Opening of "Random Shuffle" with Galway Arts Officer, James Harold

Last night's opening of "Random Shuffle" was a great success at 8, Abbeygate Street, Galway. Here are some photographs of those attending the celebrations.

"Random Shuffle" an exhibition of work by members of GroundWorks Studios

"Random Shuffle", an exhibition of work by members of GroundWorks Studios was opened by James Harold, Galway Arts Officer, on Friday 23rd July in Abbeygate Street. The exhibition will continue until August 8th at this city-centre location to coincide with Galway Arts Festival and the Galway Racing Festival.

Ester Kiely features in Galway Now magazine

GroundWorks Studios associate member, Ester Kiely features in the 'artist profile' by Lynda Cookson in the July/August edition of Galway Now Magazine. For more information on Ester's work see www.esterkiely.com.

Sustainable Futures Exhibition at Limerick City Gallery features work by Olga Tiernan

GroundWorks Studio member Olga Tiernan is currently exhibiting her work at Limerick City Gallery as part of the "Sustainable Futures Exhibition".
The exhibition will run from March 22nd to April 30th and will be open to the public every day. The exhibition will celebrate the works of Irish based artists that incorporate the concept of sustainability into their work. The Sustainable Futures organiser Diarmuid Neilan says ‘The exhibition is all about the Reusing, Recycling and Revaluing of waste materials. The exhibited works show how the artists have taken throw-away waste material with no perceived value, and through the creative process, have turned them into valued art pieces’.
The works on show will be an eclectic mix of craft, design and fine art elements including textiles, furniture, ceramics, fashion, jewellery, mixed media and sculpture. The exhibition also aims to increase awareness among the general public on the importance of acting sustainably.
A number of workshops and demonstrations by artist will take place over the course of the exhibition and the public will be encouraged to participate. The aim of the workshops will be to show the participants how they too can recreate valued art from waste materials. The workshops will include paper art, eco-fashion and eco-furniture making.
An official opening of the exhibition will take place between 5-6.30 pm on Thursday 25th of March at Limerick City Gallery and all are welcome. All exhibits on show are for sale.
Exhibitors have incorporated some or all of the following sustainable attributes into their work:
• reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle;
• containing reused or recycled materials;
• minimising packaging;
• minimise or eliminate pollutants;
• source and produce locally;
• efficient resource and energy use;
• free from environmentally damaging substances;
• degradable, biodegradable and compostable;
• sustainable production, distribution, usage and disposal qualities.

Rachel Webb at work in the studio

Rachel Webb, Ceramic Artist:
"I'm currently working on a range of unique, figurative, life-size pieces using the female torso. Watch this space for photos of finished pieces soon!"

Emer Hughes at work in the studio

Emer Hughes, Textile Artist:
"I'm currently working on fabrics for upholstery and interiors, which are based on traditional patterns in a contemporary environment. Watch this space for new work from my Glimakra counter-marche loom"

Betsy Carreyette at work in the studio

Betsy Carreyette, Ceramic Artist:
"I'm working towards returning to the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert in Egypt, where I want to establish a centre for contemporary and traditional ceramic art"

Vivienne Martin a finalist for Jewellery Designer of the Year

Congratulations to GroundWorks Studios member Vivienne Martin who is one of 5 finalists for Jewellery Designer of the Year. These Fashion Innovation Awards will be held in the Radisson Blu Galway on March 18th. See the March issue of Galway Now magazine for more information www.goldenegg.ie.

Groundworks Launch Exhibition 11th December, 2009

GroundWorks celebrated the launch with an exhibition which was opened on 11th December, 2009 by James Harold, Galway City Arts Officer.

GroundWorks: the early days

Assisted by two of their GMIT lecturers, a group of textile and ceramic artists who recently graduated from GMIT pooled their resources to launch GroundWorks Studios in the Lyrr Buildings, Mervue Business Part, Galway.

As soon as the group gained access to the space, preparations began for the launch exhibition.