Eco Art Workshops
WHAT ARE ECO ARTS WORKSHOPS
The eco arts workshops are an experiential learning opportunity to explore a range of materials and approaches to eco arts practices. They range from working with natural and foraged materials in process of printing dying and making inks to working with Cyanotypes and natural toners, anthotypes and phytograms. Along with hands on experiences there will be opportunities to explore connecting with nature in the outdoors through creative and deep/ heart listening processes.
The workshops will also explore mindsets, values and approaches to creativity in the context of the interconnectedness and interdependence of the planet we share.
WHO ARE THEY FOR?
The workshops are for anyone interested in exploring their connection to the natural world. You may be an artist wanting to learn about sustainable approaches to use in and arts practice. You may be a teacher/ educator or a facilitator working in social or community setting wanting to apply eco arts approaches to your work.
WORKSHOP DATES AND DETAILS
November 8th - Deep listening Nature walk. Anthotypes and Cyanotypes
November 9th - Inks and Dyes with Cyanotype toning.
Nov 8th - Nov 9th - 10.00am - 4.00pm
With Jessica Marbe, Dara Fitzpatrick and Ashleigh Ellis
Cost €200 / €160 concession
Description:
This is a two day workshop.
The first morning will explore the use of extracts from photo sensitive plants to make emulsions to expose images on paper or textile. The participants will prepare surfaces to bring home for long term exposures. Participants will also learn the process of cyanotype printing learning about how to expose with objects and with negatives. We will look at a variety of methods to create negatives.
The first afternoon will involve a nature walk giving the opportunity to connect with nature through looking and listening and also through creative responses.
On day two Ashleigh will guide participants tone cyanotypes using natural toners.
Participants will learn about using a range of plants to create inks and learn about altering colours with ph.
The workshop will explore the personal, local and global significance of approaching nature and creativity with the perspective of human life being in a web of interconnectedness with the planet.
This workshop is offered in partnership with MTU CCAD’s Creativity and Change programme
Please register and pay for the workshop at this link
https://events.mtu.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=1105
Dec 14th - Eco Printing and dyes
10.00am – 4.00pm
With Ashleigh Ellis
Cost €100/ €80 concession
Description: This dye and eco-printing workshop is a hands-on, creative experience that introduces participants to the art of natural dyeing and printing using leaves, flowers, and other plant materials to create prints on fabric or paper. The focus is on using sustainable, eco-friendly methods to achieve unique creative outcomes.
The workshop will explore the personal, local and global significance of approaching nature and creativity with the perspective of human life being in a web of interconnectedness with the planet.
This workshop is offered in partnership with MTU CCAD’s Creativity and Change programme
Please register and pay for the workshop at this link
https://events.mtu.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=1083
Jan 25th - Phytograms
10.00am - 3.00pm
With Colette Lewis
Cost €100 / €80 concession
Description:
This phytogram workshop focuses on the intersection of photography, botany, and experimental art, where participants create images using plant materials directly on photographic film or paper. This technique allows for the natural chemistry of plants to interact with light-sensitive surfaces, creating organic, abstract images without the use of a camera.
Please register and pay for the workshop at this link
https://events.mtu.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=1100
Feb 28th / Feb 29th - Eco Arts and Heart based Listening. Field trip to Garryduff Woods
Feb 28th: 11.30am - 4.00 pm
Feb 29th: 10.00am - 4.00 pm
With Grainne Young
Cost €200 / €160 concession
Description:
This two day workshop will explore the how mindful heart based listening practices support empathy and deep awareness cultivating inner stillness and attunement to the subtle energies of nature, self, and others. The workshop will include case studies, a field trip to woods and experiential creative and mindful work.
Please register and pay for the workshop at this link
https://events.mtu.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=1101
April 4th / 5th - Eco Arts Open Studio
10.00am - 4.00pm
With Ashleigh Ellis
Cost €200 / €160 concession
Description:
This workshop is specifically for people who have engaged in other workshops in the programme or in previous workshops in some of the practical methodologies shared. It is an opportunity to come into a supported studio space to bring some of your experiences and experiments further with the support of peers and the facilitator. Some materials will be provided eg photo paper and equipment for making inks and dyes will be provided as well as some papers and textiles but participants are also encouraged to bring some of their own materials to experiment with.
Please register and pay for the workshop at this link
https://events.mtu.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=1102
FACILITATOR PROFILES
Dara Fitzpatrick
Dara Fitzpatrick lectures in Analytical Chemistry at University College Cork. He undertook research for his Ph.D. at Trinity College Dublin. He has an active research group bringing in competitive research funding through Enterprise Ireland, EU Horizon, Science Foundation Ireland and The Irish Research Council. He is also a director of a spin-out company currently working on an EU project to use solar energy to split water to give free Hydrogen as an energy source. He has extensive experience of project management.
He is also a member and recorder for Birdwatch Ireland and for the Irish Wetland Bird Survey each winter. He has secured successful grant aid in the past from Local Agenda 21 and the Heritage Council. He teaches and mentors on the Masters in Environmental Analysis in UCC. He is Chairperson of the County Nature Trust which has been involved with many projects including a management plan various habitats and nest box installation for Barn Owls and Swifts. He is an avid birdwatcher and moth recorder and leads several nature walks annually.
Colette Lewis
Colette Lewis is a visual artist and educator with over 20 years of experience in social art practice. Her research delves into embodied and situated knowledge within social and ecological contexts, examining environmental and material concerns, particularly around sustainable materials and commoning practices. Colette's work, often site-specific, emerges through collaboration and critical engagement across art, science, and philosophy, producing performative actions, film, photography, sound, installations, publications, and public events.
Current projects include Material Gestures, with researcher and artist Collette Nolan, an artistic inquiry into ecological questions through experimental filmmaking and photosensitive processes and PLoT (People’s Land Trust), with artists Marilyn Lennon and Elinor Rivers, a public engagement initiative exploring urban land sustainability and ethical considerations.. Colette also established the Waste Fibre Flows Laboratory as part of a KinShip Project Artist Placement, examining our relationship with waste materials.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she has received numerous awards and residencies. Colette holds an MA in Visual Art Practices, a BA in Fine Art Sculpture, and a Diploma in Field Ecology. She is an Assistant Lecturer at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design, where she contributes to Fine Art and Arts in Health & Education programs.
Ashleigh Ellis
Ashleigh Ellis is passionate about working with natural materials and reclaiming our place in ecology through life affirming practices. She has facilitated art and textile workshops since 2010, and teaches processes using natural materials, including natural dyes and dye plants, eco printing and botanical printing, ink making, cyan-o-type, drawing, and nature journaling to name a few. Gardening and respectful foraging are two important aspects of her practice. For the last two years she has run #TheNaturalDyeProjectCork growing dye plants with communities, focusing on plants which provide habit and food for pollinators. The historical know-how and relationship with these plants are of immense interest to her and inform her workshops and sharing of skills.
Gráinne Young
Gráinne Young, BA Fine Art, PG Dip ATh., MA ATh., Adv.Dip. CPSup., IACAT
Gráinne has a fine art background and graduated in Art Therapy from the University of Hertfordshire in 1991. She is a cross professional supervisor and Art Therapy lecturer since 2002 at MTU. Her research interests lie in image making as a tool for insight, growth and development in Art Therapy Supervision. She developed the ‘Heart Based Listening’ training and continues to research, lecture and facilitate workshops internationally on this subject. She coined the term Nature Conscious Practice (2002) and continues to research ecological practices within Art Therapy.
Jessica Carson Marbe
Jessica is an artist and educator whose practice is in the field of arts participation but spans a range of practices. She co-developed and continues to teach on MTU CCAD's Creativity and Change programme www.creativityandchange.com
For a number of years she has also been coordinating the MTU CCAD's Arts and Group Facilitation programme.
She spent 18 years leading a dynamic arts program in the north side of Cork working on local, national and international projects with diverse groups and in diverse contexts. In her independent work as an artist and arts consultant she has worked with local and national organisations, festivals and on artist residency programmes in both Germany and Colombia.
Work with neuro-diverse artists has been a strong interest throughout her work and she has coordinated a number of international projects including Expanding Realities (www.expandingrealities.eu
She is interested in the potential of place-based learning and also the connection between body and movement and creative learning processes. In 2020 during lock down she initiated a Mobile University initiative to bring learning to the outdoors with a mobile classroom on an electric cargo bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Q0VmwfA3k
Jessica is excited about the power of the arts to connect and to transform.
More info and links
General enquiries can be made to jessica.carson@mtu.ie