Frances Crowe

Tapestry maker

©Mike Hourigan

©Michelle Hurson

Weaving herself into the work

Frances hand weaves using the Goblin method
She meticulously plans each piece
Her work is socially and politically engaged

A skilled craftsperson with over 35 years’ experience, Frances Crowe is one of only a handful of tapestry weavers in Ireland. Her compositions tell complex stories. She wants her pieces to encourage empathy and dialogue around contemporary themes, be it climate change or separation due to emigration. She creates personal landscapes which represent global events. Her works are characterised by their unusual finishes often leaving her pieces raw to reflect the rawness of the subject matter. Environmentally conscious, Frances uses eco-friendly threads, sourced locally and often hand dyed. She feels the splendid isolation of being at one with her craft simulates personal growth as her tapestries physically grow at her fingertips.

Interview

©Keith Nolan

©Mike Hourigan

Do you remember the first work you made?: The first woven tapestry I created was a large sculptural rope construction. It was a very physically demanding piece both to make and to display. It was shown in the Project Gallery, Dublin and caused quite a stir.
What are your sources of inspiration?: My inspiration comes from the need to express a feeling, communicate a sense of outrage or to tell a story. I see or read about atrocities in the news and I think about how these affect individuals, be it displacement, separation, climate change or Covid-19.
Can you describe a little bit of how you work?: I start by researching, walking, thinking, drawing, painting and planning. I then enlarge the design to the correct size and scale. The next job is warping up the loom. The cartoon is hung on the back as a guide and marked onto white cotton warp as the weaving begins to grow.
Is there a memorable moment in your professional life that stands out?: When I was selected to showcase my tapestries for the first time in the 10th International Fibre Art Biennale, called "From Lausanne to Beijing" which was held in Shenzhen China in 2016 – that was very exciting. I travelled there and met many like-minded artists from around the globe.

Frances Crowe is a master artisan: she began her career in 1978 and she started teaching in 1990