Calum Dawes wins the 2021 Amanda Moriarty Prize

This year’s winner of the CGS Amanda Moriarty Prize, Calum Dawes, says the award will enable him to extend the work he has been developing on his own during lockdown, as he has found it challenging to fit his three-stage process around busy workshop schedules.

A delighted Calum explained, “I’m really grateful for this opportunity … Hopefully, I can produce something really exciting with the support of CGS and Devereux & Huskie. Can’t think of a better way to start 2021!”

He intends to submit the resulting new glass artwork for The Cheongju International Craft Biennal, 2021 or, if that is not feasible because of scheduling or Covid restrictions, for the British Glass Biennale in 2022.

Calum graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2019 with a BA Glass & Ceramics. In the same year, he won the Glass Sellers Art & Craft Student Award and was placed third in the Contemporary Glass Society 2019 Glass Prize.

This year, Wiltshire-based Devereux & Huskie Glassworks is providing the prize of a four-day residency in the studio. James Devereux and Katherine Huskie, both accomplished glass artists in their own right, are experienced in facilitating the creative ideas of designers and glass makers.  

In his application, Calum explained about his latest pieces: “This work is a continuing development of my love of illustration and glass as a sculptural material. The form and optical qualities of the glass interact with the illustrations in ways other materials don’t, while the imagery lends the piece narrative and context.

“It is a body of work I have been developing on my own time, but I have hit a wall, due to making them on my own and having to try to fit within the busy workshop schedule. These pieces are a three-stage process: first the bowls are blown, then they are painted with high-fire vitreous enamels, after which they are picked up in the hot shop. The painting is fired on and then each bowl is stuffed with a mass of molten glass in order to fill it. Finally, sculptural elements are added right before the piece is put away. 

“Initially they were designed in this manner for me to be able to produce under current limitations and I have made several of these pieces. However, I have found I have reached a limit in size and complexity, partly due to the workshop schedule (inadequate time to anneal a thicker piece) and partly due to not having much access to assistance.

“During this residency I would hope to use Katie and James’ extensive wealth of knowledge and experience to help troubleshoot issues in the making of this work on a larger scale, as well as their practical and technical skills to improve my own making of these pieces in the future. I would like to gaff the pieces, to push myself and my glass making skills, using this opportunity to develop new skills.”

The annual Amanda Moriarty Prize is designed to enable one CGS member to achieve something unique, fulfilling their creative ambition or adding to their technical skill set. It was launched in memory of Amanda Moriarty, a long-serving Board member and Honorary Treasurer, who sadly passed away in 2017. It celebrates her passion for, and encouragement of, glass making.

Main feature image: Calum Dawes in the workshop.