WORKSHOPS About the Workshops Generally In recent workshops, I have concentrated on getting participants to recognise their own creativity, and through this, increasing their enjoyment and understanding of contemporary visual art. In order to achieve this, I have developed a series of unique exercises to allow the participants to experience the wealth of their own imagination. These workshops can take on many formats, a day long workshop, or a series of evening workshops over a number of weeks, for example. Although the objective is serious, I have devised the workshops in such a way that they are also enjoyable and sociable for the participants. (More details available if required.)

'Do you see what I see ?' Objective of this workshop. To stimulate interest in, and promote a knowledge and appreciation of, architecture through art in keeping with the objectives in Kildare County Councils 'Making Inroads' Arts Development Plan. Summery:- By giving the children a structure to explore and investigate the visual elements of their built environment, they will learn to recognise shape, form, colour and texture. In addition, by getting involved in spatial organisation they will increase their sensitivity to their surroundings. In tandem with this, they will increase their vocabulary to help them express what they have learned. This workshop is a stand-alone project designed to be a companion to the current primary school curriculum, and will be an enriching visual arts experience. It aims to stimulate awareness of aesthetics in the built environment. By exploring the shape, form, and function of the buildings around them, the workshop is designed to enrich the children's appreciation of their manmade environment both through observation and the use of their imaginations. It will help the children look at buildings with fresh eyes and with an enriched understanding of both the aesthetic and functional elements of architecture.

O'Connell Court Cork The Time capsule workshop 2005 Objective:- To produce an innovative artwork (installation) based on the process of the artists interaction with the residents of O’Connell Court, Cork, Ireland, Participants 8 elderly homeless residents with mental health difficulties. Time scale April- Sept 2005 Funded by : National Lottery & Health Board. This residency was set up to have a two-way effect- and it did. Both the artist and the residents grew through the interaction. A process using a series of 18 workshops was in which the residents will explore their own creativity with the artist. From the interaction in the workshops the artist produced an installation The installation consisted of a 2.4m high octagonal space with walls of backlit magnified skin photos, with the artefacts from the residents being incorporated on shelves. It evolved as the residency progressed.

The Butterfly boat in Dame street March 2003 The Butterfly boat Jan-March 2003 Target population - Gay Pride float for the St Patricks Day Parade (Dublin) Participants - 10 Members of the Lesbian and Gay Community increasing to 24 by the end. Time scale - Jan -March 2003- 8 workshops and 2 weekends Funded by Café (now Create) and St Patricks Day Festival . Description:- Cáfe (now Create) having invited me to participate in the Artist in the Community Programme attached to the Dublin Pride Parade 2005. We advertised this Artist in the Community workshops in the Gay press and at gay venue. Twelve people were selected to participate . Once again, I deliberately selected people who had little or no contact with the arts. The concept of the Boat was developed from collective interactive explorations of gay themes at a series of workshops I ran at Outhouse (Dublin Lbgt community centre). I sketched the ideas that we had developed during the workshops. Because the group were so enthusiastic, and because we could get some funding from the Dublin Saint Patricks day Festival, we decided to physically build the product of our imaginings. The boat was completed and featured in the 2003 Dublin Saint Patricks Day parade. It was 2m wide and 6m long with a high of 6.5m tall. _______________________________________

workshop- Sept - Nov. 2002 Outhouse Outhouse Residency (centre for the gay and lesbian community in Dublin) Funded by Café ( now Create ) Participants Members of the Gay community in Dublin. Time scale Sept-Oct 2002 a series of 5 workshops Description:- Whilst running social nights in Dublins gay and lesbian community centre, I decided that I would create a series of art workshops with this community. There was no funding available, but the venue was available, so I went ahead. I advertised the workshops in the Gay press and at gay venues. From the answers we selected ten people. I deliberately selected people who had little or no contact with the arts, but who showed real curiosity about the visual arts. It was an 8 week programme, one night a week and one weekend + a visit to IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin The objectives of the programme were threefold:- 1. get non artists to explore their own imagination, and find and express their individual creative abilities. 2 To get the group to work as a team, and in this way to investigate their collective creativity 3 To gain an ease with the visual arts that would enable and encourage them to frequent art galleries and exhibitions after the project was finished. _______________________________________

Examples of recent residencies:- Fifi participated in this Residency in White Castle, Athy, Co. Kildare in Nov 2006 It was run by the County Kildare Arts Office and had 3 international visiting artists, and 7 participating Kildare artists. It was very intense and very inspiring for the participating artists. Lucina Russell of Kildare County Councils arts office had the imagination and vision to support this symposium and artist Sally Timmons was the very able facilator. More will spring from this convocation of visual artists - I have no doubt Fifi and fellow artist Clodagh Kelly undertook an emotional survey of the castle on the last day of the symposium