LET BEAUTY WANDER FREE
Demonstration 1: Friday 20 June – 11.00 SOLD OUT
Joan Lockhart – “Irish Linen”
Born in the Lagan Valley in Northern Ireland the home of the production of Irish Linen, Joan is inspired by the industry that was a major source of employment throughout the region. She shares with us her fascination with the rich history of this subject. A keen competitor at both National and World Shows, Joan has competed in UK, South Africa and USA. The highlights of her career were achieving two Chelsea medals, and arranging flowers in Westminster Cathedral.
Olive O’Shea – “Poetry, a part of Us”
Since Olive qualified as a Demonstrator she has travelled the country displaying seasonal themes, incorporating poetry and music into her style of demonstrating to inspire and bring the audience into her world of flowers. Her love of gardening was inherited from her grandfather. As a result of this early influence, she achieved the high standard required for her garden to be included in the 2001 edition of the “O’Brien Guide to Irish Gardens”.
Brid Coonan – “Where the Shannon Flows”
Born in Co. Tipperary, Brid has lived near the Shannon for most of her life and it is the inspiration for her demonstration. The Shannon is the longest river in Ireland and its captivating beauty has inspired poetry and song. Brid will share an insight into its ancient sites, secret places and stories. She is a qualified and experienced Demonstrator and Teacher. Brid staged the Honorary Exhibit for Ireland at the WAFA Seminar, “A Celtic Journey” in 2012 and will be Chairman of AOIFA in 2014
Demonstration 2: Saturday 21 June – 11.00
Rose Hickey – “Through the Garden Gate”
A native of Co. Cork, Rose is a qualified Demonstrator and Teacher. She enjoys travelling to demonstrate all over Ireland and she is a very keen competitor. She gained first prize at the WAFA Ireland Seminar Show “A Celtic Journey” 2012 and has competed many times at national level. She has loved gardening since childhood and is constantly inspired by the beauty of nature. Rose will use an array of wonderful plant material in her demonstration.
Veronica McMahon – “The Boyne Valley”
Veronica is a qualified Demonstrator and Teacher. She loves the challenge of judging and the research involved but it is demonstrating that allows her the freedom of creative expression and takes her the length and breadth of the country entertaining audiences. She enjoys sharing her artistic skills and imparting her extensive knowledge of plants and flowers. Veronica lives in the smallest county in Ireland, Co. Louth, in the ancient and historic area of “The Boyne Valley.”
Alan Beatty – “Exploring the genius of Gerard Manley Hopkins”
Alan was born into a farming family in rural Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland and it was inevitable that he would develop a love of all things natural – both plants and animals. He has an intense appreciation of nature and is greatly inspired by the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. A NAFAS National Demonstrator, Judge and Speaker, he demonstrates regularly in the UK and Ireland. Alan has demonstrated at a NAFAS National Show and also in Malta, Spain and the USA.
Demonstration 3: Sunday 22 June – 14.00
Diane Gallagher – “Dublin’s Fair City”
Diane is a qualified Demonstrator, Teacher and Judge and enjoys visiting clubs all over the country. She is particularly inspired by the Literature, Poetry and Architecture of her native Dublin and uses vibrant colours to create designs depicting the character of our capital city. A keen competitor in National Competitions, Diane won two silver awards at Bloom in the Park 2012.
James Burnside – “Music in the Air”
James is a NAFAS National Demonstrator, Judge, Teacher and Adjudicator for demonstrators. He has demonstrated throughout the UK, Ireland and extensively overseas. A very keen gardener he is well known for the use of garden plant material when demonstrating and competing. He achieved Best Use of Garden Plant Material at a NAFAS National Show and at an AOIFA National Show 2011, where he also won the Best in Show Award. He achieved Horticultural Perfection at WAFA New Zealand, and Gold at Canada Blooms 2008. James will share his great love of plants and Music.
Una Fleming – “Ireland of the Welcomes”
Céad Míle Fáilte romhaibh! A hundred thousand welcomes! Visitors are welcomed to share our beautiful country, warm hospitality and friendly people. In her Demonstration Una will portray our universal friendship through flowers. She is a qualified Teacher, Demonstrator, Judge and will be President of AOIFA in 2014.Una has represented Ireland at Canada Blooms and achieved a Silver Award and judged at the 10th World Flower Show in Boston 2011.
INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS – ENCHANTED WORLD
Demonstration 1: Thursday 19 June – 17.00 SOLD OUT
Les Brent – South Africa
Les has a floral career spanning 30 years and is a SAFU National Judge and Demonstrator. As an active floral artist, she is involved in demonstrating, exhibitions, teaching and workshops. Amongst her proud achievements are Gold at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, first place at WAFA 7th World Show in Glasgow, first at the 8th World Show in Japan, plus the Nippon Floral Designers Special Award for Best Design (by a non Japanese contestant), and 2nd place at 10th World Show in Boston. Having won the SAFU Designer of the Year award, she was responsible for the South African Honorary design at the Boston World Show.
Magda Trucchi – Italy
Magda attended EDFA Imperia (Ente Decorazione Floreale Amatori) for five years and gained a Floral Decorator Diploma followed by a Floral Demonstrator Diploma at IIDFA Sanremo, (Istituto Italiano Decorazione Floreale per Amatori – Sanremo). She has participated in many international shows and competitions all over the world including Chelsea Flower Show and has won many prizes. Among them: Monte Carlo (Gold, Silver, Bronze), Brussels, Brescia, Paris, Genoa (Third, Mention), Imperia (Ist Prize, 2nd Prize, IIDFA Prize – New Style, Elegance Prize). She has represented Italy at Canada Blooms in Toronto where she received the Gold and the International Design Award. Magda was the Italian Honorary Exhibitor at WAFA Show 2011 in Boston.
Jonathan Moseley – United Kingdom
Jonathan works as a freelance designer based at Dronfield in Derbyshire. The world of flowers is a passion for him and he uses his love of nature and his garden as a focus for many of his designs. He is a qualified NAFAS National Demonstrator, Adjudicator and Instructor for Demonstrators. He has demonstrated at the NAFAS National Show in 2001, at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and in Ireland. He was designer and team leader of the NAFAS Chelsea exhibit in 2012 which was featured on BBC television and won a coveted Silver Gilt medal. Annually he designs a unique celebration entitled “Florabundance” at Chatsworth House the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
Demonstration 2: Friday 20 June – 14.00
Jane Godshalk – USA
Jane is on the faculty of Longwood Gardens, one of the finest botanical gardens in the US. She teaches floral design, demonstrates and gives workshops across the country. Among her numerous awards are the Garden Club of America’s medal for “consistently innovative floral designs” and the American Horticultural Society’s Great American Gardener Award for “significant contributions to floral design in publications, on the platform and to the public”.
Francine Thomas – New Zealand
Francine has a wealth of experience working in many areas of the floriculture business. Prior to setting up her own business “A Floral Affair by Francine” in June 2010 she worked as the manager of a Flower Wholesaler for 8 years. Francine comes from a family of florists which has provided her with a wealth of practical knowledge and first hand experience. She has a formal background in Horticulture and attained the Floral Art Society of New Zealand’s National Diplomas in Demonstrating, Judging and Teaching.
David Yearwood – Barbados
David commenced work in flower arranging at the age of 14 and is now Managing Director of “David’s Flower World and Design Studio” He participated in floristry training in the U.K. and entered Chelsea Flower Show in 1990. He has exhibited at many World Shows – in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland, and Japan, and among the many prizes he has won are one Gold, and two Silver awards. David has demonstrated at home and abroad including Japan, U.K, Northern Ireland and Jamaica.
LECTURES
Thursday 19 June – 14.00: Eileen Gray – A Great Irish Modernist
Lecturer – Dr. Jennifer Goff, Curator of Furniture, Ceramics, Music, Scientific Instruments and the Eileen Gray Collection at the National Museum of Ireland, has just finished a PhD on Eileen Gray. Her lecture will focus on Eileen Gray and her work – lacquer ware, furniture design and architectural projects throughout her career.
Title: ‘Eileen Gray – a great Irish Modernist.’
Eileen Gray was born in August 1878 near the town of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, in southeast Ireland. In 1898, when she was twenty years old, Gray began her studies at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London. In 1900 she moved to France and stayed there until 1905. Read more…
Thursday 19 June – 14.00: The Burren – A Rocky Place
Lecturer – George Sevastopulo is a geologist and retired Professor from Trinity College, Dublin, who has published extensively on the geology of Ireland. He is an enthusiastic field botanist and gardener, specialising in alpine plants and bulbs. The Burren is an area in the west of Ireland famous for its landscape of limestone pavement. The lecture will describe the geology of the Burren, explore some of its more notable archaeological and historical sites that extend back to the Neolithic era, and illustrate its diverse and beautiful artic-alpine flora. In conclusion, it will discuss the challenges in conserving this unique area.
‘The Burren – A Rocky Place.’
The Burren, which forms the south side of Galway Bay is a unique area displaying spectacular archaeology, botany and geology. Carboniferous Limestone deposited some 335 million years ago forms areas of bare pavement traversed by narrow linear, steep sided depressions, or grykes, formed by solution of the limestone. Read More…
Friday 20 June – 11.00: The Phoenix Park: Its Trees and Landscapes.
Lecturer – John McCullen is a landscape horticulturist and landscape historian. He is author of “An illustrated history of the Phoenix Park” which covers the landscape management and development of the Phoenix Park for which he was awarded a PhD. from the History of Art department, Trinity College Dublin. He was formerly Chief Park Superintendent with the Office of Public Works. The lecture will explore the historic landscapes of the Phoenix Park from its formation in 1662 to the present time.
The Phoenix Park Dublin
The Phoenix Park is one of Europe’s largest enclosed recreational spaces in any capital city. It is larger than all of London’s city parks put together and more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park. It celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2012. Read More…..
Friday 20 June – 11.00: Free Spirits in Irish Art – Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone
Lecturer – Dr. Sighle Bhreathnach-Lynch is an art historian and writer. Recently retired from the National Gallery of Ireland as Curator of Irish Art (1998 -2009) she continues to research, publish and lecture on all aspects of Irish art. Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone were responsible for introducing modern art to Ireland. It was a radical path in the twentieth century and their groundbreaking ideas and pioneering art are explored in this talk.
‘Free Spirits in Irish Art: Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone’.
The early twentieth century was an exciting period in Irish cultural history. With the coming of political independence (1922) came a move to create a distinctive national art for the ‘new’ Ireland. Many painters were drawn to the dramatic landscape of the West with its unique features. But two women chose instead to pursue an exceptionally radical path and the credit for introducing Cubism and Modernism goes to two Dubliners, Mainie Jellett (1897– 1944) and Evie Hone (1894 – 1955).
Mainie Jellett promoted Abstract art throughout her career while Evie Hone became a considerable stained-glass artist. Their groundbreaking work and the ideas underpinning them are explored in this talk.
Saturday 21 June – 11.00: In the Footsteps of Augustine Henry
Lecturer – Seamus O’Brien is Ireland’s leading authority on plants from the temperate regions of China. His travels in pursuit of plants have taken him across Nepal, India, China, California, Chile, New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. His lecture will tell the tale of Augustine Henry, the great Irish 19th century plant hunter and his plant collecting in China and how over a century later, Irish botanists and horticulturists led by Seamus O’Brien retraced his footsteps across the length and breadth of China.
‘In the Footsteps of Augustine Henry.’
Augustine Henry is Ireland’s most famous plant hunter and explorer. Born in 1857, he was the son of an Irish famine emigrant and grew up in Co. Derry. Henry left Ireland in 1881 to take up a medical post with the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service. When he first arrived in China Western botanists believed no new plants remained to be discovered. Read More….
Saturday 21 June – 11.00: A Woman for All Seasons – Mrs Mary Delany – Cancelled
Lecturer – Nora Connolly, Raconteur and Dramatist, has collected antique costumes for over twenty years. From her interest in drama and literature she portrays women in history, dressed in period costume. Nora studied folklore, history and literature and she graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts from Saor Ollscoil na h-Eireann in 1997. The subject of the lecture is the famous Mrs. Mary Delany, born over 300 years ago. Between the ages of seventy-three and eighty-two Mary Delany created nearly 1,000 pictures of flowers made from hundreds of pieces of coloured paper, which are now kept in the British Museum.
‘A Woman for all Seasons – Mrs. Mary Delany.’
During her long life, Mary Delany (1700-1788) was in many ways a typical 18th-century society lady of accomplishments. She had already made a name for herself with her exquisite works of embroidery, decorative shell work and landscape sketches and was an avid student of botany, zoology and the natural sciences. Read more…
Source: WAFA – The Demonstrations at WAFA World Flower Show 2014
