MAY/JUNE 1986

Crafts Council of Ireland Thomas Prior House Merrion Road Dublin 4 Telephone 680764 / 603070

Carmen and Edmund Chesneaureceiving their National DesignManagement Award commendationfrom the President of Ireland, DrPatrick Hillery.

CHESNEAUS HONOUREDSpeaking before a large gathering atthe major award ceremony in KilkennyCastle after being honoured by thePresident, Dr Hillery, as one of thethree finalists in the DesignManagement Award 1986, CarmenChesneau said that to talk of DesignManagement in their businesssounded strange and they very nearlydecided not to spend the time draftingan entry for this award.

"So we were very surprised to beshortlisted and would be very happy ifour success would giveencouragement or help to small firmslike ours.

"Of course 'Design' is all important tous because we make products thatsell first on design followed by goodquality. This was a matter of choice;we wanted to make products for thehigh-quality market, which gave us achance to make an honest productwith a classical design using the best

raw materials available. This for us isthe business of design and is verymuch a part of everyday work. Nodoubt we are exceptional because ourordinary lives and our businesscannot be really separated. Our officeand workshops are part of our home— there is no geographic or timedivision. There are disadvantages inthis because there is a danger that wework too hard and too long, but weare also lucky because we do nothave to be two different people. Howwe live is how we work and we canfind a happy balance because livingand working are the same things tous. Maybe there is a learning hereabout management: that in the end itis only common sense not somemysterious and strange subject.

"So the message we would like togive is to fix the objective firmly. Everybusiness must be profitable to survive— so that must be the first objective.The second point in our case is toenjoy what we do. We did not want tomake compromises in that and soeverything, except being profitable,must bend to that objective. To us'Good Management' is simply doingwhat is necessary to keep thatobjective always in sight. Ireland hasgiven us this opportunity and we arevery grateful for all the help we havegot in the last six years from the IDA,AnCO, CTT and Kilkenny Design. Wecan honestly say we would not bewhere we are to-day without them.

"We are very grateful to the jury forshortlisting us, because they areshowing that anyone can besuccessful if he has his objectiveclearly fixed and knows thateverything must bend to thatobjective."

CPSI EXHIBITIONLess large sculptural and, perhaps,self indulgent pieces in this year'sshow and the better for it. One hascome to expect no earth shatteringinnovation and in a country in whichthe majority of potters are set to earna living from their craft rather thanmanaging on some sinecure post, thisis probably more good than bad.

Good work can always be expectedfrom such professionals as GeoffreyHealy, Jane Forrester, StonewareJackson, Paul Martin, Michael Roche,Niall Harper and Peter Wolstenholmeand this year again they don'tdisappoint. Interesting to see theeffect of the Burren III workshop on allthe potters who participated and whata shift into a new vision it meant formany of them. Even more interestingwill be to see how the trend willdevelop and mature.

A raku bowl by Eoin Mel let won themajor award for decorative pottery anda porcelain tea set by Jane Forresterwas awarded the correspondingfunctional pottery prize with a runnerup, Paul Martin, showing a simplelarge bowl in a traditional dairy shape— very much a choice for integrity.

There seemed too fine a line madebetween decorative and functional forthe jury as many of the works in the'decorative' category were fine bowlsand dishes which could have a totallyfunctional purpose and which couldpossibly have altered the balance ofjudgement. It is something which infuture years should be given morethought, especially since the CraftsCouncil has topped up the prizemoney and the jurying should seekeven higher standards.

Specially noted were Geoffrey Healy'sthree platters, Judi Lardner's unglazedbowls, Kieran Behan's Egyptian horse,Niall Harper's winged forms, MichaelRoche's even larger plant pots, KevinWright's earthenware casserole, SarahRyan's natural forms and GeraldineMangan's coil pots.

In general a satisfying show with littleenough nonsense pieces and almostnone of the dreary glazes once socommon — or maybe the reviewer,like a lot of buyers, just doesn't seethem anymore!

Facing page, above: prize-winningraku bowl by Eoin Mel let.

Below: unglazed bowl with inlay byJudi Lardner.

This page, above: Burren wall plaquein porcelain by Lisa Young.

Below: prize-winning decorated teaset by Jane Forrester.

Crafts Potters Society exhibition.Photos EFS.

Above: Geraldine Mangan's coil potswith oxides, seen at the CPSIexhibition and the NCAD Show.

Left: Kieran Behan's Egyptian pastehorse at the CPSI exhibition.

Right: Aisling Roche's sculpturalceramic at the NCAD end of yearShow.

NCAD SHOWThe student exhibition at the NationalCollege of Art and Design will runfrom Wednesday 18 June to Friday 27June (Saturdays and Sundaysexcluded) from 10am to 6pm daily anda late opening on Thursdays 19 and 26June until 8pm.

I

CANADIAN C R A F T S COUNCIL CONFERENCE '86 Perceptions, possibilities and practicalities — all these will be challenged in August 86 in Vancouver at the national conference for the professionally minded craftsperson.

This three day conference with two additional optional days of events is only the second time this opportunity has been presented within Canada. It is sponsored by the Canadian Crafts Council.

Speakers will include Robert Davidson, James Thornsbury, Marjorie Halpin, Marie Andree Morisset, Len Laycock (Ikea), Stephen Hogbin, Carol Sedestrom and Tom Hudson. And there are many more vital people partaking as well such as Jack Lenor Larsen and Dale Chihuly.

Other reasons for going to Vancouver? Expo '86, Vancouver's 100th Birthday, the city, the mountains.

The conference dates are 14/18/19 August 1986. $585.00 (Canadian) covers the conference fee for the first three days, the Salmon Barbeque and the additional International Days. It also covers lodging from the 14 to and including the night of the 17 — single rooms with common lounge and kitchenette. Inexpensive good meals are available. It is mandatory to lodge on site in accordance with the recommendations made by previous conference delegates. Anyone who wishes to take in just the Salmon Barbeque, and the two International Days will pay $130.00 as a fee plus $30 per night for accommodation. In fact rooms can retained at $30 per night until Thursday, August 21 — more chance to explore the city or Expo '86.

Registration package from "Conference '86," PO Box 4412, Vancouver, BC V6B 3Z8 Canada.

Irish Spinners Ltd. Kiitimagh, Co. Mayo Pure new wool bainin and coloured hand knitting yarns. Telephone (094) 81156

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR From 23 September to 1 October 1986 at the Taller D'Art Sant Jordi, Regente Mendieta 41-43, 08028 Barcelona. Tel: 240-3545.

Heat Formations: An Outline Heat Formations represents a new technical and visual possibility involving clay at high temperature, which Hanibal Salvaro has been developing since 1976 after long and extensive research in the field of the breakdown of clay at the point where it becomes liquid or slushy.

By means of this technique results similar to volcanic rock have been obtained, which after firing can be treated as stone in order to achieve the final effect.

Heat Formations were first presented in Faenza in 1979.

Number of places limited to 25. Close of Registration: 25 June 1986.

For further information please contact the Taller D'Art Sant Jordi.

C R A F T S EXHIBITION An exhibition, European Crafts Today, will take place in the exhibition area of the Matsuya Store in Tokyo commencing on 5 September, moving to Osaka to the Hanshiu Store in October.

The space will be shared with the Japan Craft and Design Association which celebrates its 30th anniversary with an exhibition.

Among the 7/800 items on exhibition will be work from seven Irish craftsmen chosen by the Japanese jury from a short list prepared with the World Crafts European section. Jewellers, Rudolf Heltzel and Inga Reed, and woodturner Liam O'Neill, join potters Vivienne Foley, Marie Foley, Stoneware Jackson and embroidress Alison Erridge in the small Irish representation whose works are already on their way to Japan.

ASIAN A S S E M B L Y Crafts Council of India is hosting the WCC 10th Asian Assembly in New Delhi this October.

To coincide with this they have planned a four-day Workshop on Crafts and Crafts Museums. The Crafts Council of Ireland has an information folder which gives all the details.

DESIGN MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE Many less developed countries ask VSO to send them people with craft experience to help local groups increase their income from traditional products. Small-scale marketing, product development, basic book­keeping and the improvement of manual skills are all areas in which valuable inputs can be made. The whole community benefits from the work especially the women and children. So VSO is looking for potters, weavers and designers preferably with basic marketing or business knowledge. Sensitivity, tact and gentleness are needed because, although an expert in craft, one will be a novice in understanding a way of life and a set of values different from, but just as valid as, one's own. Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds but all share VSO's concern to combat exploitation whether economic, racial, political or sexual and to enlarge people's independence by helping them to develop their skills.

Applicants should be aged between 23 and 65 and without dependants. They will share the life of the community in a less developed country in return for accommodation and a small allowance based on local rates of pay. VSO welcomes applications from minority groups. Further information can be obtained from: Enquiries Unit, VSO, 9 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PW Tel: 01-234 5191.

O'ROURKES Glenasmole Crafts Restaurant

Dublin (Mountains) 24 For Reservations:

Phone Esme at 513620

LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTINGThere is now available acomprehensive range of miniature lowvoltage (12v) tungsten halogen lamps,which overcome the heat problemsassociated with conventional displaylamps and use considerably lesselectricity.

The range includes 20, 35, 50 and 75Wratings in narrow, medium and widebeam widths enabling narrow beamsfor accent lighting through to broaderbeams for general display purposes.

The combination of a compacthalogen lamp set into a dichroiccoated mirror (diameter is only 50mmfor the 50W rating) gives great opticalbenefits. The reflector produces aprecise, uniform beam resulting inintense, efficient light of high colourrendering a good appearance. Thedichroic reflector coating allows mostof the heat to pass backwards whilstreflecting a cool beam of lightforward.

Due to their extreme optical efficiencya 50W lamp compares in peak beamintensity with a standard PAR 38150W lamp. This means saving over60% of lighting energy costs evenafter allowing for power consumed bythe transformer. With the strong

filament construction the problems ofvibration and physical shock, whichaffect many mains voltage filamentlamps are not experienced.

A neat, stylish low volt track system,together with a range of specificallydesigned luminaires is now availablefrom: Harkness Electrical, 150Harold's Cross, Dublin 6. Tel. 977937.

Below: CTT Seminar on the Market forGifts and Crafts held recently inThomas Prior House.

C R E CERAMICS QUILT EXHIBITION FOR S A L E Anne Murray and Frank Hunter, both from Dublin, one a retailer, one an architect, have opened a new shop in London at 4 Holland Street, Kensington, W.8. It specialises in ceramic crafts and is presently handling such artist craftsmen as Pat Connor, Vivienne Foley, Louis Mulcahy, Sarah Ryan. Kilworth Craft Workshop graduates Maxime Mearns, Brenda O'Brien and Anna Kee are featured as also Brian Keogh, Fidelma Massey and Yvonne Smith.

HGC EXHIBITION The Handweavers Guild of Cork will have an exhibition of members' work in the Cork Arts Society Gallery, Lavitts Quay, Cork from 1 to 13 September 1986.

Some 150 Patchwork Quilts will be on exhibition in the Bank of Ireland Exhibition Halls, Baggot Street, Dublin from 8 to 25 July next. These will be the entries for Country Markets' National Patchwork Competition, brainchild of Mrs. Joan Norman. The response has been outstanding, but with Joan Norman's enthusiasm and chivying who could resist, and quilts by groups from Country Markets, ICA Guilds and Women's Institute Guilds in the North have all been entered. Bearing in mind that these will all be the result of women's group activity and not individuals' works in the exhibition should be of considerable interest to a wide public.

Lover spinning wheel and accessories Natural dye stuffs and wool fleeces

Supplied by Mary O'Rourke

Glenasmole Dublin 24

Manual Drum Carder Contact

Curlew Designs Boyle

Co Roscommon Tel: 079-62579

Workshop Space Available. City Centre. Rent Reasonable.

Phone: 01-745976

At this instant somewhere overseas there may be an individual who seeks to import the very product you manufacture. What is his name? Where is he from? Is he a reliable trading partner? More importantly how do you contact him?

Obviously, travel overseas is one sure way of securing new con­tracts. However, many Irish Exporters are now too busy keeping their operation ticking over on the home front to engage themselves in such frequent globe-trotting ventures to locate potential markets.

Fortunately, Bank of Ireland International Banking Division have a unique means of further assisting you with your export promo­tion. The Trade Services section of this division is operated by highly skilled and efficient professionals who are in a position to locate new markets for those contemplating entering the export field. They can also expand existing markets for those already actively involved in trading overseas.

Bank of Ireland International Banking Division has many agents in many countries. Taking their branch networks into account, this gives us vast outlets through which the Trade Services section can seek out untapped markets to promote an Irish product. It is through the medium of these correspondent banks that we endeavour to locate your new prospective trading partners.

This service is devised to boost Irish Exports and is provided at absolutely no cost to you. If interested, please complete and return the coupon below. We shall then be in a position to initiate a TRADE ENQUIRY on your behalf.

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Your Company Name: Address:

Tel./Telex No Export Manager: Full Details of Product: Please indicate desired outlet: Agent [ Retailer [ ] Wholesaler [

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Bank (fIreland INTERNATIONAL BANKING DIVISION C O C C OVERSEAS TRADE r K t t PROMOTION SERVICE

When trading internationally it is of paramount importance to assess the creditworthiness of the foreign parties. When we locate a prospective trading partner for one of our clients, we always ensure that an accompanying favourable status report on the foreign concern is provided.

Confidential status reports on companies or individuals at home and abroad are provided by us regardless of whether you have availed of our TRADE ENQUIRY service already mentioned. Any request for a status report of this nature must be directed through your bankers.

Trade Services also assist by providing advice, guidance and information on many regulations which influence international bus­iness. For example, what are the exchange control regulations that effect the speed and ease of payments? What are the import regula­tions, customs tariffs, correct shipping documentation etc. required?

An exporter knows that a superior product, excellent marketing skills and advanced technology are not the only factors which ensure him of a high success rate in a competitive world. Even iden­tification of the right trading partner is not sufficient. A basic know­ledge of the economic intricacies and business climate prevailing in each national market to which he intends exporting to is also a vital factor in assuring his overall success.

The Trade Services team take pride in being able to help expor­ters identify possible new outlets for their products, checking out the creditworthiness of potential foreign clients and supplying gen­eral, financial and economic information on the countries where the market is located.

RETIREMENTJill Breivik, the Council'sAdministrative Officer has retired fromthe Council to take up a position asan Executive Director of FairlinkLimited, a new company which hasbeen contracted by the Council toorganise and manage the Great CraftsFair and the National Crafts TradeFair. She has been with the Councilsince 1978 and closely involved in thedevelopment of the craft fairs sincethen.

At the last Management Committeemeeting which she attended recently,she was presented by the Committeewith a handmade leather brief casemade by craftsmen Carmen andEdmund Chesneau.

RECRUITMENTMargaret McAnallen has beenappointed Administrative Officer ofthe Crafts Council to succeed JillBreivik and took up her position on 19May.

RESIGNATIONMr Derry O'Brien, who is on careerbreak from Coras Trachtala to develophis own business, has resigned fromthe Management Committee and theMinister for Industry and Commercehas appointed Mr Tony Courtney ofCTT in his place. Mr Courtney was aCTT representative on the Committeesome years ago.

Derry O'Brien's new venture is SourceIreland which is a service companysourcing Irish products for the exportmarket for US and other overseasstores and store groups.

APPOINTMENTThe Minister for Industry andCommerce has appointed MaryDowling of Kilkenny DesignWorkshops to the ManagementCommittee of the Crafts Council tosucceed Nick Marchant who has leftKDW to go back into private practiceas a designer in England.

Mary Dowling's appointment will be avaluable addition to the ManagementCommittee which will find her greatexperience in retailing an asset.

Above: Professor Justin Keatingopening the Kilworth 4 Exhibition inthe CTT New Business Centre inIreland House, London, in April.

Below: Lynne Glasscoe, Supervisor ofKilworth Craft Workshops, pictured atthe Kilworth 4 Exhibition.