“Furnishing the Details” – Farmleigh Gallery

Walnut stool by Shane Tubrid

Farmleigh Gallery’s inaugural exhibition programme has witnessed to date the very best in contemporary Irish and international craft, design, and fine art.  In keeping with this approach, Furnishing the Details showcases furniture designed and made by students and graduates of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) Letterfrack.  The exhibition title was coined for GMIT by author Colm Toibín. The show serves to highlight the Institute’s status as a centre of excellence and innovation in contemporary furniture design, excellence in making, restoration, production, research and technology. 

Emphasis is given to the design and making of contemporary furniture alongside the sensitive restoration and conservation of traditional furniture pieces.  The expertise of staff and students and the distinctiveness of the programmes in Letterfrack are represented in a highly professional and visually striking way.  Both manual skills and the most up-to-date technology have been employed to create the stunning exhibits.

The show includes work by John Ryan, winner of the Design Student of the Year Award 2006. His innovative shower unit was awarded ‘Best Design’ by The Irish Contract Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (ICONF). The winning piece will go on to be displayed at the Plan Expo in the RDS during November of this year (2006).

Accompanying the show will be a beautifully designed, full-colour exhibition catalogue featuring President Mary McAleese’s personal response to the exhibits and the college, along with an essay by poet and Aosdána member Mary O’Malley.  This specially commissioned catalogue by GMIT Letterfrack includes stunning photographic souvenirs of each exhibition piece.

Furnishing the Details also featured a lecture series over three consecutive Thursday evenings, commencing Thursday 12^th October. ‘Design’ is the lecture series theme and it boasts an exciting line-up of speakers including Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin and President of the Georgian Society and Laura Mays, contemporary furniture designer and maker, who will deliver varied perspectives on design from a furniture and architectural perspective.

The show took place from 5^th October to 5^th November 2006 and was well received by all who visited.  Numerous features surrounding the exhibition were publicised in the media.