Cork Textiles Network
AGM 04-03-2023
Hybrid Meeting: In person and Zoom at Bishopstown Library
Present in person: Mary Ffrench, Stella Costello, Isabelle O Neill, Heather Underwood, Dara Healy, Fiodhna Ní Bhaoill, Gerda Merz, Eileen O Brien, Dianne Payne
Present on Zoom: Due to technical difficulties it was not possible to transmit using Zoom.
Chairperson’s Report:
On behalf of the Committee Fiodhna welcomed members present at Bishopstown Library. Apologies are extended to our members who were unable to join us via Zoom due to technical difficulties. An apology and resume to all members will follow on Monday 6th March.
The AGM date had been moved to 4th March as the new Bank Holiday library weekend closing made it impossible to go ahead with our planned AGM meeting on Feb. 4th . Unfortunately, this change of date clashed with the timing of the MAKE Symposium at CSM impacting on attendance for many of our members.
Sincere thanks were offered to all members of the committee who give of their time to fulfil the various duties in hand ensuring all necessary matters- financial, insurance, exhibition promotion etc were attended to. Our committee members meet primarily through zoom as they live across a number of counties- Wexford, Tipperary as well as Cork City and Cork County. New members are always welcome to share the load.
Recent Thread Talks ably organised by Carmel Creaner included Mary Petulo, Northumberland, Myfanwy Frost Jones, West Cork and Deirdre Nelson from Glasgow. Carmel has prepared the following programme of talks for 2023.
March 30th : Jessica Hemmings, a Textile writer, journalist, professor of craft at HDK-Valand University, Gothenburg, Sweden
April: Kate Ward, multidisciplinary artist, working in jewellery, textiles, ceramics, video and installation artist and educator from Truro, Canada
May: Kathy Kirwan, Ecodyeing, Cork
June: Sian Martin, Member of 62 Group, lecturer, Textile artist from Somerset using cloth, paper and stitch and non-textile materials
July and August- no thread talks
September: Jennifer Collier, paper artist creating sculptures from vintage recycled materials in conjunction with stitch, Stafford
October : Debbie Lyddon, Chairperson of 62 Group, textile artist and musician inspired by sound and touch, cloth and traditional utilitarian hand-stitching embraced.
November: To be confirmed.
Work continues on future proofing our CTN website and building a new site using up to date software which can be better monitored for cyber security reasons and hopefully some added functionality for our members.
Dara Healy continues her great work with the CTN Newsletter and social media presence. All members are invited to let Dara know by the end of the month of any upcoming events, new exhibition venues etc to be added to the Newsletter. We agreed that Dara will insert an item in each upcoming Newsletter with email contact address to remind members to share any ideas or news immediately on receipt of the monthly newsletter while news was current.
We celebrated FANFARE, our first exhibition of recent years in December 2022. Dee Sweeney lead the committee organising the advertising and sales support the Cork School of Music. Congratulations to Michell Moloney King whose piece “ An Ash of Bodies” was chosen by the CSM Pause committee to add to their permanent collection. 27 pieces were exhibited with 4 sales. The committee will follow up with the offer by CSM to give members an opportunity to visit the college and view their previous collection of works by CTN members.
Our RE-EMERGING exhibition was held in February. We were delighted to have the opportunity to show 19 pieces by our members at Bishopstown Library. Unfortunately, due to an emergency Health and Safety event, the Library had to close for some days for electrical repairs which impacted on our access for viewing for the full duration of the exhibition. However, it did not take from the excitement of seeing our second exhibition realised and that sense that the world was opening up again for us.
Treasurer’s Report: Our treasurer prepared a detailed resume of the calendar’ fiscal year for 2022 for the AGM as well as a break down of FANFARE exhibition income/expenditure.
Income reflects membership, some book sales and exhibition payments.-
€2 244.55.
Expenditure reflects workshops, DCCI membership, bank and Government stamp duty, insurance, Student Crawford prize, Digital department supports and exhibition hanging costs- €3295.04
The Report was accepted by the meeting.
Welcome to new members and ideas for possible CTN 2023 liaison: We were delighted to see some new faces at the AGM this March–New ideas and new voices will keep our Network growing. At the meeting we recorded items which the committee might add to upcoming Agenda:
Proposed visit to Cork School of Music to view their permanent collection of textile art by CTN, ideas for the best use of remaining stock of 20 Book, Newsletter prompt for monthly additions by members, possible liaison with PLC colleges to promote third-level student involvement with CTN, possibility of getting additional support for hanging at exhibitions, August Craft Month Cork, preparing for December 2023 CANTATA exhibition at Cork School of Music- dates etc, Spring exhibition in Bishopstown Library – a title for exhibition possibly reflecting Brigid – Brat Bhríde- textile possibilities, looking for additional venues for wet work and workshops.
AGM Autumn: October 7th , 2023 is the agreed date for hybrid meeting of CTN with zoom at Bishopstown Library.
The meeting concluded with Members at Bishopstown Library taking part in an informal exchange of news, catching up and sharing their current work.
