Donegal Designer Makers return HOME to Ardara
Martin Gallagher with coffee table and Cabinet
Our exhibition Home which launched so successfully in Spacecraft gallery in Belfast in July returned home to Ardara for a local opening on Thursday evening 2nd August. And in this dripping summer the sun even made an unexpected appearance to put the seal a wonderful occasion. The summer exhibition opened upstairs in the Heritage Centre, Ardara, Co Donegal and is open 10.30am-6.30pm, every day until August 25th, while across the road we have a pop up gallery with the work of 24 makers from throughout the county.
Noel Cronin With his lighting design
This time the show was even bigger as some of us added new pieces and a number of new members joined the exhibition. Exhibitors include artist and sculptors Marina Hamilton, Emmet Rock and Naomi Fleury, artist Fiona Higgins and Sharon McDaid, jewellers Hannah McGuinness, Joanne Gamble, Rosie Moloney, Sarah Gavigan, furniture designers Noel Cronin, PJ Patton and Martin Gallagher, ceramicists Emer O’Sullivan and Brian McGee, textile artists Karen O’Kane, Michi, Margaret Gillespie and Sharon McGinley.
Naomi Fleury resplendant in a beautiful Japanese Kimono and her intricate Origami piece
HOME reflects the work of the Artist/Designer/Makers from Donegal and their connection with their home place Donegal. Hannah McGuinness, Creative Director, Donegal Designer Makers, who came up with the theme explained it thus- “Our main connection to each other is our home place Donegal. Whether born here or settled here we have the great fortune of being owned by it and thus feeling part of what is Donegal.
Hannah McGuinness at the launch with Isobel Sangha of Donegal Natural Soap
Our county has great dramatic beauty, is subject to erratic weather patterns, has a language of its own, is steeped in culture and tradition. All these aspects of our life in Donegal are carried through our lifetime, influencing and inspiring our work and us as people”
Launch of Online Shop
The network also launched an online shop to their existing website allowing customers to purchase all year round.
www.donegaldesignermakers.com/shop
