'Elemental Twitch' Ceramics Exhibition

Ceramicist Gail Mahon is bringing her acclaimed touring exhibition to Flowerfield Arts Centre.  With new additional sculptural and installation works this should be an inspiring and unique exhibition and definitely worth calling in for! Opening reception, 12pm on 6th October. The exhibition is running until 3rd November.

Creative Classes: A new term begins

In just a few weeks Flowerfield's term of creative evening and day classes will begin.  There's something for everyone.  From ceramics, warm glass and patchwork to painting, drawing and digital photography.

 For information and bookings call us on: 028 7083 1400

Or email on:  info@flowerfield.org.

Adam Frew's pottery class: Wednesday evening

Natasha Duddy's Warm Glass Class: Monday Afternoon and Evening

Monday

Beginners’ and Improvers’ Oils & Acrylics

10.30am to 12.30pm

Tutor: Penny Ramalho

Starts September 24 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55 concession

Intermediate Warm Glass

3-5.30pm

Tutor Natasha Duddy

Starts September 24 for eight weeks

Fee: £95, £88 concession - this fee includes the cost of kiln firing and some materials – students can purchase additional materials for their projects if they wish.

Beginners’ & Improvers’ Warm Glass

6.30-9pm

Tutor: Natasha Duddy

Starts September 24 for eight weeks

Fee: £95, £88 concession - this fee includes the cost of kiln firing and some materials – students can purchase additional materials for their projects if they wish.

Watercolours

7-9pm

Tutor: Alison Wilson

Starts September 24 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55 concession

Tuesday

Intermediate Digital Photography

2-4pm

Tutor: Steve Lowry

Starts September 25 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55

Oils & Acrylics

7-9pm

Tutor: Keith Stynes

Starts September 25 for ten weeks

£62, £55 concession

Intermediate Digital Photography

7-9pm

Tutor: Steve Lowry

Starts September 25 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55

Wednesday

Patchwork

2-4.30pm

Tutor: Ann Rickerby

Starts October 3rd for eight weeks

Fee: £62, £55 concession

The Art of Drawing

7-9pm

Tutor: Derek McAfee

Starts September 26 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55 concession

Sculptural Ceramics

7-9pm

Tutor: Adam Frew

Starts September 26 for eight weeks

Fee: £77, £70 concession – includes materials costs and costs associated with kiln firings.

Friday

Friday Art Club

10.30am-12.30pm

Tutor: Penny Ramalho

Starts September 28 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55

Getting Started in Digital Photography

11.15am-1.15pm

Tutor: Kathy Stewart

Starts September 28 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55 concession

Introduction to Digital Photography Editing

2-4pm

Tutor: Kathy Stewart

Starts September 28 for ten weeks

Fee: £62, £55 concession

Summer Ceramics

Resident potter Adam Frew taught several courses throughout the summer.  Flowerfield Arts Centre runs a very popular month long programme of classes for children during the school holidays.  Adam taught ceramics to a group of 8-11 year olds.  Their project was to create a ceramic model inspired by the original georgian building here at the centre.  The results were very imaginative and impressive!

He also taught two four day master classes.  The focus was on throwing on the potter's wheel.  Students had the opportunity to work in porcelain and the pieces were later gazed and fired using Adam's techniques.  All of the students surprised themselves with the progress they could make in just 4 days, and everyone went away with a lot of nice pots!!

'Flowerfield House' ceramic pieces by 8-11 year olds!

Adam's master class

August Craft Masterclasses

Resident artists Adam Frew and Catherine Keenan will be teaching several masterclasses in August, offering the opportunity of learning techniques from these experienced makers.

 

2 Day Glass Beadmaking Classes

 

-7th+8th August

-28th+29th August

10am-4pm each day

Tutor: Catherine Keenan

Glass maker Catherine Keenan will teach the unique process of making a glass bead on a gas fueled lampworking torch.  Learn how to work with the molten material, ways of achieving different shapes and how to apply a variety of patterns.

Maximum 6 students.

Fee: £85 (includes materials)

 

4 Day Pottery Masterclass 

 

21st-24th August

10am-5pm each day

 

Tutor: Adam Frew

 

Work with Adam Frew, a talented young potter who throws pots of bold dynamic quality. As part of his workshop, participants will have the chance to make their own energetic pots on a wheel under Adam’s guidance.  The first workshop advertised for this August has already filled up, so book quickly to get a place!!

Maximum 6 students.

Fee: £110 (includes materials)

To book contact Flowerfield Arts Centre on 028 70831400  or email: info@flowerfield.org

Film of Scott Benefield Glassblowing

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

Film by resident potter Adam Frew

Glassblowing Demonstration

Last Sunday Scott Benefield and Andrea Spencer arrived at Flowerfield Arts Centre with their portable electric furnace and 'flat-packed' studio!  With in a very short space of time the pottery room here was converted into a fully functioning glassblowing studio, with furnace, bench, glory-hole and marver.

The event kicked off at 2pm, firstly with a short lampworking demonstration by Catherine Keenan and then with Scott and Andrea explaining the process of blowing to an enthralled audience.  It was a rare opportunity to witness blowing molten glass in Northern Ireland and for many people it was the first time they saw the process up close.

First gather from Scott's new furnace

Onlooking crowd as Scott marvers the glass

Scott shaping the glass as Andrea blows

Andrea bringing a punty

Opening the vessel

Making a lip on a jug

Andrea making a handle

Putting the handle on

Finishing the beer mug!

Resident artist Catherine Keenan gathering

Shaping the bubble

Furnace going home!

Wood Firing Workshop

Last Saturday, 2nd June, Flowerfield Arts Centre hosted a wood firing workshop run by resident potter, Adam Frew, and assisted by Peter Montgomery.  It was a rare and exhilarating opportunity for participants to not only have pieces fired in an outdoor kiln fuelled by wood, but also to help in the actual stoking of the kiln through out the day.  The workshop began at 9am with students glazing pots and then packing the kiln.  Then a small fire was lit at the front , and stoked throughout the day giving a steady climb in temperature up to 1300℃.  The grand finale of 'crash cooling' the kiln saw Adam and Peter packing as much wood in as they could before sealing the kiln.

The wood firing was successful in creating interesting effects on the pots, the flames coloured the pots and the wood ash formed glazes, warm reds to cool blues.

Stoking the kiln

The grand finale: crash cooling

Reduction cool

Kiln sealed up

Peter, Adam and participants, Laurian and Frieda

Fired Pots