CRAIC IN THE GRANITE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
Join us at 6pm on Friday 27 June for the launch of a new exhibition by Eslam Abd El Salam at Kunstverein Aughrim, and a newly commissioned artwork by Marc Reilly at the Monument. Festivities spill onto the street for an evening of live music and village-wide entertainment. Festival activities continue on Saturday 28 June, with creative workshops, live music and entertainment all day at the Pavilion on the Rednagh Road. Everyone is welcome!
New Commissions:
Kunstverein Aughrim is thrilled to present Can You See With Your Heart? – a new exhibition of photography and sound installation by artist-in-resience Eslam Abd El Salam. Belfast-based Eslam has been in residence in Aughrim for the month of June, during which time he shot and developed work for this exhibition, reflecting on the importance of following the guiding light of one’s own emotional and spiritual intuition.
Marc Reilly, whose artistic practice responds to the natural world through mark-making and site-specific painting processes, has developed a new painting commission, alongside a series of creative workshops in collaboration with local practitioners and craftspeople. From willow work to foraging, and from panning for gold to sculpting with clay, these workshops conjure stories and explore ideas around how we engage with the earth’s natural resources through our hands and our imagination.
Festival Workshops:
Join ceramic artist Christien Van Bussel to make and decorate your own plate and bowl of clay. You can add shapes to make your pottery even more beautiful and you paint your pieces too. You will learn how the pottery is glazed and fired in a pottery oven to make it food safe so you can really eat from your tableware. The pieces will be ready for collection within 3 weeks after the workshop, Christien will get in touch with you to organise a suitable pick up point in the village.
Christien van Bussel is inspired by her surroundings and makes and sells a unique line of pottery and woodturning. She specializes in designing a distinctive line of table ware.Over the years Christien has gained wide experience in teaching both adults and children, not only in pottery making, but also in wood turning. Her courses are held in her own spacious studio in Aughrim, where the quiet and rural atmosphere encourages creativity.
https://www.turningthistle.com/
A Wild Food foraging walk with an experienced forager is an excellent way to get to know plants in each season, to touch and smell, taste and see plants growing in their own habitat. The summer months are idyllic for foraging, long sunny days are great for harvesting edible flowers, wild fruit, and greens. Join Geraldine for an hour-long foraging walk, where she will introduce participants to some commonly found wild leaves, flowers, and summer fruits.
Geraldine Kavanagh grew up in Wicklow and has spent many years wandering the hills and valleys, foraging for edible plants. A self-taught forager, Geraldine is the Head Forager for Glendalough Distillery, and runs seasonal foraging walks in Aughrim, Avondale, and further afield.
https://wicklowwildfoods.com/
The aim of this Willow Animal Making Workshop is to create a series of small woven animals from willow. We will be using traditional weaving techniques, to create miniature deer, fox, hare, fish and birds. The creatures that are made by the group will be used to inspire other artistic expressions as part of the wider activities around Craic in the Granite Music & Arts Festival 2025.
This workshop is led by Aoife Patterson. Aoife's work is inspired by the Irish landscape and traditional basketry. It explores many aspects of material culture, social history and cultural heritage that have shaped and influenced our attitudes towards traditional crafts, our built heritage, objects of cultural importance and our environment. Her work invites the viewer to look and feel the materials, to be present and to ask questions about basket making, its origins and immense wealth of information and knowledge it embodies. It aims to evoke a personal response to each object through their texture, visual appeal and form.
https://wicklowwillow.ie/
Learn to pan for gold, to read rivers for where gold could be hiding, use a sluice, and learn about the history of the Wicklow gold rush. All equipment will be provided, from pans and shovels, to custom hand dredges that suck gravel from the riverbed. You just need to bring wellies and a change of clothes. Please note participants will be standing in shallow river water.
Karl Payne has been panning for gold for over 10 years and regularly passes along his knowledge during class days.
https://goldpanningireland.com
The Colour Club is an inclusive space for people of all ages and abilities to engage with the arts. These workshops offer a chance for children (and their parents) to get a taste of The Colour Club and its offerings, in a relaxed and local enviroment (Foresters Hall, next to Londis).
Children will be taught how create their very own pet slime! They will also have plenty of time to play with their new slime friend, and even have the chance to decorate small houses for their slime friend to live in when they go home with them after the workshop. All materials will be provided by The Colour Club, however, please be aware that adult accompanyment is required.
Located in Arklow, in addition to workshops such as the above, The Colour Club offer creative & wellness classes, events, camps and birthday parties!
https://thecolourclub.ie/
The visual arts strand of Craic in the Granite Music & Arts Festival 2025 is produced by Kunstverein Aughrim, supported by Wicklow County Council Arts Office festival awards funded through the Arts Council.
