Artist scoops major prize

Her work entitled Disperse #1 was chosen for the award by the Director of Craft NI Joe Kelly and Kim Mawhinney, the Ulster Museum's head of art.

Gail, who curated the exhibition which features the work of ten Artist/Makers, went back to basics to examine 'Slow', the theme of this year's August Craft Month.

"I have enjoyed putting the exhibition together, mixing in traditional ideas with experimental and conceptual work," said Gail.

"The common thread is 'Endurance and Journey', how clay is a very enduring material which has always been used to create objects from the functional to sculptural. I also want to introduce video interviews, talking to the makers about their personal relationship with clay."

The ceramic exhibition explores ideas of clay as a material, its endurance and the legacy of time - historically, culturally and physically.

It also seeks to examine how each Artist/Maker works in a different way with this material, and faces up to the challenge it presents.

The featured artists includes a diverse group of well known makers as well as young graduates with exciting, fresh ideas. These include Adam Frew, who is based at the Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart.

August Craft Month is a busy time for Gail, who is also responsible for the Tower Museum installation project in Derry, where she is inviting members of the public to contribute, donate and engage with the sculptural works that will be developed during a week installation in association with the Londonderry-based Mission Hall quilters.

Using traditional patchwork techniques, they will create long lengths of fabric and stitched detailing to be combined with ceramic beads and objects to create a collaborative artwork.

"It will be an evolving piece," said Gail. "The ceramics will be prepared in advance for a wall installation. It is about engagement between contemporary methods and traditional techniques."

Gail herself has embraced the principles of the Slow Movement, cutting back on her more commercial work to pursue the type of projects that interest and excite her most.

"I found I was working too broadly doing retail, commission work and sculptural pieces. I was too spread out and not able to give enough time to each aspect of my work. Slow for me is about appreciating the time you take to do things with quality and emotional attachment to your materials and your surroundings, to regain these ideals back into my work," she said.

She is determined to pursue her own vision and is hoping to continue with commission-based work, exhibitions and curating, as well as teaching modern approaches to traditional techniques to students, now as a new member of the Crafts Council of Ireland's Education Panel.

"You have to find your own path. I never really enjoyed repetitive work. I enjoy working with people, setting up projects and engaging with a wide range of different styles and backgrounds. The level of work in Northern Ireland is very high, but it is about filtering the message across to the public to be more open to new experiences and creative approaches," added Gail.

SLOW BURN is taking place at Space CRAFT in the Fountain Centre, College Street, Belfast from August 6 - 28, Monday - Saturday, 10.30am - 5.30pm. Admission is free.

The Ceramic Patchwork Installation can be seen at the Tower Museum in Londonderry from August 16-21. Admission is also free.