Taster Session No. 1

Noelle McAlinden started the session by explaining the background of the City of Culture bid which was presented by Derry City Council and Ilec earlier this year. As we know, the bid was successful and a plethora of exciting plans are coming together well for 2013.

This venture is expected to not only impact Derry/Londonderry as a city but also the rest of Northern Ireland and the closest southern counties. Noelle described the success of winning as being a “vote of confidence about what creatives can do and put themselves on a world stage”. There are other bids due to be announced in the coming days which would also impact 2013, so we will wait to hear their outcomes.

After showing the nomination video, Noelle offered those attending an invitation to visit the City of Culture office in the Guildhall Square (where coincidently, the WEA is presently showing a photography exhibition produced by our one of our Older People’s projects). The office is happy to meet people, hear about potential projects and keen to connect with others from outside of the city and local area. So those attending can not only gain but also contribute to the successes during 2013 but also be part of the continued legacy afterwards.

She also said that she is delighted to work with the WEA and commended the project and especially the name “Creativity Thirst”.

Garvan showed us right form the start, how creativity is an integral part of who he is. Even from a very young age, making things and working with his hands has always been something that he has enjoyed. This interest developed further as he studied and graduated at the University of Ulster. He became more proficient, picked up new influences and practical skills and combined that with the discipline of a strong work ethic when he went to CCol Kilkenny. This was followed by an apprenticeship in Holland where he saw how jewellery could be worn in different ways and he recognised its unlimited boundaries. Referring to his time away, Garvan said,

“Once you have developed your own style and gained experience, one thing leaps to another and drives opportunities forward”.

Following time away, Garvan came back home and worked for local designers whilst his own work continued in the background. This has progressed into his full time business where he now works on private commissions for the likes of the film industry, corporate commissions, galleries, etc. His business skills are also essential and his time in Kilkenny emphasised the need for time management, keeping his finances in order, consultation skills, etc.

Taster Session No.2

Conann Fitzpatrick delivered the second Taster Session for the “Creativity Thirst” project in the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster. This session took place on the 15th November 10 and started with an introduction from Conann outlining projects delivered by the University, where innovation and creativity are the main agenda.

Following this, he continued the session by describing his own creative background. Like Garvan in the first session, Conann remembers drawing from a very young age. He further developed his skills in drawing and painting into photography and his subject matter demonstrated his interest with the contrasts of light and dark, fluid dynamics and atmosphere. His career began in Dublin, followed by a time in London and then he was offered a job in “DreamWorks” in LA where he worked on illustrations and animation for the “Prince of Egypt” film. The early animation was drawn by hand but as the film progressed, so did technology which enabled the film to be completed by digital animation.

Conann had developed a schedule of extensive hours in the studio, where he drew continuously until he was diagnosed with a serious condition (brought on by repetitive strain) which would mean that this pace of work would have to stop. This came as a jolt as drawing was so significant to him. Alternative approaches to drawing were discovered as time went on and although he was forced to go back home to Dublin from LA, Canaan’s interest and “pull” to create continued. His work took a different direction as he began working in a drug rehabilitation centre, where he met many people and adopted different styles of working.

“My life was a mixture of falling in with style and things falling on my lap”.

Further opportunities opened up through delivering training programmes and networking with different kinds of people. Conann developed a series of animated, short, educational films to be used by laser eye consultants and these demonstrated the processes involved in eye surgery procedures. He also works in 3D Design, designing products from computers to furniture. Each opportunity demonstrates how his expertise can help others to explain their services.

Conann also gave an introduction to the potential of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and described how these can be used within their social networking contexts and as marketing tools. He described how peoples’ interests connect and how our similarities can be captured in marketing.

More can be seen on Conann by going to his website address: www.conann.com