that have been released to a more general audience. But of note is the two-day workshop hosted at Joseph Walsh studio that has come to be known as Making In.
Making In/24
Making In/24 was the most recent of the two-day events that started in 2017 as an initial conference titled, “Decoding Craftmanship,” involving a series of talks and workshops, which opened the conversation on how emerging technologies can enable a new form of craftsmanship.
Joseph Walsh established Making In in 2017 to celebrate making as a significant aspect of our culture. Conceived as an annual gathering where creative voices were invited to share their stories of making in art, architecture, design and craft, Making In has featured leading Irish and international names. Making In seeks to share international perspectives and to sow the seeds of new ideas around the culture of making.
As previously mentioned, the gathering takes place on the property that hosts Joseph Walsh Studio. This property sits in the rural countryside of Fartha, Riverstick, County Cork. As such the surroundings feature sections of trees and tree-lined pastures that hold sheep and/or cattle, and barley or wheat fields. It is within these stunning wooded and pastoral surroundings that Walsh builds his products, hosts guests, and works with the trainees who participate in his programs. As a counterpoint to these utilitarian buildings are several sculptural pieces and two beautifully crafted outlier buildings: one built by a master Irish stone mason and another featuring a soaring thatched roof built by a master Japanese craftsman. Added this year is an outdoor theater space designed by the architectural firm of O’Donnell + Tuomey.
But what centers all of Walsh’s work, the art and architecture, and the conversations is the event known as Making In. Previous events have centered on such themes as Public, Place, Time, and Concert. The theme of Making In /24 was Circle, which considered the cyclical and consequential aspects of making across craft, art, design, architecture, fashion, gastronomy and performance. Moderator Glenn Adamson outlined the thinking and goals of the event in the following way:
The spin of a lathe. The steady rotation of a potter’s wheel. The regular tap of hammer - twice on anvil, once on steel. Then the larger patterns of the day, the week, the seasons: it’s in cycles, large and small, that we measure our making. This year, our annual gathering - the seventh in the series - will attend to these many rhythmic dynamics. We’ll also be exploring circular motion in another, related sense: the embracing, inclusive social forms in which makers thrive.
The event combined individual presentations, as well as panels and conversations led by moderator Adamson. Additionally, a Kabuki presentation, featuring actor Nakamura Shikan VIII, christened the new stage designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey and made by highly-skilled craftsman specializing in wood and stone.
Making In/24 participants included (biographies compliment of Making In/24 and other sources):
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Shigeru Ban is a Japanese Pritzker Prize winner architect, known for his innovative work with recycled cardboard paper tubes and wood. He became consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1995, established the NGO, Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN) in the same year and made significant contributions to disaster relief efforts worldwide. (See: https://shigerubanarchitects.com/)
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Iris van Herpen is considered one of fashion’s most forward-thinking designers, who combines innovative techniques with
traditional couture craftsmanship to capture the intricacy of the natural world. She and her house have been awarded membership in the
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