About the Artist

Coastal Surroundings

Bernadette worked as a boat captain in San Francisco for many years. During her downtime she attended night classes where she fell in love with clay. She returned home to Co. Meath in 2011 to care give to her parents and pursue her ambition of reinvention through an Art degree. Her ambitions brought her to Thomastown Pottery Skills and Design BA and to  Crawford College of Art in Cork in 2014. Settling in Cork city her ongoing affinity with the Sea translated into explorations into the undeniably beautiful places, accessible only by kayak, along the Co. Cork coastline with her partner, sculptor Denis Lynch.  

These coastal explorations and observations continue to influence Bernadette’s work offering infinite creative happiness and eternal gratitude in the process.

“Through my explorations by sea into places accessible only by kayak I venture into hidden, undervalued and undeniably beautiful places.

My explorations have led me to question our relationship with the landscape and our role in responsible stewardship of our coastal surroundings.

Although the coastline appears rugged, an impervious protective bulwark against the Atlantic and the elements, it is vulnerable to human impact. This vulnerability is expressed in the use of stressed clay in my work and by balancing the ceramic sculptures on small bases.”

“I carefully manipulate found coastal materials, sand etc. into the individual pieces. Drift wood and other found items become integrated into the work by using them to mark make, impress and score the clay. This creates a visible narrative from these inaccessible coastal places to the gallery viewing public, an opportunity to reconnect with nature.

My form of storytelling gives a tangible sculptural expression to the creative and erosive dialog of these Littoral zones, articulating the relationship between humanity and our vulnerable landscape.”

Education

  • Ceramic Department Resident Artist - Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork - 09/18 to 06/ 2019

  • B.A (Hons) Contemporary Applied Art, Ceramics, Glass & Textiles - Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork, Ireland - 06 / 2018

  • Kiln Cast Glass Sculpture - Shanghai University of Fine Art, Shanghai, China - 05 / 2017

  • B.A Pottery Skills & Design Course - Design & Crafts Council of Ireland & National University of Ireland, Thomastown Co. Kilkenny, Ireland - 09 / 2014

  • Ceramic, Ceramic Sculpture, Design, Art History - City College of San Francisco, Fort Mason Campus, San Francisco - 2000 / 2011

Awards

  • Thomas Dammann Junior Memorial Trust - Research Award 2021

  • Meath County Council Arts Office - Going Solo Award  2019

  • Design & Crafts Council of Ireland - Future Makers Award  2019

  • Crawford College of Art & Design - Graduate Residency Award Ceramics  2018 - 19

  • D.B.I. - Purchase Prize  2018

  • Cork Craft & Design - Emerge Award  2018

Residencies

  • Direenacappera, Beara Peninsula, Cork Ireland - Artists Residency - April 2021

  • Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork, Ireland - Ceramics Residency - Sept 2018 - June 2019

  • Shanghai University of Fine Art, Shanghai China - Kiln Cast Glass Study Exchange - March 2017 - May 2017

Master Class

  • 2014 - Master Class  Lisa Hammond · Two day Workshop - Demonstration Lecture D.C.C.I. Thomastown, Ireland

  • 2013 - Master Class  Walter Keeler · Two day Workshop - Demonstration-Lecture  D.C.C.I. Thomastown, Ireland

  • 2012 - Master Class  Ken Eastman · One day Workshop · Lecture University Limerick, Ireland

  • 2012 - Master Class  David Frith · Three day Workshop · D.C.C.I. Thomastown, Ireland

  • 2012 - Ceramics Ireland Raku Workshop · One day Workshop ·  D.C.C.I. Thomastown, Ireland

U.S.A.

  • 2004 - Molly Prior · Pit Fire Workshop · One day Workshop · Dillion Beach, Tomales, California, U.S.A.

  • 2002 - Master Class Josh De Weese · One day Workshop · C.C.S.F. Fort Mason Campus, San Francisco California, U.S.A.