Issue 82 of Glass Network features resilience theme

Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) members will shortly be receiving their copies of the May edition of our print magazine, Glass Network. As our usual editor, Kirsteen Aubrey, has decided to step away for the time being for health reasons, I have taken on the editorship alongside my duties as editor of Glass Network digital. She hopes to return to the role in the future and we wish her a speedy recovery.

This edition has the theme of ‘resilience’. It is not easy to forge a successful career in the creative industries and the past few years have been particularly tough for everyone, with the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now we face further challenges, with high energy costs hitting glassblowing particularly hard, along with high inflation.

However, creative people are hardy and adaptable. As the articles in this issue demonstrate, the path to maintaining a career as a glass artist or manufacturer is not always straightforward or easy. Determination and the support of the glass community help us to keep going and believe in our work.

I hope reading the stories of the contributors in this issue will show that even glass artists at the pinnacle of the industry have had many setbacks along the way – both physical and mental – and continue to adapt to survive and thrive.

We feature articles by no less than two people with MBEs – glass engraver Alison Kinnaird and stained glass practitioner John Reyntiens. Both are widely admired, but they provide honest and open accounts of their trials and tribulations.

Thank you to all the contributors for sharing their experiences so willingly.

Glass Network itself is also evolving; we now produce a digital edition of each print magazine, which members can find in the Resources section of the CGS website. When logged in on the Resources page, click on the ‘Members’ Area’ tab on the right and below that you’ll find ‘CGS Glass Network Magazines’, where you can click the link or scan the QR code to take you to each of the last few editions.

Our tireless Administrator Pam Reekie also requests that any member who hasn’t been receiving at least one email each week from CGS to contact her on admin@cgs.org.uk, as we have been having problems with some email accounts.

If you have an idea for an article for the next edition of Glass Network (November 2023 issue, publishing in October) – or for the rolling online news of Glass Network digital – please contact me on linda@wordbanks.uk.

Linda Banks

Image: ‘Leopard Lady’ by Alison Kinnaird MBE, who features in the May issue of CGS’s Glass Network magazine.