Craft work inspired by Seamus Heaney on display at HomePlace

Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy is to showcase the work of eight craft makers.

The ceramics, jewellery, textiles and pens, will be on display in the gift shop.

They were selected by Craft NI, in partnership with Mid Ulster District Council, to produce bespoke ranges.

All eight craft workers have been influenced by the landscape which inspired Seamus Heaney.

Among the bespoke work on offer, is Bogland Ware from ceramicist, Patricia Millar.

Shewho fires her work in pits fuelled by organic materials such as oak and turf, to leave traces of colour, echoing the life found in the bog.

Alan McCluney, also a ceramicist, credits Seamus Heaney with being one of the reasons he is pursuing his work as stoneware potter. 

His products for HomePlace will include a glaze finish which speaks of ‘old rusted shafts on turf spades and the oily iridescence seen in the pools of water when turning the turf for drying, and the soft browns of the wet peat’.

Press-moulding glacier porcelain is the technique used by the third ceramicist, Claire Newell, whose work is also inspired by the landscape and hand-decorated with intricate patterns and colours found in the natural world.

Two jewellery makers also feature.

Caroline Stokesberry-Lee uses raw and uncut gemstones as the centre pieces for her silversmithing work inspired by the ‘mythical undertones of the countryside’, while Nuala Lynch of Nua Jewellery will be supplying a collection inspired by ‘earthy tones evocative of the rich bog-land and heather’.

Textiles are also represented by two makers.

Donna Lynch of ArtyBird is a native of Lagan’s Road, described so vividly in Seamus Heaney’s poem as his route for walking to school to Anahorish, where Donna was also a pupil. 

She will be incorporating the places described in Heaney’s poetry, to create unique, hand-felted pictures using the traditional techniques of wet felting and needles punching.

The ‘B’ by Bricolage range from Sinead Black consists of linen homewares using linen handwoven in Dungiven.

Handcrafted pens complete the crafts to be showcased, with Signature Woodcraft taking inspiration from Heaney’s poem The Conway Stewart, to design and make a range of fountain pens.

Alan Kane, Chief Executive, of Craft NI, says they were delighted to have had the opportunity to advise on the selection of makers for this prestigious project.

Seamus Heaney HomePlace opens on Friday 30 September. For more information visitwww.seamusheaneyhome.com.