As August Craft Month 2014 gets underway tomorrow, Review looks at what's in store for fans of the hand-made arts throughout the north
CERAMIC pot by Grayson Perry, a workshop on botanical embroidery and an exhibition of props and costumes from Northern Ireland's burgeoning film industry are just a couple of highlights from August Craft Month.
Featuring everything from Neolithic pottery workshops in Fermanagh to computer generated designs and making in Belfast, this year's celebration of contemporary craft is the largest ever Craft Month. More than 100 events will be taking place throughout the north, aimed at showcasing craft's influence on all aspects of life, including politics, the environment, business, cultural tourism and education.
The 2014 launch will take place at the Naughton Gallery at Queen's University tonight with the opening of two new shows, Hidden Agenda: Socially Conscious Craft, a Crafts Council Collection exhibition and Material Subversion.
Hidden Agenda features the work of 12 top UK makers and artists, including Turner Prize-winner Grayson Perry, who uses craft as a platform for social comment and provocation.
The exhibition explores issues such as environmental responsibility, war, class and work with specially commissioned work by ceramicist Doug Jones. Jewellery maker Angela O'Kelly, whose piece Hundreds and Thousands features in the exhibition, will be talking about her work at QUB's Canada Room tomorrow at 1pm.
Craft NI chief executive Alan Kane comments: "Craft occupies a central role in our lives, providing jobs, income, tourist opportunities, a sense of place and community and, of course, beauty and pleasure. "For this year's August Craft Month we are focusing on the makers themselves, the importance of craft and the relationships that have been forged with other important sectors including business, tourism and education. "We would urge people to find out what's on offer in their local area, visit a gallery, learn what motivates the makers and try a new skill." Also part of Craft Month, the Derry collective CultureCraft will present
Reclaim The Streets, a three-week event which will see renowned US craft designer Boris Bally take up residency in North West Regional College.
Best known for the use of recycled street signage to create unique furniture, Bally will invite makers from around the country to join his team in the production of street