Contemporary glass exhibition at Sussex Prairie Garden

A wander through the Sussex Prairie Garden in West Sussex this summer and autumn enables you to interact not only with an array of beautiful flora and fauna, but also with a dazzling array of contemporary glass created by members of the Contemporary Glass Society. The ‘Expressions of Nature’ 3D sculpture exhibition features diverse glass art from 13 artists and is on now until 15 October 2023.

Sussex Prairie Gardens is Britain’s largest ‘Prairie’, or naturalistic, garden, with eight acres of stunning gardens to roam around. The exhibition, organised and curated by glass artist Gabrielle Argent, features established and emerging glass and mixed media artists from around the UK.

As well as freestanding glass artworks, there are combinations of art glass with wood, metal and stone. They look spectacular placed amongst the drought-resistant perennials and grasses which continue to grow throughout the summer and autumn. The sculptures accentuate the vista with enticing art forms emerging from the foliage.

“This is an immersive exhibition which invites visitors to explore art in the landscape,” says Gabrielle. “Each sculpture has been placed to interact with the plants around it, complementing the colours, textures and life cycle of the prairie planting. The placing of the artwork is in sync with the orientation of the sun to make it sing with colour, texture and meaning. The result is a glorious experience for visitors within the stunning prairie planting. Artists have embraced the brief in such innovative ways.  Visitors can switch off and tune into the therapeutic benefits of nature in this beautiful open space.”

CGS members taking part alongside Gabrielle include Gail Boothman, Isobel Brunsdon, Emma Butler-Cole Aiken, Nettleberry Dawn, Magda Gay, Ian Godfrey, Gay Hutchings, Lisa Pettibone, Susan Purser Hope, Steve Robinson, Clare Summons and Helen Twigge-Molecey.

“Collectively, the art glass on show represents a remarkably wide range of glassmaking techniques, including fused, lampworking, leaded, stained, copper foiled, etched, mirrored, screen printed, sandblasted and hand-blown glass,” notes Susan Purser Hope, chair of the CGS and a participating artist.

Sussex Prairie Garden is at Morlands Farm, Wheatsheaf Road (B2116), near Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9AT. The garden is open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays from 1-5pm. More information via the website.

Image: Steven Robinson’s ‘Ocean Haze’ and ‘Koi Dance’ in the foreground at the Sussex Prairie Garden.