Carbon Footprint

Letterkenny Loveliness.

2011-01-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

Hello strangers!
After the sucess of the Spinning/Knitting workshop last Saturday in the RCC we've decided to hold another one this Sunday in the same spot so come along and bring your knitting projects or just your enthusiasm and meet some lovely like-minded people. You'll probably even pick up a few skills along the way.

Knitting and Spinning Workshop with Ailbhe Dunne and Ruth Mc Cartney
Sunday 30th Jan - 2pm
Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre (behind An Grianan Theatre)

Hope to see you there! :)

Ailbhe Dunne's 2 Needle Diamond Socks inspired by Malin Head rain data

2010-11-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

Diamonds in Aran knitting are said to represent the shape of the fishing mesh, and wealth and success! The moss stitch in the middle is said to represent sea weed used as fertiliser on the land – the diamonds are said to be walls surrounding farm land. Fishing and farming used to be a huge part of our GDP!

The diamonds on these socks represent the rise in rainfall at Malin head – over the last 100 years the rainfall at Malin head has risen by 50%. This rise correlates with the rise in GDP. 100 years ago ‘gdp’ and industry in Malin head was fishing and farming – both represented traditionally in Aran Knitting by the diamond and moss stitch!

One of our socks has one diamond and the other has a diamond and a half – the half diamond is at the cuff of the sock to represent infinity. Are we going to stop with a 50% rise?

For the first sock

Cast on 41 sts,

Row 1: Knit 10, Purl 2, K2, (P1,K1) X 6, P1, K2, P2, K10
Row 2 and all even rows knit the knits stitches, purl the purls!
Row 3: K10 p2, (Slip the next two stitches onto a cable needle and leave at the front of your knitting, purl the next stitch, knit two from the cable needle) C2L, (p1,k1) x5, p1, (Slip the next stitch onto cable needle and leave at back of work knit 2, p1 from cable needle) C2R, p2, k10
Row 5; K10 p3,C2L, (p1,k1) x4, p1, C2R, p3, k10
Row 7; K10 p4, C2L, (p1,k1) x3, p1,C2R, p4, k10
Row 9; K10 p5, C2L, (p1,k1) x2, p1, C2R, p5, k10
Row 11; K10 p6, C2L, p1,k1,p1, C2R, p6, k10
Row 13 K10 p7, C2L, p1, C2R, p7, k10
Row 15 K10, p8, slip next two stitches onto cable needle, Knit next three stitches, knit two from cable needle, p8, knit 10
Row 17 K10 p8, C2R, p1, C2L, p8, k10
Row 19 K10 p7, C2R, (p1,k1), p1, C2L, p7, k10
Row 21 K10 p6, C2R, (p1,k1) x 2, p1, C2L, p6, k10
Row 23 K10 p5, C2R, (p1,k1) x 3, p1, C2L, p5, k10
Row 25 K10 p4, C2R, (p1,k1) x 4, p1, C2L, p4, k10
Row 27 K10 p3, C2R, (p1,k1) x 5, p1, C2L, p3, k10
Row 29 K10 p2, C2R, (p1,k1) x 6, p1, C2L, p2, k10
Row 31: K10, p2 C2L, (p1,k1) x5, p1, C2R, p2, k10
Row 33; K10 p3,C2L, (p1,k1) x4, p1, C2R, p3, k10
Row 35; K10 p4, C2L, (p1,k1) x3, p1,C2R, p4, k10
Row 37; K10 p5, C2L, (p1,k1) x2, p1, C2R, p5, k10
Row 39; K10 p6, C2L, p1,k1,p1, C2R, p6, k10
Row 41; K10 p7, C2L, p1,C2R, p7, K10
Row 43 K10 p5 slip next two stitches onto cable needle, Knit next three stitches, knit two from cable needle, p5, k10

HEEL:

Knit 11 sts, work on these 11 sts in stockinette for 16 rows, ending with a purl row. Turn this half of the heel as follows:
Row 1:-K2, k2tog, k1, turn, slip1, P3, turn.
Row 3:-K3, K2tog, K1, turn, slip1, P4, turn.
Row 5:-K4, K2tog, K1, turn, slip1, P5, turn.
Row 7:-K5, k2tog, K1. (7 sts on needle.)
Using left needle pick up 10 sts on the side of the heel, and knit them. Knit across the 19 instep sts. (36 sts on needle). Work in stockinette on the remaining 11 sts for 17 rows ending with a knit row. Now turn the other half heel as follows:
Row1:- P2, P2tog, P1, turn, slip1, K3, turn.
Row3:- P3, P2tog, P1, turn, slip1, K4, turn.
Row5:- P4, P2tog, P1, turn, slip1, K5, turn.
Row7:- P5, P2tog, P1, (7 sts on needle).
Pick up 10 sts on side of heel, and purl them. Continue purling across the whole sock.(53 sts on needle).

INSTEP SHAPING

Row1:- K15, K2tog, K19, slip1, K1, PSSO (pass slipped stitch over), K15.
Row2:- and all even rows, purl.
Row3:- K14, K2tog, K19, slip1, K1, PSSO, K14.
Row5:- K13, K2tog, K19, slip1, K1, PSSO, K13.
Row7:- K12, K2tog, K19, slip1, K1, PSSO, K12.
Row9:- K11, K2tog, K19, slip1, K1, PSSO, K11.
Row11:-K10, K2tog, K19, slip1, K1, PSSO, K10.

You should have 41 sts remaining.

Now work in stockinette for 30 rows for a size 5 foot. For a longer or shorter foot, go until this section measures about 1"3/4 shorter than the full length of your foot. Measure from the back of the heel, and end with a purl row.

TOE DECREASE

Row1:-K8, K2tog, K2, slip1, K1, PSSO, K13, K2tog, K2,
slip1, k1, PSSO, K8.
Row 2 and all even rows:- purl.
Row 3:- K7, K2tog, K2, slip1, K1, PSSO, K11, K2tog, K2,
slip1, K1, PSSO, K7.
Row5:- K6, K2tog, K2, slip1, K1, PSSO, K9, K2tog, K2,
slip1, K1, PSSO, K6.
Continue decreasing as above until 17 sts remain on the needle. Put these sts on a holder, I use a coloured piece of wool.

FINISHING

Using a flat seam technique,(very important!), sew the back and underside of the sock. If you are planning to turn down the cuff, don't forget to reverse the seam at the turn down point so it is inside the cuff. Graft, or weave the toe, and weave in loose ends.

For second sock

Cast on 41 sts
Row 1 (and all odd rows) K10, P21, K10
Row 2 (and all even rows) p10, k21,p10
Row 15 K10, p8, slip next two stitches onto cable needle, Knit next three stitches, knit two from cable needle, p8, knit 10
Continue as for first sock

other artists in the show

2010-11-09T14:37:00.000-08:00

Check out the other works in the show.

http://antipod.info/

Leave Only Footprints

2010-11-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

The term carbon footprint is understood to indicate a measurement of our consumed carbon. Usually discussed on the individual level (the singular footprint), it is rarely quantified and portends an aura of guilt by shifting the onus of green house gas emissions from large scale industry to individuals. In doing this it suggests that individual action/choices are at the root of climate change rather than global market forces. While this grand simplification of consumer power neglects larger market forces and economic structures, it could be argued that the term also works to empower people by awakening them to the gesture of personal choice as political act.

In contrast to a carbon footprint, I contend that there is also a carbon fingerprint to consider. It is not just the consumption of carbon, but rather an understanding of the specificity of what kind of carbon is consumed and a recognition that all materials maintain their history or trace when they are purchased. For example, if we added “how many things in your house are made in China” we would get a different number on the carbon calculator determining our footprint. A shift to local micro-economies offers an opportunity to reduce climate impact simply by opting out of the transport. It is not just how much carbon, but what kind, where, and how it is released/consumed.

The project Carbon Footprint engages on all of these levels. Taking local wool, hand-spinning it, and turning it into beautifully made garments is not so much about the garment as it is about the choice to act. In this work Inishowen wool and spinning are used as the primary metaphors to explore the above ideas and translate climate change data into something tactile. The project quickly went from singly driven to the work of many.

My first connection with the community was through a series of spinning workshops in three of the larger villages and in several schools. This resulted in Spin-in, a one day art-action where community members spun Inishowen wool into yarn on drop-spindles in front of empty shop fronts in Carndonagh. For that one stormy day, the town centre was bustling with people in front of the empty stores re-activating these spaces. As one person remarked, “Even though there's a recession on there is still work to be done and work to be had.” In a Ghandian ploy, we used spinning as an act of independence, achievement, ability, and resistance.

Subsequent to this, the Carbon Footprint Studio emerged as a hub for activity around wool and the associated craft processes. Workshops began immediately with locals offering their knowledge and skill to teach each other about felting, dyeing, spinning, knitting, and crochet. Developing a life of its own within days, the Studio continued to run for 10 weeks and assisted in spawning a new wool-craft co-op in Inishowen. One of the virtues of this work is a re-introduction to wool as a material with value. Though it is ubiquitous in Donegal, it is a zero-profit undertaking for farmers and is treated almost as a waste product. This year's market price was 75¢ per kilo.

If explored, one discovers wool to be one of the most durable, resilient, versatile, and easily produced forms of fabric. Wool requires no processing, can be spun by a single person with only a drop spindle, transforms quickly from raw wool to yarn or felt, and possesses incredible strength and endurance. It is a material iconographic of Ireland for a reason; it's perfect for this landscape and climate both in terms of farming and wearing. Able to absorb 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp, the interlocking scales of the wool fibre allow water to spill off of it, and if it is homespun the small amount of retained natural oil (lanolin) will also work to repel water. The traditional Aran sweater was not just a garment of fashion but rather of sheer practicality. A jumper made from home-spun will feel warmer, dryer, and stay cleaner. My own spin on the use of the material, beyond that of local economics, is to phrase it as a form of small-scale, local carbon capture. Composed of 44% carbon, the wool represents fixed carbon sequestered from the atmosphere. In a time where environmental industry and science are scrambling to find methods of carbon capture, it is valuable to look to what already exists around us. When the sheep consume the grass, air, and water of this area, they create a distinct substance that truly is a portrait of the land. Inishowen wool is made of Inishowen.

The final component of this work is the socks. An easy visual link to the idea of a carbon footprint, the socks also translate and house meteorological data from the local weather station, and climate change and economics data. Inviting the many makers of the socks to contribute their own design abstractions from the original data set, the socks become an opportunity to play as well as transmit.

A community of many people formed to create this work. It has grown through generosity, happenstance, perseverance, and the belief that art activates, transforms, inspires, and awakens us.
Thank you to everyone who made this project possible.
Seema

more climate change indicators

2010-10-30T00:56:00.001-07:00

The bats are no longer hibernating in Cork!
Climate change comes to us in unusual ways. Over the last few years a decreasing number of bats are going into winter hibernation. What does this mean? Is it warmer and the bats don't need to go into hibernation or does it mean they can't go into hibernation because the weather isn't cuing this change. It may indicate that the insects the bats depend on are also still around, or it could mean there will be a lot of hungry bats! This morning I am starting my bat scarf to protect my neck from hungry vampires. Hopefully it will be done by the show's opening. Find something that inspires you and make it!

Opening reception and conference in Letterkenny!

2010-10-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
The show is fast approaching! If you are able to make it down to the show we would love to see you. The opening reception is on Friday November 12th at 7:30 at the Regional Cultural Centre. Please invite yourself and your friends!
If you are interested in the associated conference on Art and Climate Change, please also come to that. Here is the link to register for free: http://www.lovelyweatherproject.blogspot.com/
And here is the schedule

Lovely Weather art & climate change Conference 12th-13th November, 2010
Friday 12th Nov
7pm Registration and refreshments
7.30pm Welcome introductions
8.30pm Performance by SoftDay (IRE) Marbh Chrois

Saturday 13th Nov
9am – 9.30am Registration
9.30am Welcome: Mayor Donegal County Council Cllr Cora Harvey
9.30 – 10.00am Keynote 1: Roger Malina, Leonardo/Olats
10.00 – 10.30am Keynote 2: Paul Cunningham RTE Environment Editor
10.30 – 11.15am Project 1 – Antony Lyons (UK/IRE)
Chair: Cllr Dessie Larkin, Chair Donegal County Development Board
11.15 – 11.30am Coffee
11.30 – 12.15pm Project 2 – Seema Goel (Can) and Ruth McCartney (Ire)
Chair: Ms. Sarah Tuck, CREATE
12.15 – 1.30pm Lunch
1.30 – 2.15pm
Project 3 – Peter D’Agostino (USA)
Chair: Mr. Paul Cunningham, RTE Environment Correspondent
2.15 – 3pm
Project 4 – Soft Day (Ire)
Chair: Toby Dennett, Head of Artists’ Supports The Arts Council of Ireland.
3pm – 3.15pm Coffee
3.15 – 4pm
Project 5 – League of Imaginary Scientists (USA)
Chair: Roger Malina Editor of the Art-Science publication Leonardo
4pm - 4.30pm Keynote 4 Bronac Ferran (N. Ire) Director boundaryobject.org
4.30 – 5pm General conclusion and Q&A led by Bronac Ferran
5pm Dinner (local options included)
Attendance is free but places are limited.
On-line registration at www.donegalpublicart.ie
Further information please contact:
Ms. Terre Duffy, Public Art Manager Donegal County Council on terre.duffy@donegalcoco.ie

Last chance to see...

2010-10-26T02:53:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

It's the last week that the studio is open so this is your chance to come down and learn to spin, grab some wool and make some art for the gallery opening on the 12th! We've had such a wonderful response from the public and we'd really like to reflect that with the knitted clothing going on display in the RCC. If you haven't already signed up for knitting there's still plenty of time (since we'll be accepting submissions as long as the show is open). Below, you can see some lovely images full of knitting inspiration :) From the leaves unfolding early to new species of animal our climate is showing change. Feel free to use these images and ideas as a springboard for your own wooly inspiration and make something beautiful (beautiful can still have bumps and holes in it so don't worry beginners!).
I'll be in the studio this week with wool and needles for anyone who'd like to help. If you know any knitters that you think would participate then let them know too :) Spread the word! We need as many wonderful wooly creations as possible to show what great work the Inishowen (and international) folk have been doing.
There's plenty still to come as the project continues in Letterkenny at the Regional Cultural Centre. And of course we'll see you all on the 12th for the opening :)
Feel free to contact us (carbonfootprintproject@yahoo.ie) with questions or enquiries and keep checking the blog for updates.

Thanks for everything! Let's keep it going!
Ruth

hurricane hat

2010-10-25T15:27:00.001-07:00

This hat comes via ravelry. Here is the pattern and the original url. If you are interested in this it would also be easy to adapt this to be the swirls of a warm or cold front. The hurricane itself can also be adapted with lines in varying thicknesses or a different colour of wool.

http://stringinmotion.blogspot.com/2008/04/hurricane-hat-copyright-sunshineknits.html

Here is the pattern.

Materials:

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Pearl #36
Needles: 16" Circular Needles 4.5mm, set of 4 DPNs, 4.5mm
Gauge: 20 stitches & 28 rows knit in Stockinette Stitch

Sizing Note: Pattern is adjustable for sizing by altering how
many inches you work in pattern before beginning your
decreases. The suggested 5" will give you a med-large size.

Instructions:
Cast on 81 sts in the knitted on cast on method.
Join in the round, knitting first & last stitch
together to eliminate jag. Total 80sts.

Brim: Work in K2, P2 Rib for 1.5”. At the end of
final row, M1 stitch. Total 81sts

Body: Work in K9, P1 for 5” inches.

Decrease Rounds:
Round 1: *K7, K2tog, P1* 73sts
Round 2: *K8, P1*
Round 3: *K6, K2tog, P1* 65sts
Round 4: *K7, P1*
Round 5: *K5, K2tog, P1* 57sts
Round 6: *K6, P1*
Round 7: *K4, K2tog, P1* 49sts
Round 8: *K5, P1*
Round 9: *K3, K2tog, P1* 41sts
Round 10: *K4, P1*
Round 11: *K2, K2tog, P1* 33sts
Round 12: *K3, P1*
Round 13: *K1, K2tog, P1* 25sts
Round 14: *K2, P1*
Round 15: *K2tog, P1* 17sts
Round 16: *K2tog* 9sts

Break yarn & run through remaining stitches. Pull tight & secure. Weave in all ends.

design ideas

2010-10-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hi,

To Inspire you!!! In this you may find an image that moves you - run with it - a flock of swallows, a bird’s nest hat, a leaf unfurling, vineyards in Ireland... so much is happening because of climate change!

You can make any kind of garment or accessory (you can wear) that uses Irish wool and is inspired by climate change. Please feel free to be as creative as you like. Pieces will be added to the exhibit throughout the run of the show. You will have your work returned to you if you like. THANK YOU for begin part of the Carbon Footprint Project!!

Due to climate change in Ireland:

The swallows arrive 2 days earlier for every 1〫increase in temperature in March. Last year the swallows came 8 days earlier.

Harlequin Ladybird
New species of insects are moving into Ireland every year! Among them is this ladybird - a voracious but lovely pest that threatens the local Irish ladybird population.

Irish 2-spotted ladybird (making out).
There are 27 species of Irish ladybird beetles.

2010-10-23T00:52:00.000-07:00

Come on down to the studio today and knit with Seema! Seema is back in Inishowen and will be in the studio today talking about design and knitting up some Inishowen wool. Why don't you call in and give it a try?

Clonmany Capers.

2010-10-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

We were adventuring in Clonmany today at a lovely little knitting class in St. Mary's Hall. We set ourselves up round the table and got stitching and subtly mentioned that we were knitting with hand-spun Inishowen wool. They were all quite impressed with the wool and we'd conveniently remembered to bring along some knitting kits with needles and wool to work with and some project info included and the lovely Urris ladies with be stitching away over the next few weeks. :)

Some of the Clonmany ladies turned up at the studio later and got stuck in to some spinning and wool worrying :)

2010-10-12T06:07:00.001-07:00

Call into the studio tomorrow (or any day at all really) for some spinning fun. I'll be spinning on the wheel and working with drop spindles all day and I'd love to show you how to do it too.

sock making kits and grapsh to think on

2010-10-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
Ruth will soon be returning to the studio and putting together ready to go kits to give out to anyone wanting to knit for the project.

If you're still wondering how the climate change part is going to fit in beyond all our strategies of local economy, here are a few images of data that may be incorporated into the socks. I will say that the one I like the most is the simplest, in reflection of the Mallin Head rainfall data over the past 100 years, make one of the socks of your pair 50% longer than the other.

Over the next couple of days this page with be updated with data sets regarding climate change and Ireland, specifically Inishowen where possible. I've added a few images here that might be inspiring. Please feel free to riff off of them and come up with your own interpretation of the how to present the data.

More to come soon!

Thanks to everyone and good luck!

Skype adventures with Seema!

2010-10-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

Seema showed up at our stitching session today via the wonders of Skype! We all got down to work on our sock knitting and discussed how we can incorporate the scientific data Seema has been collecting into our finished pieces. There were some pretty exciting ideas flying around. Keep your eyes on the blog or call into the studio to see some designs in action; you can even come up with your own!

The wonders of Skype and ball winders :)

Eileen even had her first go on a spinning wheel today. It's all happening folks.

Interview by Nick Hand

2010-09-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

Nick cycled by a last month and did a fantastic interview with Ailbhe Dunne and Aideen Fitzpatrick of our local knitting group at the studio. Check it out! Beautiful pictures!

nick hand interview

science at last

2010-09-29T01:56:00.000-07:00

Hi All, Seema here just checking in and setting up some direction for the next 4 weeks. The studio is still going strong thanks to the work of Ruth and the wool co-op women.

The connections between global economic and local independence are well established in this project. It's time to bring in the science and some data. This project began as an intersection between art and science where sheep wool is considered a form of carbon capture, but is this the case? YES! I am currently in touch with the Rural Economic Research Centre and examining the carbon released and sequestered in the "life cycle" of the wool. From the grass the sheep consume to the use of electricity to shear them and the amount of transport fuel used to bring in their bags of meal. It is a weird and wonderful web.

This is also the time to bring design and data into the picture. Socks incorporating the data from Malin Head meteorlogy station and hats creating sculptural versions of the thermohaline ocean circulation system are in my head soon to be on some needles. Ready to knit with more art and more science? - get ready!

Hope you'll make it to the knitting sessions!

Special thanks to Dr. Rowan Fealy of ICARUS and NUIM for the many conversations about climate change.

(Images: molecular structure of wool. source: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/heritage/Astbury/alpha_to_beta_transition/; http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/File:Thermohaline_circulation_png)

2010-09-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

Hello all, Ruth here again.

Call into the studio on Wednesday for some knitting and crochet fun! I'll be in the studio from 12 noon onwards (or earlier if you fancy) armed with pointy sticks and hand-spun wool; if you'd like to call in and learn some stitches with needles or hooks then I'll be happy to help :)

As always I'm happy to teach drop spindle and wheel working too so if you haven't given it a go yet just drop in to the studio!

2010-09-20T10:30:00.001-07:00

Hello all.

Ruth here. Just reporting on some ninja spinning and knitting in public that occurred over the weekend. I took my drop spindle and my sock-in-progress all the way to the island of Inishbofin in Connemara. I knit up some lovely inishowen texel on the ferry while the sea roiled around me and I sat in the sun and spun some Jacobs fleece into lovely yarn that I think I'll ply soon. So there you go, wool adventures around the country :) Why not tell us about some of your own public knitting endeavors .

2010-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

What a day! I spent the morning in Clonmany with our lovely wool co-op collective and we dyed up a storm!

Here are our lovely participants raring to go. We were lucky enough to have local Inishowen produce to dye with. We tried our hand at dyeing with onion skins and ivy. Below you can see some hand spun yarn waiting to be dyed and some of our dyeing materials.

Blackberries and wool; grown from Inishowen!
Here are some of our glamorous assistants for the day examining the onion skins before we boiled them up to make a dye bath for our lovely hand spun yarn :)

Here is our ivy dye bath (above) and our onion skin dye bath (below).

We used alum and vinegar mordants. Below is the yarn in the mordant solution.

And here is the finished product! Beautiful hand-dyed, hand-spun Inishowen wool.

It was a lovely way to spend the day. Hope to see you all again this Saturday the 18th at 1pm in the studio for a sock knitting workshop with the lovely Ailbhe Dunne! Keep your eyes on the blog for more workshops coming next week!

2010-09-11T15:27:00.001-07:00

We were lucky enough to have a visit from this nice man today. Nick Hand is cycling around the coast of Ireland talking to local artisans and making soundslides/recordings of the people he speaks to. He happened upon our sock knitting workshop and got talking to some of our local knitters and we talked to him about spinning in Ireland.

Felting and future sock knitting.

2010-09-08T11:44:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful felting workshop on Monday with Maura McLaughlin, a master textile artist in the area. Big thanks to all who participated. Here are some shots of the group in action :)

We'll be running our first sock knitting workshop this Saturday at 1pm in the studio! It will be run by a local knitting enthusiast, Ailbhe Dunne. Feel free to bring your hand spun yarn to knit with or just show up and we'll kit you out with needles and local yarn to work with :)

2010-09-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Some words from a local lady who took part in one of our spinning workshops. It's so nice to get an insight into how people view the spinning experience.

'My week at home has happily coincided with a series of spinning workshops run by Seema and Janelle of the Carbon Footprint Workshop. I find the inspiriation for and behind the project really interesting - using local wool and the spinning thereof as a metaphor for climate change and how economics has changed. Wheras Donegal wool and the products made from it are sought after commodities around the world, in Donegal the wool is virtually valueless, with farmers using the raw fleece from their sheep for soaking up tractor oil. By spinning and knitting, felting, crocheting with our own local wool, we are avoiding the heavy carbon consequence that might otherwise be incurred turning this raw material into something deemed to be of "value", for example by flying to the Far East for cleaning, spinning and making into a garment, before being flown to North America for retail You can read more about this project, as well as it's goals and inspirations, over at the Carbon Footprint Project blog. The upshot of all this is that Seema and Janelle are teaching the people of Inishowen to spin, huzzah! I've spun with a drop spindle before, having got my first for my birthday nearly exactly a year ago (you can see some of my spinning here. Last Saturday I got to fulfill a long time ambition - to spin on a wheel!

Some more photos of the Spin in!

2010-09-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

All courtesy of Paul McGuckin.

www.landscapeireland.com

2010-08-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

spinning in the window!

our new drum carder!

following a wool laden lorrie into Carndonah - a good omen

setting up the studio window

Seema here filling in for Jenelle.
Despite grey skies and windy conditions, around 30 people spun wool into yarn in the streets and shopfronts of Carndonagh yesterday. Sitting in empty store front windows, or standing out on the sidewalk, people from the age of 6 to 80 got in on the action. We even had one of the local politicians take up a spindle. Overall the day was a wonderful experience of spinning and meeting people. The studio is set up and ready for visitors and makers. Many connections were forged and desires voiced during the event, and as a direct result we will be hosting our first workshop in the new space on Monday. Felting at 1 p.m. on Monday with local textile artist Maura McLaughlin!

Here's a wee synopsis of recent events:
Sadly, on Thursday Jenelle left to resume her travels. Steve, my fella, arrived to fulfil the role of wrangler and keep Dashiell and myself together.
Friday was spent gearing up for the event, making lists, and contacting people.
Yesterday started in a slight panic with an unanticipated shift of weather! I woke up to pouring RAIN! The mostly “calm day with a chance of showers” was now forecast as gale force winds and rain! I dashed into town to secure a couple of indoor shop front spaces and scope out good alcoves for spinning. Persevering despite a possible rain-out, Steve and I made it to the studio just after noon and began our mad sprint to the finish line with me setting up the studio space and Steve off to pick up reception supplies. As I was standing in the empty studio wondering how to wash windows and move furniture while wearing the boy in his baby bjorn, two women appeared at the door ready to help.

Mary and Ethna from Culmore had come up from Northern Ireland just for the event. They magically appeared at the studio and took charge of cleaning and arranging the space. It was amazing! After 2 hours, having been scrubbed and sorted, the studio was ready for visitors. A special thanks to Mary and Ethna! Steve, laden with booze and printing, did the final bits and put up signs in the window. Johnny Shiels and family came by early to card wool for the spinners and set up one of his handmade spinning wheels. Ruth McCartney,(super hero of the carbon footprint team), had beautiful couches and other furniture delivered to the space! Ger the printer also deserves a special thanks for getting signs done for us without any notice. A special shout out to all those who helped! This was a truly Irish experience with many hands making light work.

left uncarded wool, right carded wool ready for spinners

Once it was all set to go, the spinners arrived to pick up some wool and take their posts. Remarkably, the weather calmed down enough for us to spin outside. Loads of people showed up for the spinning. There was wool and spinners everywhere! The studio was full of good craic and song. I was well impressed with the enthusiasm of the group and the interest from new people.
Afterwards we all gathered in the studio and raised a glass to the success of the day and the many people that made it all come together. It was really a wonderful day! Thank you to everyone who supported the event! xoxoxo

spin in tomorrow!

2010-08-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day. Many of you have volunteered to be part of the Spin In tomorrow from 3-5. Please meet (if possible - I know some of you are busy just before hand) at the Carbon Footprint Studio (former pretty windows store beside the persian pub) at 2:30-ish to pick up wool, grab some info cards, and find your spinning location. Depending on the weather, it might be advisable to ask a friend to come with you to hold your umbrella. Bring an umbrella.

There is a thank you reception in the studio afterwards. Please come and share a glass of wine and see the new space. You are all invited to come in and spin or knit etc. or just stop in at the studio over the next 9 weeks.

Thanks to everyone.
See you tomorrow!

Seema

Last Spinning Workshop Stop: Buncrana

2010-08-26T15:55:00.001-07:00

Today we spent a lovely day spinning in the glow of the afternoon sun at the Tullyarvan Mill in Buncrana. We had a nice sized group out for the workshop and we are getting very excited about Saturday's spinning performance in Carndonagh.

More Spinning in Moville

2010-08-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

Again the spinning workshop in Moville has been a huge success! We have been overwhelmed with all of the community support for the project. Thank you to everyone for coming out and to Aideen and Katie at Little Stars Preschool who let us host the event in their new space!

Carbon Footprint in the Derry Journal and Inish Times

2010-08-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today Carbon Footprint was featured in the Derry Journal and the Inish Times.

Here is the article in the Derry Journal.

Spinning Workshop in Carndonagh a Success!

2010-08-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today was a huge success! We had a good number of enthusiastic people out to spin and we couldn't be happier. People even were excited to give the wheel a go. We are very much looking forward to the workshop in Moville tomorrow! It's Ruth's (our trusty sidekick) home town so we are expecting another great turnout. I was so busy that I didn't get nearly as many photos as I liked but here are a few of some of the people who stopped by.

Spinning at the Persian

2010-08-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight Ruth and I stopped at the Persian in Carndonagh for a quick pint and a spin. It was lovely and we drummed up some chat from some of the bar patrons. One kind gentleman even tried to persuade some Scottish tourists to join us. They declined. We tried to convince our new friend to join us as he was truly fascinated by it and kept on telling us about the Aran jumpers his mom made for him and his three other brothers. It was quite possible that he might have had a few too many pints to spin anyway. There is a three pint limit when you are drinking and spinning. :)

Seema speaks!

2010-08-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

Here is some information on the project in Seema's own words (instead of my mumble jumble!):

The Lovely Weather Project is a thematic residency sponsored by Donegal County Council Public Art Office along with LeonardøOLATS. The purpose of the residency is to explore how art can address issues around global warming and climate change, specifically in County Donegal.

My project, Carbon Footprint, uses wool and spinning as the primary metaphor to articulate the intrinsic relationship between climate change and economics. Locally, sheep wool has become valueless and is a zero profit material for the farming community. Yet this material has incredible versatility, history, and worth if explored. This project works to rejuvenate the use of local wool framing it as a political act that separates the green house gas emissions graph from the GDP graph.

Carbon footprint has several components:

Inspiration for the project:
When I first decided to apply for the residency I looked for my own connections to Donegal. I went to my closet and pulled out my Donegal cable sweater. Reading the tag gave me my initial direction for the work. Where was Donegal in this object? Like many textile traditions, Donegal sweaters have particular patterns referencing the landscape from which they emerge. I considered remaking these sweaters with contemporary references to climate change and weather patterns using local wool.

The wool is a type of portrait of the place. Made up literally of Donegal (earth, air, and water), I feel this material is as representative of the area as it is possible to be. Once I came to Inishowen the piece shifted to be more about the relationship between climate change and economics as exemplified by material values and uses. In the instance of my Donegal Sweater, the name of the object replaced the need for it to actually come from the place, so a complicated and carbon heavy web produced this item in Thailand which was later sold in Canada. In Inishowen, wool was once a material that had use and value but is now superfluous. I was shocked to learn I could buy a whole fleece for 2 euros and wool is treated as a waste material, sometimes thrown away because it has so little value here. I wanted to understand the relationship of locals to the sheep and wool.

Eventually I came to the conclusion that wool is a form of local carbon capture. It successfully sequesters a significant amount of atmospheric carbon which isn’t later released through consumption (unless left to moths etc.). Using this material challenges the current dismissal of it as well as the global market forces which insist on large scale industry and global economics. This is an opportunity to use a material that is ubiquitous (and synonymous) with Ireland, and actually find a way to “act locally.” (no small order when you think about it). Shifting the scale of the problem and action to an intimate personal level.

The work is a public engagement piece. As such, I am not sure what the final piece will look like but I do know it involves people! Here are some of the parts. Firstly, I audited a grad class on climate change at NUIM taught by Dr. Rowan Fealy. While this is a very academic way to engage in the subject is is also one of the most important. Not only did this help to develop a
better understanding of the science and become familiar with the visual language of the data, it also reminded me of the hurdles in translating such overwhelming information into something tactile and personal.

The next thing was to figure out my material. I’m now the proud owner of an Ashford and a Luet spinning wheel as well as a beautifully made drop spindle. I was fortunate to find a spinnig workshop led by Mary O’Rourke, an artist of tremendous vision, skill, and warmth.

I’ve also collected almost 50 kilos of local Texal, Suffolk, and Jacobs fleece. I’m now teaching people how to spin and am discovering an unexpected but much appreciated enthusiasm particularly among knitters and crocheters. Most local people tell me they have never even seen a spinning wheel in action even though the last Irish maker of spinning wheels lives in Carndonagh and Ireland was once home to a significant cottage industry of women spinning flax in their homes.

Spinning in fact helped Irish women develop some economic independence and was a symbol of Irish perseverance and creativity, (I usually go on a rant here). At the moment I have a public action planned for August 28th where a large group of people spin wool on drop spindles in front of empty shop-front spaces in Carndonagh as an act of resistance to global economics, to the recession, to a trade system that erodes local production of goods, and to the idea of helplessness in the larger picture of economic disaster. It is a reminder that there is opportunity and industry available, but these things will not come to us without our own efforts and active choices. If you want change, you have to make it.

I have also secured a studio space in Carndonagh! You’re all invited to drop in. I have a kettle for making tea and a tin of cookies ready for visitors. This space will be used as a spinning and knitting space for the next 10 weeks where anyone can come by and learn to spin or use the hand-cranked knitting machine to churn out a pair of socks. These will include design motifs which reference the climate change data from the Malin Head meteorological station and other sources.

Objects have trace. While the phrase Carbon Footprint usually references our measure of consumption, it should also take into account the carbon fingerprint - that is where that carbon comes from. This work emphasises the importance of a materials history, not just in terms of its production and transportation, but also its history and inherent meaning. A locally made thing created by hand rephrases that material, object, and place as precious.

All the wool spun will be knit into socks incorporating climate change data. The work will show in Letterkenny in November at the Regional Cultural Centre. Gallery viewers will also have the opportunity to make themselves a pair of socks during their visit.

Meet the Artist - Seema Goel

2010-08-23T02:01:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Paul McGuckin www.landscapeireland.com)

Here is an introduction to Seema, the brains behind this whole project, in her own words.

I am a Canadian multimedia artist focusing on human-animal, human-place, and human-human relationships. Using an eclectic range of materials (from projections on buildings to taxidermied animals), I employ humour and irony to draw the viewer into the deeper content of the work. My interests and training straddle both the arts and sciences and I seek to engage both these disciplines in the work.

I have been addicted to school for some time. I hold a B.Sc. from McGill, an Associate Arts diploma from the Ontario College of Art and Design, an MFA in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design. I am currently completing an interdisciplinary M.Sc. between engineering and fine art focusing on public architecture, sustainable energy, and aesthetics. At the moment I am privileged to be the artist in residence for Inishowne for the LEONARDO/ Donegal Regional Cultural Centre project “Lovely Weather” in Donegal, Ireland, examining climate change, micro-economics, and local autonomy.

Meet the Participants Part III - Jenelle Jakobsen

2010-08-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

I suppose that it's time that I properly introduce myself. I am Jenelle the blogger, general social media wrangler, Dashiell wrangler, Seema wrangler, felter, cooker, spinner, driver, washer, importer, supporter etc... Seema brought me in from Canada to help with the project. I first started working for S as her studio assistant while I was getting my Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the University of Regina. We worked on a glass tile mosaic that she created for the SNRA building in the Cathedral Area in Regina.

(S and I in 2005 working on the glass tile mosaic. Check out my outfit - Harry Potter tee!)

I then became her cat and house sitter for a while before her and her husband, Steve, and cat Mack moved to Ireland on sabbatical. They have since produced a lovely little boy named Dashiell whom I have been helping care for during Seema's residency here. It's not much different than taking care of a cat.

I first became interested in the fibre arts when I was working at the Prince Albert Arts Centre almost ten years ago. There was a very active Spinners and Weavers Guild there whom I befriended and spent time with while they spun, wove and felted. I did take some workshops with them and developed a passion for felting, needle felting in particular. I am hoping that I am bringing some of that knowledge to this project.

I am enjoying my time immensely here, especially driving on the other side of the road. I will be sad when I have to leave.

(Me spinning with a drop spindle in downtown Carndonagh)

Spinning at the Cafe Donagh

2010-08-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we infringed a bit on Ruth's knitting group (the Yarn Spinners of Inishowen) with a spinning wheel as well as some drop spindles. We sat down with Michelle who was quite keen on learning how to spin. Seema brought up her Ashford wheel (which we have been carting around in her little car for a week!) and gave Michelle a few lessons. She did catch on very quick and I just got a message from her saying that she has already been looking at wheels on eBay!

People were quite curious about what we were doing. This proved to be a great way to tell people about the project and the workshops that we will be holding next week. We hope that a lot of people make it out!

New Studio Space!

2010-08-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Today we just secured a studio space to set up spinning equipment for ten weeks right in downtown Carndonagh!

We will be located between Dougherty's and the Persian Pub in the old Pretty Windows space right across from the diamond. Drop by if you see someone inside spinning away. We would love to have the company!

Baaaaaahhhh

2010-08-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

Six bags of fleece arrived yesterday. Mervyn Norris from Trean House Farms graciously dropped it off for us at our little rental house just outside of Malin. We are anxious to start cleaning and carding the wool in preparation for next weeks spinning classes and "spin in" next weekend. Keep your eye on the blog for more details!

Workshops!

2010-08-20T05:09:00.001-07:00

Invite all of your friends!

Meet the Participants Part II - Ruth McCartney

2010-08-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

Ruth is an Inishowen woman, born and bred. She grew up in Moville and currently resides in Carndonagh. She most recently established the 'Yarn Spinners of Inishowen' knitting circle. She became involved with the Carbon Footprint Project when Seema stopped by the knitting circle one day and taught the group to spin. Ruth had already been an avid drop spindler and promptly became hooked on spinning on the wheel almost as soon as Seema showed her the joys of using her Ashford wheel. Now Ruth spins when she should be doing other things and buys wheels and fleece instead of food.

Ruth has been our local 'in' on the project and has truly been invaluable. We appreciate every ounce of work and enthusiasm that she puts into it and wouldn't possibly know what to do with out her!

Free Spinning Workshop in Carndonagh.

2010-08-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

We are going to be holding a drop spinning workshop on Tuesday, August 24th from 1 - 5 pm at Colgan Hall on Chapel Street in Carndonagh.

We are really excited to get this going and are hoping that you will be able to join us. This free workshop includes wool and a drop spindle for you to take home. Please feel free to just drop in between 1 and 5 pm. It should only take an hour for you to learn how to spin. If these times don't work for you we would be happy to organize a time in the evening that you would be able to attend. Please just send me a message and we can work something out.

Here is a link to the facebook event please join our group to learn more about the project and about subsequent workshops in Moville and Buncrana. Be sure to tell all of your friends who live in these communities! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141806529192659

Please feel free to email us with any questions at carbonfootprintproject.blogspot.com

Meet the Participants

2010-08-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Say hello to our main providers of the project, the sheep from Trean House Farms!

Carbon Footprint and the Lovely Weather Artist Residency

2010-08-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

The Lovely Weather Project is a thematic residency sponsored by Donegal County Council Public Art Office along with Leonardo/OLATS. The purpose of the residency is to explore how art can address issues around global warming and climate change, specifically in County Donegal.

Carbon Footprint is a multi-disciplinary project devised by the Artist in Residence for the Inishowen area, Seema Goel.

Seema’s project, Carbon Footprint, uses wool and spinning as the primary metaphor to articulate the intrinsic relationship between climate change and economics. Locally, sheep wool has become valueless and is a zero profit material for the farming community. Yet this material has incredible versatility, history, and worth if explored. This project works to rejuvenate the use of local wool framing it as a political act that separates the green house gas emissions graph from the GDP graph.

Seema’s piece for this residency depends on the help of local residents in the Inishowen area. We will be putting on a series of workshops in Buncrana, Moville and Carndonagh next week to teach people how to spin the wool on simple drop spindles. This skill will then be used on August 28th from 3-5 p.m. as part of a concurrent public performance in each community where people will be spinning in front of empty storefronts.

All the wool will later be knit into socks that will be part of the gallery show in Letterkenny in November.