Displaced
My new body of work explores displaced people around the globe
due to famine, war, ethnic cleansing, persecution or natural disaster. From
the Irish famine victims forced to leave their land in 1847 to the present
day Syrian people seeking refuge in our country.
Techniques: Woven tapestry on a Dryad Loom.
Materials: Cotton, wool, silk
Year Made: 2018
Dimensions: 1 meter by 3 meters
Photographer Credit: Michelle Hurson
Submerged
I worked with the Syrian women in Ballaghadarreen refugee
centre on a weaving project and learned of their individual journeys to
arrive here. These stories have now become the inspiration for my practise.
Weaving together the experiences of different nationalities, the narrative
is the same, and history repeats itself.
Techniques: Woven tapestry
Materials: Cotton, Wool, silk
Year Made: 2018
Dimensions: 17 cm by 20cm
Photographer Credit: Frances Crowe
Displaced: Mother and child
My fine art tapestry Titled: Displaced took 1 year to make. It
measures 1 meter by 3 meters. It is a historic document. This emotive and
topical piece is now on a journey of its own. Having been seized by Chinese
customs and eventually released to be showcased at the 10th from Lausanne to
Beijing Biennale.
Techniques: Woven tapestry
Materials: Cotton, Wool, Silk
Year Made: 2018
Dimensions: 1 meter by 1 meter.
Photographer Credit: Michelle Hurson
Reflection on a Puddle
cotton warp, worsted wool, silk, and cotton weft. All fine yarns blended together, 60 x 62cm, 2014
Songs Sung and Stories Told
cotton warp, worsted wool and shredded paper for the weft, 53 x 73cm, 2014
Photographer, Claire Frances
Ghosts of the sea
cotton warp, wool weft, 45 x 92cm, 2013
Photographer, Michelle Hurson
textiles/paper/calligraphy
teicstílí/páipéar/calligraphy
Frances Crowe
A graduate of The National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Fibre Artist Francis Crowe is based in Roscommon, Ireland. Her inspiration comes from the landscapes and the surroundings of her country studio. She work in a variety of materials, paint, collage, mixed media – but her primary thought process is in fibres. She collects materials such as wool, rope, cotton: twisting and weaving them together to form individual, original works of art.
“The art of handwoven tapestry is many thousands of years old and the technique has remained virtually unchanged. What has changed and evolved over the centuries is the way in which the medium is used, the purity of its design and execution and the esteem it commands in society as a whole. Working in the medium of tapestry demands many days and months of solitary labour in the production of one piece, but it is this very thing that I love. My work deals with the landscape of time, place and memories. I am inspired by traditional working processes, and connections with generations past. The three main components that drive my arts practice are: primarily the expression of an idea, the physical act of creation, and the material exploration. The subjects of my work have to engage me on an emotional as well as an intellectual level, enabling me to peruse them for many months or years. Discovering a materials individual characteristic and how they can support my concepts, has a strong appeal to me.”
Office of Public Works
Numerous private collections nationally and internationally
2016
Travel grant to China from Culture Ireland
2011
Royal Dublin Society National Crafts Competition: first prize winner tapestry weaving
Solo Exhibitions:
2016
“A tapestry Journey” Keith Nolan’s Photography studio, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim
2015
“Interwoven Memories” Solas Art Gallery, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.
2014
“Entwined Memories” The Dock/ Leitrim Design House, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
“Reflections” Boyle Community College, Boyle. Co. Roscommon.
2013
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Threading Water, Grennan Mill, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny |
2010
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Full Circle, Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon |
2002
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Down to Earth, Atrium Gallery, Co. Longford |
2001
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Rain Forest Walk, The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
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Interconnections, South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary |
2000
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Linear Dynamics, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford |
Group Exhibitions:
2018
“10th From Lausanne to Beijing fibre art Biennale and symposium” Tsinghua University Art Museum. Beijing “Gathering” Main exhibition, Boyle Arts festival. 2017
“Facing West”. King House Boyle as part of the Boyle arts Festival “Thread Song” Glor Gallery Ennis Co. Clare.
2016
“From Lausanne to Beijing” 9th International Biennale Exhibition and Symposium. Guan Shan Yue Art Museum, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
“North by Northwest” King house Boyle. As art of the Boyle Arts Festival. 2015
“Textiles, paper and glass” Portfolio at Solomon fine arts, Westbury Mall Dublin.
“Entwined Memories” Design and crafts council touring exhibition. Dublin, Sligo, UK
“Heallreaf” an exhibition of miniature tapestry. West dean College, Chichester. UK.
“Shifting Perspectives” Roscommon Visual Arts Forum, During the Boyle Arts Festival
“Expanded Territories” Harnessing Creativity, Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Ireland. “Lonely Planet” Luan Art Gallery Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
2014
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Faces, Touring tapestry exhibition, Scotland, Denmark & Irelandy |
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Entwined Memories at The Knitting & Stitching Show, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, RDS, Dublin |
2013
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Male/female tapestry, Woven tapestry, Grennan mill, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny |
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RDS Winners exhibition touring Northern Ireland |
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Woven into Memory, Blue Egg Gallery, Co. Wexford |
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Sea Journeys, Touring tapestry exhibition, Scotland, Denmark & Ireland |
2012
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Beauty in Nature at The Knitting & Stitching Show, Crafts Council of Ireland, RDS, Dublin, Ballyroan Library, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Atrium Gallery, Sligo & Craft Granary, Cahir, Co. Tipperary |
2011
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Converging Elements, Contemporary Tapestry Artists, National Craft Gallery, Co. Kilkenny |
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RDS Winners Exhibition, Touring Show |
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Seascapes at The Knitting & Stitching Show, Crafts Council of Ireland, RDS, Dublin |
