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Major international lace exhibition Hybrid weaves its way around Limerick

Major international lace exhibition Hybrid, a multi-site exhibition and conference exploring the past, present and future of lace addressing the role of multiple influences in the creation of contemporary lace inspired work has arrived in Limer ick from October 24 – November 4.
 
The exhibitions will be showcased at the Council Offices, Merchant’s Quay; LIT Limerick School of Art and Design, Clare Street and FabLab, Rutland Street. lace exhibition Hybrid.
 
‘Hybrid; Limerick Lace Liminal Identity’ reflects the fact Limerick lace is a hybrid lace – it is both a handmade and a machine made lace as the lace is embroidered on a machine-made net.  This coming together of old and new technology to make something beautiful has been the defining aspect of Limerick Lace. lace exhibition Hybrid.
 
lace exhibition Hybrid

Picture: Alan Place

 
Hybrid is a major joint project between Limerick Museum and Archives and LIT’s Limerick School of Art and Design. This is an important international lace exhibition with exhibits on display from Ireland, Britain and France. Hybrid will display both international and local, modern and historic, lace-related items.
 
The use of multi-site locations aims to imprint a stamp or footprint of lace on Limerick once again.  Lace was once made and sold throughout the city.  Fablab on Rutland Street focuses on process and the mechanics of lacemaking, the stitches and their structure.  Here a key exhibition is the work of current lacemakers in Limerick to traditional designs juxtaposed with art work made instead with laser cutting and digital technology.
 
Bringing lace to the streets of Limerick Polish artist Nespoon has spun a stunning weblike piece in the Plaza outside the council offices at Merchant’s Quay. While inside an exhibition of new designs for lace by students of LSAD will be on display in the Glazed Street. Making a bold statement are the windows of the former Town Hall where the logo HYBRID is emblazoned across the front of the building using the windows to frame the exhibition logo. 
 
The Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon said:”Hybrid is bringing Limerick Lace back to the masses, back into the public sphere. It’s great to see the public enjoying NeSpoon’s art work – acknowledging in a fun way the great tradition of lace making in Limerick.”
 
Other locations include The Church Gallery in Clare Street which showcases some stunning examples of Limerick lace including a christening robe on loan from Lady Dunraven, a beautiful dress in Carrickmacross lace on loan from Lady Limerick.  The exhibitions also include samples of Kenmare lace and Irish crochet which are juxtaposed with artworks inspired by lace.
 
Giordana Giache lecturer at Limerick School of Art and Design said: “The principles and beauty of lace are represented by works on display which are inspired by lace.  Lace emerges from the world of textiles and becomes the inspiration for works in metal by Jane Murtagh and in glass by Róisín de Buitléar.  Michael Canning’s suite of works inspired by Limerick lace forms a centre piece.”
 
 
“I think that it is no exaggeration to describe Limerick as Ireland’s lace capital.  Limerick had the largest lace industry in Irish history.  At its height, the industry employed 1,800 women and girls in Limerick, and its products were exported all over the world.  It  became a high fashion item, worn by some of the most influential women in the world – Queen Victoria, Queen Louis of the Belgians and the American First Lady Edith Roosevelt.  It is also of interest in this centenary year of the 1916 Rising that one of the rebel leaders, Countess Markievicz also wore Limerick lace,” she added.
 
Jacqui Hayes, Archivist with Limerick City and County Council said: “Not only is Limerick the capital of Irish lace, but it has established links with Calais, the capital of French lace and Nottingham, the capital of British lace.  I am delighted to see that exhibits from Britain and France are included in the exhibition, underlying how lace is an international network, to coin a phrase, a global network of which Limerick lace has been an important part for nearly 200 years.”
 

Read more about the International Lace Exhibition Hybrid here.

Check out NeSpoon here.

Check out LSAD here.


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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.