Kilkenny Arts Fest: flamboyant & flirty, or crafty and happy? It'll all be there!

The fabulous Kilkenny Arts Festival 2011 program is here! 

Once again, it is choc-a-blok with intriguing offerings in the areas of music, theatre, dance, literature, visual arts, craft, and kids' events. Where else would you be able to hear a ''flamboyant harpsichordist,'' (Christophe Rousset,) see dance theatre for free from ''incorrigable flirts'' ponydance (so says the Irish Times!) and groove to Mongolian traditional music with ''western sensibility'' from Hanggai!?!

I am so going to this!! Hanggai
 I'll be blogging on the Craft Strand, and an exciting theme in the strand this year is literature & books.

Modified Expression will be on at The National Craft Gallery, with a range of makers responding to the theme.
Here's one of them with a rather otherworldly video done in the Dublin suburbs last winter- calligraphy in the snow by Denis Brown, The Real Quill Skill

There will be bookbinding workshops, papercraft workshops and birdsong related workshops for the kids all at the National Craft Gallery. 

Laoise O'Brien & Lorna Donlon

For the adults, 'How Happy For The Little Birds' is a musical programme connected to the crafts works from Lorna Donlon on display in the Castle Yard- a response to the musical repertoire.

There will also be an artists' talk in the National Craft Gallery, and an early evening Celebration of the Year Of Craft .

Hot Glass Divas will be on at Jerpoint Glass Studio
 I'm also really looking forward to seeing the Hot Glass Divas works on show at Jerpoint Glass (located outside of Thomastown,) - definitely worth a drive, because you can then also see the exhibits on show at Grennan Mill Craft School.

Clive Nunn is one of the makers who'll be showing in Grennan Mill. Check out the others by clicking here & scrolling down to where the listings are for 'Other Selections.' There are plenty to see!


 So there's a small taste of the Festival. It is well worth going to; nothing is expensive, much is free, and Kilkenny is a lovely, small city- easy to get around on foot. Take some time out, check all the listings, & plan to enjoy some fun, unusual, thought provoking & beautiful exhibits and events. See you there!