Beach finds and wanderings
Yesterday I went down to Murlough Beach, near the Mourne mountains. Beautiful beach, but very clean so not so much for me to collect. I loved the dune grass, wild flowers and heather, plus there was a lot of razor shells(good to know for future visits). Below are a few pictures of both the collected objects and materials and a document of the area itself. I regularly take images of the places I visit- more can be found on my tumblr
Today’s Beach finds 29/8/13
Today’s beachfinds – string, plastic, shell and little toothbrush.
Work In Progress- Ask The Dust
Last weekend I got up to Derry to do conduct a few material experiments in the space of the Dean’s Basement for the upcoming mak9 exhibition Draw On the Walls. For this exhibition I wanted to work with the materials on site, making ephemeral objects evoking the domestic life of the space through various forms of utensils and vessels. I made some rough formers collected form bits and bobs in my studio, basically thinking along the lines of making sandcastles and using different dusts specific to each room. I collected ash from the fireplace and decaying plaster dust in the “living room”, in the back room I collected more decayed plaster dust- each room had a slightly different quality due to the paints and residues involved which was interesting. The old coal cellar opened into the kitchen/boiler room so used that in there, the dark,glittering dust contrasting with the white windowsills. I decided to site the work along the windowsills as these where the first places I was drawn to when I first viewed the building, attracted by the quality of the light. I also like the idea of incidental objects absentmindedly set there, out of the way and then forgotten.
Below are a few images of the experiments, I am planning to develop these further by making more sophisticated formers and shapes as well as seeing how long these fragile shapes will endure. I see them as temporary drawings in materials, non permanent and repeatable. It will be interesting to see if I can use the materials as is or if I have to add anything to allow for more substance, although I am guessing the damp nature of the basement may allow them to remain for longer.
Featured Article on The mighty Metalsmith
Many thanks to Kath Libbert for sending me this article about the exhibition “The mighty Metalsmith” from Crafts Art International which featured my work.
Finds 14/8/13
Today’s finds by the shoreline.
Working at Craftfest
Set up discussing my work at Castle Ward.
Craftfest at Castle Ward
This weekend I will be one of the artists in residence as part of CraftFest at Castle Ward showing some of drawings, objects and collections as well as talking about my artistic practice. I also have a set of pieces with the exhibition In The House, which is an exhibition of craft and applied art objects in the house, funnily enough! It’s a great event and the third time I’ve done it, the setting is wonderful and there is a lot going on- demonstrations, a craft fair, workshops as well as the exhibition and artists in residence. Definitely worth a visit. 
Recollections -New Work In Culture Craft Exhibition
Culture Craft, curated by Seliena Coyle opened in the London Street Gallery as part of August Craft Month and the City of Culture in Londonderry on Tuesday and features a new set of my work. Entitled “Recollections” it references my personal culture of collecting, the physical material culture that surrounds us as well as the landscape which shapes our shared experiences. The title also plays with the theme of collecting, of memories and associations triggered by materials, objects and shapes as well as the re-working of discarded things. With this work I was very much concerned with the materiality of the objects and things collected, the presence of silver in the pieces become much more subtle which I think allows the richness of the various materials to shine through. The set includes an empty shotgun case, rusted barbed wire, found plastic, driftwood, horse chestnut stem, found tweezers, found bone, broken jigsaw blade, car wiper blade reinforcement and electrical wire.
Recollections
Collecting for Draw on The Walls
A day collecting materials on site for the Mak9 project Draw On The Walls. I’m doing a series of pieces entitled Ask The Dust using remnant materials to form objects. I collected materials specific to the space – the Deans Residence in Derry. It includes coal dust from the Coal Cellar, ash from the fire place and plaster dust from the walls.
Upcoming project-Steinbeisser Experimental Gastronomy
Recently I have been contacted by Steinbeisser to take part in their Experimental Gastronomy programme in Amsterdam. They invite artists to interfere with or alter the dining experience for a a vegan dining experience held over three nights. I have been invited to produce utensils for an event next February- it will be a bit different producing functional and reusable pieces- quite looking forward to the challenge! I have quite a few ideas of ways of bringing in different materials and forms into the experience – I think I will have to trial them out on some friends as well!
Further details of their upcoming activities can be found here -the next edition will feature work by Intuïtiefabriek – a design/maker collective I am a bit of a fan of- worth a look as well- Intuïtiefabriek.
I have two more exhibitions coming up in the next few months- Draw On the Walls with Mak9 in Derry and Setting the Scene at the Craft Study Centre in Farnham. More in future posts..
Stuart Cairns 