News from May 2014

Emerald Energy is SOLD

When I posted this image on Facebook a friend from my past saw it and asked to buy it .  I took Emerald Energy on the plane to Denmark in my hand luggage.  The thought of loading it into my suitcase scared me too much, so wrapped in armfuls of bubble wrap, EE passed through the x-ray machine at Gatwick and set off all the alarm bells.    The Customs Officer showed me the x-ray screen and EE was showing up as a solid black spiky mass and asked me what it was.  "Oh it's just a piece of glass" I laughed.  He wasn't laughing as he asked me to put my hand slowly into my handbag and pull the item out even slower.  When I finally uncovered EE from all the bubble wrap, he exclaimed "Oh what a lovely thing".  We then went on to have a wonderful conversation and I was on my way to Copenhagen.

Bryan Forbes and his partner Dorth Thi Dieu with EE in their  hallway.  They live in a beautiful house surrounded by three lakes and dense forest.  Every evening EE is switched on and glows a bright vivid green that acts as a beacon for all their friends to see as they approach the house.  

Contemporary Glass Society Online Gallery 'Softly Softly' - Part 1

Curated by Angela Jarmin.

Not having had any of my work in an online gallery before, and to be chosen for this 'Softly Softly' Exhibition gave me a huge thrill.  I made this sheet of fused glass whilst in college (WMC Camden) under the tutorage of Katherine Hewlett .  It was her that pushed me to apply for a placement at University (UCA Farnham).

Contemporary Glass Society - Online Gallery - Wild at Heart

I entered 'Bourbon' the Robo-Dog - he does have a master 'Jammy Dodger', but as you can tell by the title of the gallery Jammy had to lie low for this outing.

Jammy and Bourbon were both created from the packaging from inside a tin of biscuits we had eaten last Christmas 2013.  Wax was poured into the packaging and once hardened, looked like wax biscuits.  I started playing with the shapes, without even thinking of a theme, and within minutes Jammy and Bourbon came into being.

Please click on the link above to view the whole collection of artists that entered into CGS's online gallery entitled 'Wild at Heart'.

Huge 2.5 Million Volt Captured Lightning Sculpture Being Discharged

This is a Lichtenberg Figure.  Thousands of volts of electricity are passed through a polished acrylic block and then hit with a sharp metal stick.  This releases the electricity, which acts like lightening to create the beautiful feathered effect within the acrylic.

After researching Lichtenberg figures, I actually found one in a charity shop on Holloway Road.  What was the chance of that happening!  Thank you Universe.

Centrifugal Force Spun Glass

What a thrill, spinning glass ……

Today I have been researching centrifugal glass artists.  So far I have found 2.  Richard Morrell in Australia and Simon Pearce, whereabouts unknown.  I am totally flabbergasted that this amazing technique of forming glass is so unpopular or rare… because I just love it.  The thrill of seeing the hot glass spinning totally excites me.. is that wrong?

Anyhoo, I've had a go and these are my resulting pieces.  I would love to do more, time permitting.

Limbo competition at UNI Christmas party 2013

Musical chairs at UNI Christmas party 2013

Tru Beginnings show poster

'TRU BEGINNINGS' SHOW

Friday 4th April 2014

With barely 3 minutes to spare, I arrived at our show.  Panicking that the Deputy Mayor of Farnham's visit was imminent and I hadn't even got my work properly displayed yet.  People from Uni had arrived already and the Pimms was going down nicely.  The photographer from the Farnham Herald was already clicking away, herself expectant of Councillor Ricketts appearance to open the show alongside Mr. Robert Pulley, our new Head of Crafts and Art at UCA (The University for the Creative Arts), Farnham.  Fashionable late, Councillor Ricketts arrived at 8pm and conversed with myself and some of the other members of the group who were also displaying some of their work.

I believe the evening was a success - I shall wait to see if the Farnham Herald think so too.

Bob Pulley - Head of Craft and Art, UCA Farnham

Bob Pulley (Left) & Deputy Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Jeremy Ricketts

Anna Pegg with her forged steel mirror

Kanako Mizojiri, overseas exchange student from Japan

Georgia Downey, blown glass vessels

Craig Richardson, hand formed clay sculptures

Sheryl Vaughan, cast glass

Kanako Mizojiri, ceramic moulded forms

Samantha Kitching, aluminium jewellery

Emily Tailford, kiln formed copper and glass sculptures

A sneak preview of just one of the items I will be showing at ' Tru Beginnings', Museum of Farnham, Farnham, UK. 5th & 6th April, 2014

Here is a peek at something I will be showing.
A centrifugal force spun plate with hot glass pulled cane inclusions. Inspired from the street seller in Majorca I saw whilst on holiday aged 9. He used an old potters wheel to spin coloured oil paints on canvas. Superspirograph was on my hit list for Christmas that year!

Deputy Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Ricketts and Robert Pulley of UCA Farnham will be opening our Exhibition this Friday 4th April, 2014

TRU BEGINNINGS is an exhibition of up and coming 2^nd year Three Dimensional Design BA(Hons) students from The University of the Creative Arts Farnham, showcasing ceramics, glass, metalwork and jewellery. Tru beginnings is based on a common connection of discovering the love of their chosen material from early childhood and pre-teenage years.  The Private Viewing is being held on Friday 4^th April at 7pm and will be jointly opened by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jeremy Ricketts and the newly appointed Bob Pulley, UCA’s Head of School for Craft and Design.

The show features work from:

Anna Pegg who takes inspiration from nature and pattern to create forged and cast pieces of metalwork that are reminiscent of Art Nouveau.

Craig Richardson who creates ceramic pieces influenced by his love of order and balance of repetitive patterns.

Emelye Tailford who creates sculptural glass art, through casting processes and glass blowing. Her work portrays a sense of playfulness and experimentation.

Georgia Downey who works mainly with blown glass and cold working techniques to create sculptural, yet functional glass pieces. She explores irregular organic forms as an influence for the shape and structure of her work.

                                                    

Kanako Mizojiri who explores her interests in the abstract, making organic shape sculptures that are each built up of many different wheel-thrown sections. These sections are joined together to make gentle rhythmic patterns that represent the current of waves, colour and light from her childhood memories of floating in the sea.

Sammy Kitching who takes inspiration from fashion and bright colours, to create a loud impression with her work and on to the people that view it. She enjoys traditional techniques and simple ideas that can trigger inspirations in to creating something unique yet memorable.

… and Sheryl Vaughan who explores the field of colourful cast glass by constructing new forms from objects that evoke memories from shared moments with her family.

Items of work will be on sale and refreshments will be available.

Access to the gallery will be through the garden side gate when the museum is closed.

To be held at:

The Garden Gallery

The Museum of Farnham

38 West Street

Farnham

Surrey

GU9 7DX

5^th - 6^th April 2014

10am - 6pm

Entry: Free of Charge

All ages welcome

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trubeginnings

The Warm Glass Competition 2014

Well, sadly I did not make it into the final five contestants this year for the Warm Glass Prize.  Good luck to the 5 that did make it through, and better luck to me next year.
Check out the competition

Recently joined to UCA - Mr. Robert Pulley - Head of School: Crafts & Arts

Welcome to UCA Bob

Porcelain orb light fittings from Beth Lewis-Williams - images from Margate.  Seen at 'Rising Stars 2014' Exhibition - The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham Surrey UK March 2014

Japanese Exhibition February 2014 at the British Museum

What amazing carving skills the Japanese had in the early centuries of our time.  This white jade is the most wonderful example of 3DD carving.  No 3D printer used then!

TRU BEGINNINGS EXHIBITION - 2ND YEAR STUDENTS - END OF YEAR SHOW