Film Makers exhibition: Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid

Film Makers

Sharon Adams | Sheena Devitt | Alison Fitzgerald | Nicola Gates | Ronan Lowry | Peter Surginor

Featuring films by Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive and TACA

Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid

27 July - 19 August 2017

In celebration of Northern Ireland’s rich craft landscape past and present, six makers were invited to produce new work in response to heritage footage from the Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive. Presented by Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid, and supported by R-Space Gallery and Northern Ireland Screen, Film Makers features stone carving, basket weaving, ceramics, furniture making, tools and handwoven textiles.

Film Makers emphasizes the value of craft makers in the province and records a sample of their activities for future generations to enjoy through archive film. Visitors to The Braid during this year’s August Craft Month will find newly commissioned works by Sharon Adams, Sheena Devitt, Alison Fitzgerald, Nicola Gates, Ronan Lowery and Peter Surginor. These are accompanied by craft artefacts and six new films by TACA of the contemporary makers at work alongside the archive footage that inspired them. 

Film Makers

Free Admission

www.thebraid.com

Opening Reception and Launch of August Craft Month 2017
6:30pm - 8:30pm Thursday 27 July

RSVP to Noreen Mullen 02825635029 or noreen.mullan@midantrim.gov.uk no later than 20 July

About:

This exhibition is part of the BFI’s Britain on Film celebration of archive film, in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive and R-Space Gallery. It features material courtesy of The IFI Irish Film Archive, Museum Services, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, National Museums NI, PRONI and UTV Archive.

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive is a free public access resource for teachers, students, historians and anyone who has an interest in moving images. Spanning from 1897 to the present day, the films in the Digital Film Archive cover aspects of life in Northern Ireland and includes everything from dramas to documentaries, newsreels and features, animation to amateur footage. Film Makers showcases Unlocking Film Heritage material courtesy of the UTV Archive, IFI Irish Film Archive, National Museums NI and PRONI. Enjoy watching archive and find out more at digitalfilmarchive.net

August Craft Month is an annual celebration of contemporary craft and the applied arts. It is coordinated by Craft Northern Ireland, the sector leading body for the promotion and development of the design-led contemporary craft industry in Northern Ireland with support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. With more than 200 events happening across the region it’s the biggest celebration yet. More information at www.augustcraftmonth.com or www.craftni.org

The Makers:

Sharon Adams explores the theme of work and tools. Using wood, metal and textiles, she makes functionless tools which invite the viewer to imagine what they might be for and comments on the value of skilled making.

Sheena Devitt carves into stone and slate to create site specific sculptural artworks. The designs are inspired by and respond to the site’s topography and history, its orientation and present inhabitants.

Alison Fitzgerald has been weaving willow since moving to Ireland over 25 years ago. Her baskets are admired internationally for their subtle blends of natural bark colours, strong curves and tactile qualities.

Nicola Gates is the founder of Olla Nua, a small weaving studio creating handwoven textiles that add warmth, comfort and tactility to the modern home and accessories that can be carried or worn.

Ronan Lowry runs Design Onion a young energetic furniture design and manufacture studio. Working mainly to commission for both private and corporate clients, they create unique and innovative pieces of bespoke furniture fusing contemporary design with traditional craftsmanship and high quality materials.

Peter Surginor is an artist making beautifully devised works in porcelain that reflect his political consciousness. His interventions contribute to dialogue surrounding wider social injustices, memorial and a divided sense of national identity. 

Film Makers is supported by: