Summer School Family Workshop: 'Shoal' Clay Making at Dublin Port

Family friendly event, no experience is necessary. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Old or protective clothing recommended.

Explore how an artist works and try out working with clay. Artist Vanessa Daws will start with an introduction to how she gets ideas for her artworks and talk about the types of fish that might live in Dublin Bay. Alongside Vanessa and artist and potter Dylan Clucas, participants will design and create their fish in clay. The fish will be taken away at the end of the workshop to glaze and fire. Your fish will then join many more to be part of Shoal, a large collaborative artwork which will be exhibited in a gallery.

Shoal is a wall-based ceramic artwork that explores and celebrates sea creatures and fish that live in Dublin Bay. The work will consist of around 400 small ceramic fish made in art workshops that will come together to create a large shoal on the wall of Cube Gallery, as part of an exhibition by the artist Vanesa Daws at the LAB Gallery in September 2024.

Meet at the orange cabin at the entrance to The Pumphouse, Alexandra Road, Dublin Port at 3pm. Alternatively you can walk from The Point Luas stop at 2:45pm with a member of staff.

This is a free event, booking essential as spaces are limited. One booking per child, accompanying adult does not need to book. You will be asked to confirm your attendance in order to hold your booking, the week of the event.

Vanessa Daws is a visual artist and long-distance swimmer, her art projects work at the intersection of art, swimming and place. For the past four years Vanessa has been working with curator Rosie Hermon on Swimming a Long Way Together, a series of live art events and exhibitions inspired by the 20th century pioneer swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, who was the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927. Swimming a Long Way Together is a celebration of swimming and swimming communities and has created place in locations in Ireland, Northern Ireland and England.

This year, Summer School takes place alongside Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home, two exhibitions at The Pumphouse surrounded by the active logistical operations of the thriving Dublin Port. The exhibitions are produced and curated by Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, in partnership with Dublin Port Company.

Event Location Information: This workshop will take place at the Pumphouse location in Dublin Port. There is limited wheelchair access to the exhibitions and some uneven surfaces outside. There is an accessible toilet. The workshop will take place indoors with access to outdoors also. There will be seating available. For further details on accessibility please contact Learning + Public Engagement Curator Orla Goodwin.