I have some very exciting news, but I can’t reveal it just yet. There will be an official announcement very soon - but that’s all I can say for now! So, in the meantime, here’s what I’ve been up to in June.
Handmade book featuring my cyanotype experiments during my Creative Spark artist residency.
Photospark Workshop
All the PhotoSpark Gang enjoying, tea, biscuits and photoshop!
This month, I facilitated another Photoshop workshop at Creative Spark. It was so enjoyable that I’m planning to develop a programme for the Autumn, which will include a workshop for intermediate users. My approach to Photoshop is practical: learn what you need and don’t worry about all the extras. Most users just want to build enough confidence to use a few key tools to get the job done, preferably with a cuppa and a biscuit beside them. Subscribers to my mailing list will be the first to hear about the dates and will get early access to the booking links. So get subscribing!
Lá na Moná - Curated Theatrical Experience
Last Saturday, as part of the Art in the Landscape - Festival of Change, Rita Duffy and Nuala Hayes led a group of curious adventurers and myself on a mysterious journey through Lough Boora Discovery Park. Stories from the bog were brought to life by members of Tullamore Amateur Dramatics Society, with Sean Ryan from Leap Castle playing his tin whistle, storyteller Michael Creagh, and druid/storyteller Elmer Burke along with a poet and musicians. Nuala played Catwoman, a character inspired by Marina Carr’s play, By the Bog of Cats, along with the ill-fated bride.
Shrines created at Rita Duffy’s workshop were harmoniously integrated into the landscape. These shrines were made to coincide with Rita’s Esker Arts Centre exhibition, Midland: Mother Myth Memory. To learn more about Rita’s work, visit her website at ritaduffystudio.com. To keep up to date with future events at Esker Arts Centre check out their website.
Bringing Brigid’s Cloak to Life
Bee Smith and Morag McDonald are combining textiles and words in this exciting project supported by Cavan Arts and Creative Ireland through the Creative Cavan office. The cloak will be embellished with beautiful needlework on the outside and blessings on the lining written during a series of writing workshops. I attended Bee’s Zoom workshop to get a better understanding of the project as I’ve been commissioned to photograph the cloak on its completion.
It turned out to be an amazing coincidence that I met another Julie, a Brigid scholar, on the Lá na Mona walk the week before. I mentioned the Cavan based project and she was so thrilled about it she travelled from Kildare with a friend to the in-person workshop in Fermanagh this week.
Stay tuned for more updates and the big announcement coming soon!