Being part of Bridge Street Studios has never been just about a space to work in. It’s much more like a very cool family of artists, craftspeople, designers and makers. One of the coolest things about that family is the group exhibition that finds us really acting like siblings.
With Response, our recent group exhibition, came lots of new challenges with plenty of opportunity for storming and performing with the added zest that arty types might bring.
Each Artist was to make a first piece influenced by the theme “Internal” . These pieces were then brought to a meeting and gifted along a chain to each other. The new piece we received was now our point of reference to make five responses to our perception of “External”
The brief intertwined our influences so tightly. Along with our daily chit chat, we arranged to meet every couple of weeks to discuss our progress, it was like college crits with out the critics. We became very aware of each others work. You could come to your desk to find a note or gift from another artist that they felt might help you out.
For my initial works influenced by internal I chose to make a series of bottle forms, bottles because they hold a lot and hide a lot. No one really knows what is going on inside, it could be something or nothing.
The outside of my bottles show all the busy aspects of my life – they are my all singing, all dancing, by day or by night, lots to do pots. I really enjoyed making these pieces and knew I couldn’t just make one. My daily work of studio production means making multiplies of all my work so it felt right for these to reflect this too.
So when we handed the pieces on I got Gemma’s beautiful locket. Gemma said that internal and external were the same nothing there. Her piece was purposely matt and textured to insure no shine or reflection. Gemma’s response to the proposal was so zen like and felt like the polar opposite to my own thoughts.
Innermost, by Gemma Callén Sterling silver and clear quartz Oh I was challenged! All the colour and lustres that I enjoyed using so much, felt oh so wrong.
So I went of to explore……
I know that all my spinning round ideas are just like my attempt at being zen like. I try and try, but no mater what there is always an idea, a job, a problem to be solved, buzzing in the background.
My final response was to make my own set of singing bowls. Tibetan Buddhists use singing bowls to mark the start or end of mediation. My bowls show the contrast between the dark external surface and rainbow coloured and patterned internal surface. The gold orb shows the 24-7 globalised world which fills my life.
Eastern Salutations, by Sarah McKennaCeramic with 9 ct Gold Lustre 
Through the journey of making for response I discovered that really I don’t need to fight for zen habits,I will embrace my colourful effervescent life.
“Response” has toured to The Market Place in Armagh and The Craft Granary in Cahir, Co Tipperary. It will open in The Basement Gallery, The Town Hall, Dundalk on Monday 18th November it will run until Friday 29th November.
We will have a reception on Wednesday 20th at 7.30, with an opening speech by Eileen Corcoran and Barbara Smith will read the poem that she wrote for the exhibition.
If you are in Dundalk please come along to the show, I’d love for you to see the work in real life.
If you have a habit to keep you Zen like or a motto to help the mojo, pass it on below in the comments
