British Glass Foundation

Having posted about those fantastic Owls at Broadfield House Glass Museum, I suddently thought it might be worth a quick post to let people know about the work of the British Glass Foundation. 

The organisation was set up in response to the threatened closure of Broadfield House - and so aims to make more people aware of the outstanding glass collections and archives held by Dudley Council.  But the Foundation is also interested and involved in the wider glass world - both heritage and contemporary.  So, if you have an interest in glass, click this link to access their website: British Glass Foundation.

Back to the Future

I've had some great news this month: my proposal has been selected for an exhibition at Broadfield House Glass Museum - "Back to the Future".  The pressure's on, as the exhibition will take place during the International Festival of Glass this summer - so there should be lots of glass-obsessed visitors!

Back to the Future will celebrate 400 years - yes, that's four hundred - of glassmaking in Stourbridge (in the West Midlands).  Contemporary glass artists were asked to propose work inspired by the historic glass collections held by Dudley Council - which runs Broadfield House.












If you're close enough to visit the Museum, I'd recommend it - there really is something for everyone.  One of my favourite finds during this project was the cabinet of glass owls - the "Wilkie Cooper Collection".  The pictures show just a tiny taster!  I was definitely tempted to use them as the inspiration for my proposal - but went in an entirely different direction.  More on that another time.

Heart of Glass - now at Bilston Craft Gallery

And I thought that the beginning of the year would be quiet...doh!  It's more than halfway through February before I make my first post of the year...

First up, some exhibition news.  Chance Moments, my book-based work, is currently part of an exhibition - Heart of Glass - in the First Floor Gallery at Bilston Craft Gallery.  The picture above (image: Simon Bruntnell) shows one of the five handmade books.  It's a joint exhibition with three other glass makers: Vic Bamforth, George Jackson and Jo Newman, and runs until 10 March. Like me, they all have studio spaces at the Ruskin Glass Centre.  It was great to see the exhibition come together - as we all use glass in such different ways.

Bilston's Main Gallery is showing an exhibition called Kitchen Garden so there is plenty to see if you get chance to visit.

The First Floor Gallery is a great space, which Bilston Gallery hires out to local (ie West Midlands-based) artist / makers.  There's plenty of wall space, lots of light and some well-designed plinths. And a big plus: the gallery were really helpful during set-up - providing drinks, a toolkit (which proved useful even though we'd brought our own) and invaluable assistance.  We'd never had it so good!  If you'd like to use the space yourself, further information is on the Bilston Craft Gallery website.

Secretive urban nature

This week, I've been busy making bindings so I can turn an edition of The Urbanites into books.  The deadline is next Tuesday - when Simon Bruntnell has been booked for a photo-shoot! (Simon took the image above, of an oak-framed edition of The Urbanites).

The glass came back from acid dipping yesterday - so it has been a mad scramble to get the individual pieces seated within their respective book blocks.  I've just screwed the first one together (the binding uses book screws / interscrews)...it's looking hopeful. 

Presenting the pieces as books was the original concept for the collection: you have to take the trouble to open the book to appreciate the beauty within.  Just like the nature within our towns and cities...

Expect some photos next week!

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog site for Redpath Glass - well Georgia Redpath really, because Redpath Glass is  simply my business name.