EXHIBITION AT GRENNAN MILL CRAFT SCHOOL, THOMASTOWN, CO.KILKENNY

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                                               PAINTING BY DEBRA BOWDEN

During August I attended Kilkenny Arts Festival .  Having experienced some of the artistic delights in Kilkenny I left the city for a brief sojourn and travelled south 17kms, through Bennetsbridge, to the historic village of Thomastown.  Thomastown hosts an independent arts festival every year in conjunction with Kilkenny Arts Festival.  Many artists and crafts people live in Thomastown so the variety and quality of work is a very high standard.  I was invited to the opening of a group exhibition at Grennan Mill Craft School  by a friend Debra Bowden. Grennan Mill Craft School was founded in 1981 by County Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee.   Students learn metal craft, printmaking, ceramics, batik and textile weaving.   Debra is one of the many talented past pupils of the Craft School.  Having graduated from Grennan Mill, Debra spent a further four years studying in Scotland and subsequently won a scholarship in 2006 to travel to Japan to study the Japanese art of woodblock printing.   She is currently teaching print making at the Craft School. 

 

                                          PAINTINGS BY DEBRA BOWDEN

 The Craft School is located in the converted grain lofts of the Island Mill, an old flour mill dating back to the 18^th Century, on the banks of the River Nore.  Six artists showcased their work and Debra exhibited her drawings and paintings in a large gallery area on the top floor of the mill.  Debra, originally from England, has lived in Thomastown for the past twenty years and her exhibition dealt with her preoccupation with various aspects of home.  Her work was inspired by prehistoric drawings, symbols and hand prints found on cave walls.  Four sections of the gallery told her story of Home, Family Home, My Home and Leaving Home.

             RELAXING IN THE COURTYARD OF GRENNAN MILL CRAFT SCHOOL

 A large crowd gathered for the exhibition. Luckily it was a glorious summers day. When visitors had viewed the various exhibitions they relaxed in the courtyard of the mill to discuss the beautiful work and enjoy a refreshing glass of sangria.  Climbing six flights of narrow wooden stairs on a warm day to view Debra's exhibition was thirsty work!

 

SCULPTURES BY NIALL HARKIN

Another talented artist exhibiting on the ground floor of Grennan Mill was sculptor Niall Harkin.  His work is inspired by animal and nature forms.  Niall works with sheet bronze and his method is to cut, shape, weld, make forms and finally patinate the metal. 

BASKETRY BY HEIKE KAHLE

Heike Kahle of Baurnafea Willow Works created a selection of traditional and contemporary willow baskets and garden structures.  Terry Dunne and Frances Crowe exhibited woven tapestry and Caroline Schofield showcased textiles and drawings.  The exhibition showcased some of the amazing work being produced by artists and crafts people involved with Grennan Mill Craft School, past and present.

                  DEBRA BOWDEN SIGNS COPIES OF CATALOGUES OF HER PAINTINGS