‘Holiday Heaven’ glass postcard show winners announced

The winner of the ‘Best in Show’ category in the Contemporary Glass Society’s (CGS) ‘Holiday Heaven’ exhibition at the International Festival of Glass 2022 was fused glass artist Sarah Aumayer.

Her piece, entitled ‘Umama’, was inspired by the Commonwealth country Lesotho, which is in Southern Africa. It beat off competition from around 100 other entries that had been submitted for the show by CGS members.

CGS Chair Susan Purser Hope explains, “Over the last couple of years, many of us have not been able to venture abroad, so CGS asked its members to use their imaginations to take themselves around the world instead. In this year of the Commonwealth Games, we celebrated the diversity and richness of the 54 countries that make up the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific.”

Nearly 100 CGS members created their own special and unique glass postcards which were launched at the International Festival of Glass at the Ruskin Centre, in Stourbridge.

The exhibition continues until 28 September 2022.

Sarah’s prize of £300 was sponsored by Alan J Poole. She has been working with fused glass for nearly 20 years. Originally from Cornwall, she now lives in North Somerset where she has a home studio for her business, Mydsomer Studio. She creates contemporary, abstract and stylised items in fused glass.

The other winners were:

Runners Up (each receiving £100, sponsored By Mark Holford):

Rachel Elliott
Penny Riley-Smith
Nour El Huda
Ray Taylor

Highly Commended (each receiving £50, sponsored by Alan J Poole):

Marc Fresko
Morag Reekie
Glenn Godden
Opal Seabrook

Pearsons Glass also gave a prize to the artist whose postcard has the Most Innovative Interpretation of the Commonwealth theme. This was awarded to David Reekie.

Visitors can still view the exhibition and choose their favourite to nominate for the ‘People’s Prize’ (£300, sponsored by Mark Holford).

In addition, all of these mini holiday postcards are for sale at prices ranging from £50 to £100, raising funds for the CGS.

Many postcards sold within the first two hours after launch, but there are still some available. Contact Pam Reekie on email: admin@cgs.org.uk if you would like to purchase one.

The exhibition is located at the Ruskin Glass Centre, The Glasshouse, Wollaston Road, Amblecote, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 4HF and continues until 28 September 2022.

Main image: Best in Show winner ‘Umama’, by Sarah Aumayer.