Applying scientific rigour to hand crafts

Beautiful crafts, suitable for Christmas gifts, will be displayed at the annual Glucksman Craft Fair at UCC from Nov 8-10.

Leading Irish craft artists will present textiles, ceramics, wood-turning, furniture, prints, basketry and jewellery. One of those artists is Waterford-based ceramicist, Laura McNamara.

McNamara, who graduated with a first-class honours degree from the Limerick School of Art and Design in 2010, works with porcelain clay. She hand-builds sculptural forms fired at 1260c. “There are a lot of people doing ceramics in Ireland,” says McNamara. “I do sculptural pieces, which are hung on walls. I also make ceramic jewellery. It’s a bit different from most ceramic work. I don’t do pottery or functional ware. At the craft fair, I’ll be displaying some new, framed pieces. People can envisage ceramics hanging on their walls when they see the work framed.”