Irish Arts Blog

Sheep Cukffinks - Lynn Durie

My brief was ...Sheep Farmer!! I was told some valuable advice from Cormac Cuffe in Monkstown who taught me that "you should always go to your client with 3 designs, let them pick and then don't change anything without running it by them first" good advice coz what you think would be great someone might have a totally different take on it.
Like with these cuffilnks... I had 3 designs, all with sheep jumping over gates which I thought would be wonderful. You know kinda like 'counting sheep'.  Turns out she was appalled that this would only remind him of the times when his sheep escape and 'he definitely wouldn't like to be reminded of that!!!' You just can never tell. So back to the drawing board I went and this was my take on just a sheep but from a slightly more interesting angle in that he's either 'looking at you' or 'you are looking at his arse!' Depends on what way your mind works. I like to think its his 'rear end' as I am fascinated with photos and pictures of peoples and animals backs. You always wonder what they are thinking...hmmmm...

Bill and Fran 1958-2008

we arise today together
through the strength of heaven
light of sun
radiance of moon
splendour of fire
speed of lightning
swiftness of wind
depth of sea
stability of earth
firmness of rock

cliodhna
This is an embroidery I did for my parents to give to my Uncle and Aunt for their 50th wedding anniversary. There are 50 hearts in total and I used raw silk for the red and the creme. The flowers on the backround are a scarf I died a brown and then embroidered over the flowers and cut away the rest of the scarf so the flowers were left. Anyone ever do carrickmaccross lace? same principal.

I hand embroidered the words, they were going to be too small to machine embroider. The words I got from the book Anam Cara by John O'Donohue. But I think originally it is maybe part of St Micheals breastplate. Its a christian poem but I changed the first line from 'I will arise today' to 'We will arise today together'. I felt it was christian enough for them and and this section meant something for me too. Commissions I do for people have to mean something for me too, otherwise I can't do them.

The  photo below is a close up of the embroidery.

Merrion Road

By Patrick Naughton

This series of photographs about Dublin City is starting to make sense to me. I am photographing areas of Dublin that are familiar but look unfamiliar through a photographic prism. Sometimes Dublin can be beautiful and inviting but other times it can seem a world away from days past. Maybe memories are always rose tinted? But as our City evolves and grows its soul changes too. 

Irish Stone Spirits

Remember when you were little and you found the perfect stone? You would run its roundness up and down, through your fingers, and carry it in your pocket like a talisman. Your worry stone. Your lucky stone.

Sometimes you would put it in your mouth to tumble its smoothness over your tongue. Of course your mother was appalled! How dangerous! Hidden in your hand it could make you feel invincible.

Back then a stone was a little piece of forever.

African Dance

This work captures the movement and colour of an African Dance. One of my most enjoyable times in African was joining in with local music and dancing!  While working on this piece, I could hear the beat of the drums, the clear and sweet sound of the music and the warm laughter of the audience.  Looking at it now, I see the bright costumes moving in the heat, mixing the red vibrant soil with the story of the music: the physical and metaphysical as one. The dancer’s hands are in the air massaging the music with their fingers. Their bodies send the rhythm to me and suddenly I can feel myself begin to move to the music.

This is being sold in aid of The Hague Red Cross and will be on exhibit in The Hague for the month of June.

Puzzle Bracelet - Lynn Durie

This is a bracelet I made for myself! I made a pair of puzzle cufflinks a while back and had this idea in my head for ages. I finally got it out of my head and on to silver. Each puzzle piece is 1/2 brushed matt and 1/2 high polish finish. I really like the effect. That's it!!

the judge

cliodhna
this picture is about the judge that lives in us. I find him very strong sometimes. The guilt that tells us we have done a bad thing, the voice that says we shouldn't have fun, should be more successful, more happy, more creative, more talented, more whatever. It is also the voice which judges other people too. We judge outside of ourselves so we don't have to face our own perceived shortcomings.
We have to not listen to that voice. There is healing going on here too though, my higher self sees the judge giving out to the small child and is sending healing energy.
Down with the judge! We are all perfect just the way we are...
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