Echoes of Glass

Over this summer, I've been involved in a project for Black Country Echoes, looking at the role of women in the Black Country's glass industry since WWII. The final exhibition is now up and running at Plowden & Thompson, the home of Tudor Crystal (the address is Stewkins, Stourbridge, DY8 4YN).  Come down and have a look - it'll be open weekdays, 9.30am to 3.30pm from 10 September to 3 October 2014.

As well as my work, you can see the work of three other Ruskin-based artists: Terri L Colledge (cameo glass and enamelled glassware), Carol Griffin (enamelled copper) and Jo Newman (kiln-formed glass). There's also a display of Tudor Crystal, and a variety of Plowden & Thompson samples (including some fascinating industrial glass and special commissions).

In addition to the exhibition, you can take a tour behind the scenes at the glass factory: Mondays to Thursdays there will be full tours at 10am, 11am, 12pm (these will usually include glass blowing and cutting); there's also a tour at 2pm (with cutting only).  On Fridays, there will only be a 10am tour. If you'd like to book your tour in advance, you can call 01384 392525.

After Plowden & Thompson, the exhibition will tour to Ruskin Glass Centre and Dudley Archives. Though I may need to make my piece a little smaller for those venues..!

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.