Raphaela McCormack

I was born in the West of Ireland and lived there until my late twenties. This land is always in me and my work is inspired by it.

The pounding of the vast sea. the barren land with it's bent trees, the wind that sends clouds racing across big skies, the brown bogs stretching as far as the eye can see, gray stone walls surrounding fields, a landscape in a gap between two stones. the ancient mountains cloaked in sweet smelling gorse and heather, live in my bones.

Initially my soul is touched by a moment in my current life. As I reflect on this, Ireland's textures, colours, materials and forms. provide the language to capture the meaning of this experience. I then create my vessel in accordance with this root language. I use twine, rope, driftwood and other detritus. I create colours of lichen, the sky, water and the bogs.

Vessels are my major form. I am compelled by the meaning I observe in the relationships of the world. The vessel provides an ideal vehicle to explore these relationships, particularly between interior and exterior life. This choice allows me to embark on a journey with each idea. For me this is a dance between creator and created.

When the vessel transcends my initial idea. I am finished. I see my journey completed and the vessel is ready to continue it's journey beyond me.

Education:
2005	Certified Qi Gong therapist
2001-2003	Studied Qi Gong Therapy at the Qi Gong Institute of Rochester
2001	Attended a two day workshop on book binding techniques at the Visual Studies Workshop
1978-1980	National College Of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland. Completed a series of courses in the fields of design and weaving. Studies focused on drawing, surface decoration, fabric printing, fashion design, the history of art and textile weaving.
1976	Vocational Tech. College Ballinasloe Co. Galway, completed a course in carpentry.
1971-1973	College of Art, Dun-Laoire Co Dublin, Completed a series of courses in metal work, using brass and copper making 2d.and 3d. sculptures.
1971-1973	College of Design Dublin, Diploma in Interior Design. Course involved, architectural drawings, plans, elevations, perspective drawings, building construction drawings, colour and floor plans for private houses, commercial buildings and hotels, stage design, graphic design, history of furniture, furniture design and drawing, colour study and business studies.
Exhibitions:
2006	Exhibition planned for March in a Fine Art Gallery in Clonmel Ireland.
2005	The Paper Sculpture Show, at the Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester
2004	Fine Crafts Exhibit. Memorial Art Gallery.
2004	“Made in New York” exhibition Schweinfurth Museum Auburn NY
2003	One person exhibition at the Dyer Arts Center at N.T.I.D. Rochester
2003	“Salon De Refuse” Visual Studies Work shop, Rochester
2003	“Made in New York” exhibit Schweinfurth, Aurburn NY
2003	Large body of work at Gallery at the Point, Sodus Point NY
2003	One person exhibit, at the Wayne Arts Center, Newark NY
2003	Group exhibit at Gallery 15, Prince Street Rochester NY
2003	One person exhibit at the Rochester Yacht Club, NY
2002	“Food for the Soul” Group exhibit at the Valley Manor, East Avenue Rochester, NY
2002	“Boats and The Psyche of Man” Best of show, Newark Wayne Arts Center.
2002	“Made in New York exhibit at Schweinfurth Museum Auburn NY
2001	Large body of work at the Elizabeth Collection Gallery, Rochester
2001	“Made in New York exhibit Schweinfurth Museum Auburn NY
2001	“Finger Lake Exhibition” Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY
2000	“Boyle Festival” Art Exhibition, Ireland, Three pieces in a group exhibition, in the West of Ireland.
2000	Large body of work in an exhibition in the Schweinfurth Museum, Auburn
1999	Work shown at Craft Company No.6 Rochester
1998	Work shown at Veni Vedi Gallery, in Rochester
1998	“Woman’s Art Works” exhibit. At Bausch & Lomb Headquarters, Rochester.
1997	Group Exhibition at The Pyramid Art Center in Rochester
Awards:
2002	Best of Show; Boats and The Psyche of Man
2002	Award Merit for Paper Sculpture at the Clothesline Craft Show
1986	Award of Merit for weaving at the Clothesline Craft Show
1986	First Prize at the North Eastern Awning Convention for Interior Awning Design for the Shearton Hotel in Batavia NY
1984	Award of Merit for weaving at the Clothesline Craft Show
1983	Award of Merit for weaving at the Clothesline Craft Show
1983	First Prize at the North Eastern Awning Convention for Interior Awning Design.
1981	One-year scholarship awarded by the Irish Government to study weaving and textiles in Finland.
Work Experience:
Present:	Sculpting paper into one of a kind vessels, combining the paper with found objects and textiles. Teaching Qi Gong and T’ai Chi in the Rochester area, also giving Qi Gong treatments at an acupuncture clinic in the Rochester area. Freelance Interior Design consultant.
1982-1987	Textile weaving for craft fairs and exhibitions in the United States. Freelance design work for W.C. Forster Corp. Work involved awning designs and colour selections; interior work for the Holiday Inn at Rochester Airport, the Shearton Newark and Rochester Marine Inc. Additional work involved canvas applications in various two-and-three dimensional forms to camouflage ceiling duct work in swimming pool areas and banquet areas.
1977-1982	Working full time as a weaver, designing clothing for various craft shops in Ireland.
1976-1982	Freelance design work in Ireland. Work involved interiors and exteriors of private houses, reception areas in commercial buildings, layout planning and colour selection, furniture designs.
1975	Worked with architect and interior architect in Finland. Work involved restoration of mansion houses to their original state; restoration of railway stations houses across Finland; Cafes for Oil Stations, interiors for banks private houses and offices, designs for carpets for carpet manufactures based on the seasons, furniture design projects.
1975	Private collectors: in Ireland, United States, Finland and Germany.
1975	Two large pieces of paper sculpture on permanent exhibit, at the High Falls Gallery.