Emerge & Make Exhibition

Last week saw craft and design enthusiasts from all over Ireland gather at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny for the opening of Emerge & Make, an exhibition of work by the graduates of the Design & Craft Council of Ireland’s Jewellery and Goldsmithing Skills & Design Course. The Emerge & Make exhibition was officially opened by Jacinta O’Brien, Managing Editor of Jewel Magazine, at the National Craft Gallery, a regional design hub for the Irish Design 2015 programme of events. The exhibition showcases the high level of craftsmanship and skills acquired by the graduates over the past two years and features exquisite pieces of jewellery in gold, palladium, silver and precious gemstones. On the night, Brian McGee, Acting CEO of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland announced Paul Coyne as the recipient of the Student of the Course Award, Jacob Golaszewski’s work was selected as the DCCoI Purchase and Ríona Finn received the Course Manager’s Award.

The 12 graduates have honed their expertise and craft with some of Ireland and Europe’s most highly skilled silversmiths and goldsmiths through master classes and work placements. Unique to the Kilkenny programme is the fact that participants work solely in precious metals and have been encouraged to push boundaries in technique and innovative designs. Emerge & Make runs at the National Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny until Saturday, 1st August 2015. Opening times: Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5.30pm, Sunday: 11am – 5.30pm, closed Mondays except Bank Holidays. Admission is free. Running for two weeks only, the Emerge & Make selling exhibition offers visitors to the gallery an opportunity to admire the work of Ireland’s emerging jewellery designers. The beautiful creations on display include a collection of 12 salt and pepper shakers; small scale silversmithing inspired by art, automobiles and architecture of the 1930s and 1940s. For further details visit nationalcraftgallery.ie.