillation by Transition Towns Corca Dhuibhne in a derelict building for our Arts festival, Feile na Bealtaine.

Fís Corca Dhuibhne opened its doors on Thursday, the beginning of the festival, and quickly became the highlight of the festival. I know I'm a bit biased, being one of the participants, but it truly was a magnificent project, and a perfect example of transition towns ethics. People coming together, to share ideas, work, and possibilities of the future.

 Stones and sods were gathered from all over the peninsula. I had to quickly do up the 'Please step on the grass sign' as people were not stepping on the grass

Open Studios!

 

As part of Feile na Bealtaine, I'm also organising an Open Day in our newly formed Goat Street Studios! (Thats where I should be, now, tidying up, so I'll keep this short)

Drop into the newly formed Goat Street Studios on the 5th of May, 3pm-6pm

Lots of art activities for all the family.

• ‘Doodle for Dingle’, an art competition for kids. 
• Art & craft demonstrations. 
• A history of the studios and the artists involved. 
• Guided tour of some of the artists’ studios. 

Fís Chorca Dhuibhne and the Plarn Workshop

It's been all go since I got back from Italy, because Feile na Bealtaine takes place, this coming weekend! I've been busy out making props for the parade, and also for Fís Chorca Dhuibhne. An incredible project brought to you by Transition Towns Corca Dhuibhne. 

We have, basically, taken over a derelict building, and with the help of over 50 local artists, poets, gardeners and general fantastic hardworkers, transformed the inside of the building! More info below...

I'll be doing a Plarn workshop on Friday, 2nd May, at 3pm, part of Fís Chorca Dhuibhne.

In this workshop, I'll be showing how to recycle those horrible plastic bags, turning them from rubbish, to yarn. For the past 3 years, I have been hoarding nearly every plastic bag that has come into my house, and am now about to embark on an ambitious plarn lace project. For those of you who can crochet, I'll be showing how to make Irish Crochet Lace from plarn. This workshop is free.

Fís/Imagine Corca Dhuibhne 

Venice! (Italy Part IV)

Rapallo! (Italy Part III)

Ancient Map of Northern Italy, (with rough indications of towns)

I haven’t really talked about the different kinds of laces I saw yet. Who would have thought there were so many types! We have, here in Ireland, a number of laces, eg Carrickmacross, Kenmare, Youghal etc.  All needlepoint laces, and one crochet lace. Yet the dominant lace abroad, both in the symposium, the museums and with the people I met was bobbin lace. Until now, I have heard about bobbin lace, I even bought some bobbins in an auction a few months back, but I’ve never seen it in action. Now I can say I most definitely have. I can’t get over how popular it is! In fact, Angharad said it was one of the reasons she was delighted both myself and Emer could travel over, because along with Guillermo and his tatting, we were the only ones who were not talking about bobbin lace. I think I was the only person there who has never tried bobbin lace. I’m intrigued!!

Gandino! (Italy, Part II)

 Ancient Map of Northern Italy, (with rough indications of towns)

After four days of intense talks, chats, chats and talks in the Palazzo del Broletto in Pavia, it was time to say goodbye to the majority of the presenters and attendees of the symposium, and get excited about the 4 days of textile road trips ahead.

Italy! (Part 1)

I’m going to have to split my Italy trip into at least 2 parts. One blog post would be very long and rambling, (as if this one isnt!). Also. for me, there were distinct parts. The 1st part being the Symposium itself, and the 2nd (and possibly 3rd!) part, the excursions afterwards to Gandino, Rapallo and Venice.