I'm excited to share that I have a piece in the upcoming Feltmakers Ireland exhibition, 'Symbols of Ireland'.
Guild members were asked the following:
"We invite guild members to explore and interpret the rich cultural and historical imagery associated with Ireland. The theme is open to various representations, including traditional symbols, as well as more contemporary or personal expressions of Irish identity, landscape, folklore, and heritage. Artists are encouraged to present works that reflect their unique perspective on Ireland’s symbolic landscape through visual, conceptual, or abstract forms. This open call welcomes all artistic styles and interpretations."
I am on the guild's committee and help with its blog, social media, and backend computer stuff (but no programming!). So, I have been a busy bee, to say the least!
However, I DID manage to create a unique piece for the show: a Poolbeg Seaweed Witch Hat.
What is a Poolbeg Seaweed Witch Hat, you ask? It's a combination of seaweedy fronds and the two iconic chimney towers. They are Dublin's second tallest structures, not including church spires and cell phone masts.
Here's what it looks like. It isn't exactly an easy hat to photograph, but it does look cute on! The seaweed leaves were ecoprinted with seaweed. So that is another new learning experience (along with all the 'adulting' I do for the guild).
"Having lived in Ireland for only three years, Juliane continues to explore and connect with her adopted city of Dublin.
Everywhere she turns, Ireland's layered history reveals itself. In the countryside, ancient neolithic dolmens and medieval castles emerge from the landscape like echoes of the past. In the city, abandoned buildings stand as silent witnesses to time, their weathered facades haunting the streets. These monumental and forgotten human-made structures shape Ireland's unique character—blending memory, identity, and transformation.
Among the many landmarks she admires are the Poolbeg Chimneys—remnants of a former power station—whose striking silhouette is woven into the fabric of the city's landscape. Walking through Dublin, she finds the red and white striped towers peeking out from unexpected places, much like the elusive figure in the 'Where's Wally?' picture books. They seem to be everywhere—an unmistakable and ever-present emblem of the city."
IF you are not able to visit Ireland, don't worry. I will continue to share sneak peeks and, eventually, the exhibition catalogue, over on the Feltmakers Ireland blog and social media: @feltmakers_ireland