Date: Monday, 8th November 2010
Time: 7.30pm
Location: University of Ulster, Magee Campus
Introduced by: Noelle McAlinden, Creative Adviser, City of Culture Team, Llex and WEA.

Garvan Traynor
Goldsmith and Jewellery Designer

Biog
Garvan specialises in private commissions designing one-off pieces of quality contemporary jewellery, often including input in the design process from his clients.

Garvan's exhibition collections find inspiration from a broad range of contemporary influences,for example, recent exhibitions have been based on contemporary political, architectural and industrial themes. Having a solid technical background in goldsmithing, he ensures that the realisation of his minimal, clean, design aesthetic is rooted in high quality craftsmanship.

Recent highlights include regular commissions for the local film industry: gold rings for Shirley Maclaine in Richard Attenborough's 'Closing the Ring', a futuristic mayoral chain worn by Bill Murray in 'City of Embers', and medieval items for 'Your Highness' starring Natalie Portman. Garvan, in conjunction with his sister Celine (also a Goldsmith), was commissioned by the Mayor of Derry to design and make a St Patrick's Day gift for the new Obama Administration. Private commissions include private collections, wedding and engagement rings and other one off jewellery items. In 2010 Garvan was selected by the Ulster Museum and Craft NI as one of the top 10 designer-makers on the 'C3' collectors programme.

Garvan is a guest tutor at the University of Ulster Art College and also runs private tuition courses for people interested in learning goldsmithing skills and making their own piece of jewellery.

Date: Monday, 15th November 2010
Time: 7.30pm
Location:University of Ulster, Magee Campus

Conann Fitzpatrick
Art, Design, Animation, Photography and Curiosity

Biog
"Artist, animator, designer, painter, child, parent, human. These are lenses altering the way we see and interact with the world. They are interchangeable. Pick the one that makes waking up a pleasure and run with it. Each perspective takes time and energy to develop. There is a scene in the film "The Right Stuff", where the astronauts blow into a tube lifting a ping pong ball held in a tube. I can only focus on one perspective at a time and only for so long before the others fall. It's not juggling. It's a pipe organ and whether it is working, or not is abundantly clear to all around. What I hope for, when I work is that sensation of peak experience. That moment of resonance, most attainable in animation, most enjoyable in design, and longest lasting as an artist."

Conann works in a wide range of creaive and digital media: including 3D Design and Animation, Drawing, painting and photography, print and web design. In this session, he will explain how his creative and professional journey has diversified and developed from the perspctive of his business.

Connan will also give a "whistle stop" introduction to the range of new social media options which could be considerd for those who are interested in promoting their create businesses