Film of Hot Glass at Flowerfield

From 16th - 20th April Flowerfield Arts Centre, through Creative Causeway and funded by the Garfield Weston Trust, hosted a range of hot glass activities, including workshops for University of Ulster students in glass blowing with Scott Benefield and lampworking with Catherine Keenan.  On the Saturday Scott and Catherine gave public demonstrations in glass blowing.  It was a rare opportunity to see glassblowing in Northern Ireland!

Adam Frew put together a short film of the events:

Hot Glass at Flowerfield

Over the next few weeks there will be quite a bit of hot glass activity happening at Flowerfield Arts Centre.

Renowned american glass blower Scott Benefield will be bringing his portable furnace to the Arts Centre in order to offer workshops to University of Ulster students and also for 5th and 6th form students of local schools to view glass blowing demos. This will take place from Wednesday 17th -Friday 19th April.

On Saturday 20th April from 11am-3pm there will be public glass blowing demos by Scott and Catherine Keenan. This is a rare opportunity to see the process of manipulating and blowing molten glass.

Scott glassblowing at Flowerfield last year

For the first time resident artist Catherine Keenan will be teaching a night class in lampworking. This is due to start on Tuesday 16th April and run for five weeks, from 6.30-9.30pm every night.  This course will allow her to help students get a firm grip on making beads and also learn and experiment with form and pattern application. Fee: £82, £77 concession

She will also be teaching a one day class on Saturday 4th May from 10am-4pm.  Students will learn how to make a basic bead and also a variety of colour and pattern techniques. Fee: £55

For more information or to enrol on either lampworking class contact Flowerfield: 028 70831400

Lampworking class

Gail Mahon Exhibition Film

This is a film of Gail Mahon's solo exhibition at Flowerfield Arts Centre Gallery.  'Elemental Twitch: The Middle Mass Findings' was an exhibition of mainly ceramics, along with mixed media that spanned the two large gallery spaces.

Film by Adam Frew

Film of Scott Benefield Glassblowing

Scott Benefield's glassblowing demonstration at Flowerfield Arts Centre on Sunday 3rd June.

Film by resident potter Adam Frew

Resident Potter back from Korean Ceramics Festival

Adam Frew, Flowerfield's resident potter, is back from a trip to South Korea as one of the selected international artists exhibiting and demonstrating at the Mungyeong Tea Bowl Festival.

"It was so inspiring to see the traditional techniques in Korean pottery.  I was amazed how long a history they have, centuries, which is kept alive by artisans working today." -Adam Frew

http://vimeo.com/42007547

Flowerfield Artist Profile: Adam Frew

Potter Adam Frew has been resident artist at Flowerfield since beginning Craft NI's 'Making It' scheme in autumn 2006.  During his time here his work has gone from strength to strength.  From developing a strong range of functional ware that has changed dramatically since the early days:

 2007

To winning the Award for Excellence at the British Craft Trade Fair in 2011.

"Being at Flowerfield has been vital for me.  The launching of Making It 06 was energetic as soon as I had clay to throw I was making pots!!  Both Flowerfield and Craft N I continued supporting and promoting  me enthusiastically for the duration of the two years. Magazine articles and media footage has allowed showcasing of the work not only to the local community but also to the wider international audience as well.

Malcolm Murchinson, my mentor and the director of Flowerfield supported me with every venture from the building of experimental kilns on site to offering down to earth advice and support when it was needed.

The programme ended with my first solo show in the amazing gallery space.  I was a perfect way to round off the two years and launch myself as an independent business."

Flowerfield Solo Exhibition, 2008

Film: Adam making a large pot in two parts

To see Adam's most up to date work have a look at his website: www.adamfrew.com

Adam regularly teaches classes at the centre.  For more info please check: www.flowerfield.org

Catherine Keenan: new artist in residence

Glass Artist Catherine Keenan has begun a 2 year residency at Flowerfield through Craft NI's 'Making It' scheme.  Other artists to join Flowerfield through the scheme have been Adam Frew, pottery and Pia Raeymaekers, glass.

Catherine Keenan graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin with a BDes in Craft Design:Glass in 2006. She then went on to study at the International Glass Centre, West Midlands, specialising in glass blowing and cold decoration and carving.

“I seek to generate positive emotions with my work, to give solace and uplift. Colour and pattern are so attractive to me as they have a direct way of creating an instinctual response.

Glass blowing is such an immediate process, it requires great dexterity and swift, confident gestures to create sublime forms. For me, a major draw to the medium is the great breadth of different techniques, the high level of skill needed to refine these techniques and the seemingly endless possibility for new creations.”

Her blown glass work ranges from sculptural objects and functional vessels to installations comprised of blown glass components.  She also makes a range of lampwork jewellery, and will be regularly taking bead making classes at the centre.

Film of Catherine blowing glass

www.catherinekeenanglass.com