CTI Clonmel design students present Simon Harris with sculpture, ceramics and jewellery.
Left to right: Gemma Kirby, Minister Simon Harris, Muireann Ryan and Martin Punculis
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, recently visited the site at The Barracks Clonmel to give the green light to Tipperary Education and Training Board to proceed to the next phase of proposal development for a College of The Future.
The project proposes to develop the vacated military barracks site in Clonmel and create a college, which will host both further and higher education students. This is a collaboration project with TUS and Tipperary County Council.
During his visit Minister Harris was presented with three commissioned pieces from learners from the Silversmithing and Jewellery Design course and the Fine Art course that are run by Tipperary ETB. The coordinator of the Sliversmithing and jewellery design course is designer and maker Susan McCarthy and the Fine Art and Ceramics course is lead by Catherine Keher a maker and artist. Both have paved the way for so many learners in the creative field. You can meet all of these makers at the Christmas market that takes place in The Mall, Clonmel on the 17th of December. Information about each of the makers can be seen below.
Gemma Kirby
Gemma Kirby’s ceramic work entitled ‘Interplays’ are based on expanding foam
- A material that requires oxygen and moisture in order for it to work and is characterised as strong, flexible, permanent and corrosion resistant.
Characteristics that embody the ideals of
CTI and characteristics that run through the history of the Kickham Barracks, now the home of the CTI Art & Design Courses. Gemma Kirby was raised in Tipperary in Ireland. She always had a keen interest in Art. Eventually the opportunity arose to study art and design on a full-time basis, completing Art Portfolio Level 5 and Fine Art Level 6 in CTI Senior College of Further Education in Clonmel 2015 – 2017. She continued her studies in Limerick School of Art and Design where she completed the Honours BA in Ceramic Design in 2020 and afterwards returned to the CTI to study Level 6 Award in Art Metalwork.
Glazing has always been something that Kirby has been fascinated by and these cubes of clay, metal and coloured glass are fired together. A gathering of elements fused into something new, unique and visionary, making her sculpture the ideal sculpture to present to Minister Simon Harris when he announced the green light has been given to Tipperary Education and Training Board to proceed to the next phase of proposal development for a College of The Future. The project proposes to develop the vacated military barracks site in Clonmel and create a college, which will host both further and higher education students in a fusion of community, colour endeavour and expansion.
Kirby’s work is currently on exhibit in South Tipperary Art Centre, Nelson Street, Clonmel.
https://www.gemmakirbyceramics.ie/
Martin Punculis
Aspiring educator Martin Punculis is a self taught and self thinking maker. Currently studying at CTI Senior College on the Silversmithing and Jewellery Design Course, his unique work reflects previous craft traditions yet forges new paths in contemporary design culture.
Working with metal, wood and in harmony with nature, Martin creates sculptures and jewellery which is showcased locally and online. Also working to commission, Martin balances his use of these natural raw materials by planting fruit and berry trees for every artwork sold, in this way his practice becomes part of the cycle of nature that is so keenly evident in all his work. A recent commission saw his work being presented to Minister Simon Harris. He was visible surprised and delighted when he saw his own image in a 3D metal representation, only added to the unique message that Martin delivered with the artwork.
Muireann Ryan
In 2021 Muireann made the decision to turn her passion for jewellery into a career and signed on for a full-time jewellery course with the CTI Senior College in Clonmel, tutored by Susan McCarthy and Ciara Connolly. She graduated in 2022 with a distinction.
The time in Clonmel CTI Senior College polished her technical skills, but what she really gained from the course were design skills – how to take her concept or her vision for a piece and develop it into a wearable jewellery design; the process of distilling an image down to it’s most important elements, editing out the extraneous detail and only keeping the essence of the design.
Muireann Ryan has recently launched her online jewellery business selling original pieces, designed and made by hand in her workshop in Ballmacarbry, Co Waterford. Her website, www.mara-designs.org, showcases a range of work and pieces to suit everyone.
Muireann is one of the few jewellers in Ireland working with Titanium, a light but very hard metal which can be coloured to vibrant colours and she combines this with silver in her work. Muireann designed a piece inspired by seaweed that she was commissioned by CTI Clonmel to create for Minister Simon Harris.
