Creative Textiles Level 6 at CSN - "a cut above"

The 2009-2010 year saw amazing work produced in the areas of fashion, jewellery, interior design and surface manipulation in Creative Textiles.

Congratulations are due to student, Laura Vaughan, who completed an internship with designer Liz Nilson, in Dublin.

We welcome new students to the course this autumn, including CSN students from ACCESS with Design and Art, Craft and Design. Returning to CSN, to complete the City and Guilds Higher Diploma in Professional Arts, is Textiles student, Carmel Creaner.

We would like to wish past students the best of luck in their further studies in Crawford College of Art and Design and Sherkin Island/DIT Degree in Art.

Above photographs include (L) finished work by Hilda de Lacey (2009-2010) and (R) Luisa Cardoso, (2009-2010).

For further information on the course, contact: j.hickson@csn.ie (021) 4961020

NEWS Update from ACCESS with Design 2010-2011

This year we are launching a new and 'approved' Access with Design course. Learners will now complete our programme over five mornings per week in one full year. Students will further experience a range of exciting design-based techniques and projects. We will offer more time in core subjects, such as drawing and colour work, in a supported learning environment. Please refer to our CSN website main page for details: Access with Design; Department of Art and Design.

We are pleased to see that applications are high this year. Classes will begin on September 20th 2010.

Watch for us at Cork Art Trail's "road rolling" project (in November 2010) when printmaking students will collaborate with Cork Printmakers on a "large scale lino project".

We will also be 'out and about' in the city, documenting our 'impressions' of urban life, collecting material and imagery for our design projects.

A big congratulations to all this year's outgoing design students. Results were fantastic. Best of luck to those who are continuing in artistic studies at Crawford College of Art and Design and returning to CSN in Level 6 Textiles and Ceramics.



For further information, contact: Jenny Monks. Course Director, j.monks@csn.ie

Creative Ceramics 2009/2010, a review

We are looking back at an exciting year in ceramic practice at CSN, where students have explored their potential in the area of sculpture, vessel and ceramic surfaces. Two students, Judy Fisher and Christopher O’Reagan have focussed in particular on experimental firing techniques, producing burnished and smoke fired pieces and building a paper kiln. Further extra curriculum activities included two Raku firings, a field trip to Kilkenny and Thomastown and a participation at the Ceramic Workshop and Visiting Lecturer Day at the Crawford Art College. While some students continue their own professional practice, others will study at third level Colleges in Ireland and abroad. We wish everyone the Very Best for the future and a continuous enjoyment of being creative. To view more images click here.

Examiner BACK PAGE is Beautiful Proof of a quality exhibition

Every year CSN's art and design students, including Furniture Design and the Higher Diploma in Professional Arts, raise the bar on the quality of work produced at Further Education level.

There is a broadening of vocabulary for materials. New sensitivities and responses are cultivated and put on view in a showcase of work in May each year that goes from strength-to-strength.

Best practice is exemplified by the entries from the visiting the public in our guest book and the extraordinary media response to Beautiful Proof.

Consistency, quality and the integrity of students working towards a future goal of individual practice or 3rd level education are here to see with 8 courses selected down from a year's work with the assistance of students of CSN Arts Administration who style the show, work on the PR and marketing, design the route of the exhibit for health and safety.

The first outing, for most of our art and design students, in the public world of visual and applied arts, is handled by students studying professional practices in Customer Service; Arts Event Management; Writing for the Arts Sector; Exhibition Techniques; Arts and the Community and Digital Photography.

For further information, as well as "the 10 characteristics of a good exhibition", contact:

Carol White, exhibitionscsnprojmanag@hotmail.com (021) 4961020

Art, Craft and Design Students have sights on 3rd Level Colleges and Sketchbook Summers

54 happy, talentetd students from Art, Craft and Design at CSN were among the 150 students on view at Beautiful Proof, Summer Exhibition 28th May through 3rd June 2010.

The highlight of the exhibition, in this course area, were the 10 sketchbooks on display. The sketchbook process captures the imagination of the public as the genesis of work - from concept, to improvement in drawing over time, to the production of paintings, collages, printmaking and sculpture have their roots in the thumbnail drawings and developmental musings from the sketchbook.

Finished work representing Art, Craft and Design, (the first course in the Art and Design department, dating back to 1988) - maintains a high standard year after year, making this one of the prime national portfolio-preparation one-year courses. Word of mouth keeps this course growing from strength-to-strength.

Students said, at the opening, that this was the best year of their education - and being able, for mature students, to come back and retrain in a field they had pined for their entire careers makes the exhibition of the work so rewarding and spectacular for the environment of creativity created at CSN by staff and students together.

A visiting art educator from America was amazed at the standard of drawing and remarked at how well the exhibition represents the student work in a "gallery-like setting". "The themed element of the show is absolutely beautiful - it represents the entire department's work well, but I am particularly fascinated by the standard of drawing, the sketchbooks and good old-fashioned collage in the Art, Craft and Design course".

One parent, visiting from Aberdeen, Scotland said, "there's a great buzz about the place". The "standard of work is amazing for this level", said another visitor from Bantry.

For further information, contact Art, Craft and Design course director, Lucy Phelan: l.phelan@csn.ie or (021) 4961020. On-line applications are still being taken for late-August interviews. See the CSN website more much more information.

Beautiful Proof - Art and Design 2010 Summer Show

Beautiful Proof, CSN's 22nd annual summer exhibition opened to a crowd of 0ver 600 guests.

John X. Miller, Director Cork Civic Trust and Cork Vision Centre was the official opening speaker. His words were both meaningful and upbeat, praising the quality of the student work and the input from both students of Arts Administration in the planning and organising of the event, as well as the individual course directors who helped make all of this possible.

The exhibit runs from Friday 28th May through Thursday, 3rd June from 10 AM - 4 PM.

John Miller was presented with a student digital photograph, by Eimear Kelleher, matted and framed by students of Arts Administration. Photo above. John Miller with presentation, Project Manager Tadhg Crowley and Eimear Kelleher with Paul Delaney, Graphic Designer, all students of Arts Administration 2009-10.

For further information contact: Carol White at exhibitionscsnprojmanag@hotmail.com, or check out the college web site.

A big thank you to a selection of the Graphic Design students who kindly let us put up their work on our web gallery for 2010.

VIEW STUDENT'S WORK

Beautiful Proof - Summer Exhibition of Art and Design

Beautiful Proof, an exhibition of art and design by students of CSN will open to the public on Thursday evening, May 27th, from 7- 9PM. Work from 8 courses will grace the ground and 1st floors of the college, open to the public from Friday 28th May (10-4 PM) and Monday 31st May through Thursday 3rd May, (10 - 4 PM). Groups are welcome and students on art courses at secondary level are welcome to browse and participate in guided tours by students of Arts Administration.

Opening the show, officially, on May 27th, is John X. Miller, Director Cork Civic Trust and Cork Vision Centre@ St. Peter's. Music on the night will be provided, in the garden, by students of CSN's Music, Management and Sound - featuring music of the 90's and naughties. Surprises are always part of this electrifying evening, the culmination of a year's hard work.

Courses on view will be: Art, Craft and Design; Creative Textiles; Creative Ceramics; Multimedia 1 and 2; Furniture Design 1 and 2; Access with Design 1 and 2; Higher Diploma in Professional Arts (Level 7 - City and Guilds) and Arts Administration.

The exhibition design, the hang, the opening and the week's open programming have been prepared by students of Arts Administration Level 6 - a professional course for individuals who want to experience, hands on, the field of arts management.

For further information, contact: Carol White, Course Director, Arts Administration CSN; exhibitionscsnprojmanag@hotmail.com, (021) 4961020

See our Arts Administration Facebook page: CSN Arts Administration - become a friend of CSN and see the best of arts and the community in Cork.

*pictured are Coláiste Choím, Ballincollig, TY art students, Neassa Cooke and Robert McGillacuddy, on Work Experience with Arts Administration in April 2010.

3D Interior project

2nd year students on the BTEC Higher National Diploma in Multimedia at CSN have been doing some nice work on the 3D interior project. Each student designs, models and lights a 3D interior in 3DS Max 2010. The animated render here is by Zoltan Kovary.

Art, Craft & Design Students Visit Backwater 20-10

Students of CSN's Art, Craft & Design course took some precious time between interviews and classes to visit BACKWATER 20-10 at The Crawford Gallery, Emmett Place.

With prepared worksheets in hand, the students walked the 3 floors of the exhibition looking at innovative exhibition design, the variety of work on view, film/video installations and interactive features as well as the concept of "curatorship" in exhibitions.

Students were invigorated by a trip off-site and returned from the day with renewed energy to go into the last months of their portfolio preparation course. Many students have received their points back from CCAD, are travelling to LSAD for interview, DIT, Glasgow School of Art, Dun Laoghire College of Art, Galway School of Art and others have applied for Level 6 courses internally at CSN.


For information on the Art, Craft and Design course, contact Course Director Lucy Phelan at l.phelan@csn.ie or (021) 4961020.

The annual CSN exhibition of art and design will open to the public Thursday 27th May at 7 PM, "Beautiful Proof". Watch this space for updates.

Imprints of Shandon - LLL Festival - Access with Design

Inspiration comes from a series of visits to a specific place. Research follows - allowing students to process information, create sketchbook entries and here bring to the Access with Design course 1st year students -inspired images in both print and stitch of the glorious views of Shandon in Cork.

Architecture, cobbled streets, the Shandon bells, the famous "Goldie Fish", plus the divergent people and the colour of life give impetus to the creative process.

Nancy Falvey, of Ballyphehane, will officially open this in-house display of student work, to the Lifelong Learning Festival audience, on Tuesday morning, 23rd March, 10 AM on the ground floor foyer at CSN.

For further information on the Access with Design course, contact: Jenny Monks at www.csn.ie Ph.(021) 4961020. Early interviews will take place 25th March, applications by Internet on the college website, as above.

Primetime, (No.s 8&9 Washington Street, Cork), is currently running a great competition for a chance to have your very own graphic printed on a skateboard.
Using a skate deck as your canvas, they asked for people to create an image or design celebrating the diversity and independence of skating and graffiti culture and its interaction with the surrounding environment.

Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa BTEC Multimedia student Oliver Keane's design has made it to the final six selected. His design, incorporating Cork’s Shandon steeple, has been printed on a skate deck and is currently on display in the shop. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. Call into the shop to see the designs and cast your vote.

Backstory Opening, Cork Vision Centre @ St. Peter's, Celebrates 9th Art and Design Annual February Show from CSN

2 Feb 2010

City Arts Officer, Liz Meaney, official opening speaker at Backstory, joined the crowd of 300+ people to celebrate the quality work produced by students of CSN in the areas of Fine Art and Design.

70 works, consisting of Art, Craft and Design; Creative Textiles; Creative Ceramics; Access with Design; Multimedia and Furniture Design grace the open celestial space of Cork Vision Centre @ St. Peter's, including a puppet theatre, on the mezzanine, with character created by Access with Design 1 students, from a renown Toulouse Lautrec painting, Evening at the Moulin Rouge.

Students of Arts Administration organised the opening as well as the installation and "hang" of the show and will be giving tours and workshops during the month of February on site..

Attending the exhibit opening were individuals ranging from secondary school students and their art teachers, parents and friends of CSN students, former students, students interested in CSN courses, arts sector management, work experience employers of arts admin students and friends of the Cork Vision Centre.

The atmosphere at the opening, subtley paced by ROUND MIDNIGHT, CSN Music, Management and Sound students, was electric. By all reports, "a good time was had by all". Pictures and articles about the exhibit appeared in Cork Independent; BACK PAGE Cork Examiner; and the Evening ECHO.

The exhibition BACKSTORY runs Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10-5 PM through Wednesday Feb. 24th, Cork Vision Centre @ St. Peter's, N. Main Street, Cork.

All courses will be interviewing students in March and May. Applications can be found on line: http://www.csn.ie/.

Pictured: L - R Liz Meaney, Cork City Arts Officer; John X. Miller, Director Cork Civic Trust and Cork Vision Centre; Carol White, Arts Administration Course Director; Rachel Abraham, HOD Art and Design and CEO of City of Cork VEC, Ted Owens. PHOTO: Tony O'Connell

Multimedia Graduate in VFX

CSN Multimedia Graduate Iva Trajkovic has recently landed a job with one of the world's top visual effects and post-production companies Framestore CFC. After completing her BTEC Higher National Diploma at CSN two years ago, Iva went on to do a one year BA top up course in Bournemouth. She was then accepted onto the prestigious MA in Digital Effects in Bournemouth University and from there was taken on by Framestore as a junior compositor. Iva was introduced to compositing and 3D as part of her BTEC HND using software like 3DS Max & Combustion. Since starting the job last October Iva has already chalked up credits on the forthcoming Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

IvaVfx Showreel from ivavfx on Vimeo.

Professional Arts in public spaces

The Professional Arts students are again working with clients from the public sector on one of their creative projects. Clients this year have been confimed as: Cork City Enterprise Board, Crawford Gallery, Cork School of Music, Cork City Council and Cork City Library. Students are designing and making pieces according to a given brief that will then be on display in a public area. Two students Eli Caamano and Sandy Hyland had their work displayed at this years 'Showcase' in Dublin at the end of January.

Creative Ceramics 2010

Creative Ceramics students have now finalised the clay and glaze development module and have developed recipies for a variety of coloured and matt glazes. Students are preparing for interview into second year Ceramics at third level Colleges and have just started into the sculpture project. Anyone interested in the Course is welcome to visit CSN on Friday the 5th of February. Students will be working in the Ceramics room during the day and information on the Course is available from the Art Department desk and on the CSN website.

Art, Craft and Design Students apply for 3rd Level Colleges and Level 6 Courses

Preparing for the future is part of the Art, Craft and Design course. Students have been applying for 3rd level colleges through CAO and UCAS as well as for FE courses at Level 6 and BTEC Higher National Diploma in Multimedia within CSN.

Portfolio preparation is taking on the rhythm of the spring term where students are involved in tutorials and fulfilling schedules "tailored" to their needs for Art; Design; Fashion Design; Ceramics and Multimedia, as well as other courses in the arts sector.

Open Day (Friday 5th February) will feature studio visits as well as an information desk with members of staff on hand to discuss all courses - with dvds and written matieral on hand and on display .

Backstory - Public Exhibition of Art and Design from CSN Wednesday 3nd Feb. 09 - Wednesday 24th 09

Weekend Activities will be featured during BACKSTORY: Cork Vision Centre @ St. Peter's, N. Main Street. Art and Design from CSN - presented by Arts Administration students - exhibition design and month-long programming

• 6th Feb. Saturday Puppetry from Paper (11-12 noon) + Live Music (12:30-1:30 PM)
• 13th Saturday Painting with Paper: Collage (11 AM - 12 noon) + Live Music (12:30 - 1:30 PM)
• 21st Saturday The Colour of Music (11 AM - 12 non) + Live Music (12:30 - 1:30 PM)
  

Tours of the exhibition will be arranged, by appointment, on Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 - 5 PM. Schools and the general public welcome.

60 objects, including bespoke furniture; textile design; ceramics; fine art and design; multi media; access with design as well as customer service and exhibition interpretation by arts administration will showcase the Department of Art and Design.

For further information: Carol White, please contact: (021) 4961020
exhibitionscsnprojmanag@hotmail.com

NB: CSN will run an Open Day of the entire college on Friday 5th February. 10 AM- 4 PM.