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CGS and Scottish Glass Society Stories exhibition opens

A joint exhibition of contemporary glass by members of the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) and the Scottish Glass Society (SGS) has been launched in Glasgow, Scotland.

‘Stories – Whispers from the Past and the Present’ takes place in two venues in Scotland, namely the Trades Hall, Glasgow, (14-22 September 2022) and then moves to the Wasps Creative Academy, Inverness (4-29 October 2022).

Exhibitors have been selected from members from both organisations in the UK and internationally.

The theme support’s Scotland’s Year of Stories, which is ongoing throughout 2022. This spotlights, celebrates and promotes the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. From icons of literature to local tales, the 2022 Year of Stories aims to encourage locals and visitors to experience a diversity of voices, take part in events and explore the places, people and cultures connected to all forms of stories, past and present.

‘Stories – Whispers from the Past and the Present’ encouraged the participating makers to consider the five strands of Scotland’s theme for 2022:

Iconic stories and storytellers: To showcase Scotland’s wealth of treasured and iconic stories and storytellers from classics to contemporary across literature, the screen and the entertainment world.
New stories: To shine a light on emerging, fresh and forward-looking talent and highlight the innovators who break boundaries across all forms of storytelling.
Scotland’s people and places: To promote how Scotland’s diverse culture, languages, landscapes and ways of life, urban and rural, provide a source for all types and forms of stories.
Local tales and legends: To bring to the forefront those distinct tales that communities pass through the generations. Those stories that we tell ourselves and share with others to make sense of time and place.
Inspired by nature: To feature our encounters with nature. Whether by the sea or land, along rivers or through woods, in city and country, we discover stories of birds, insects, animals and plants. These stories define our place in the natural world and help create a more sustainable future for Scotland, and a greener planet.

CGS Chair Susan Purser Hope said, “The exhibition will demonstrate how utterly glorious and amazing contemporary glass is, so that everyone can appreciate and enjoy its magical colours, textures, use of light and variety of techniques. It is also an opportunity for the public to discover not only local glass artists but also work from other parts of the UK.

“This is CGS’s second collaborative exhibition with the Scottish Glass Society.  The previous show was such a success that we are excited to have this wonderful opportunity to not only exhibit at the prestigious Trades Hall in Glasgow again but to tour the show to this exciting new venue in Inverness.”

The artists showing work are: Gregory Alliss, Carolyn Barlow, Karen Beggs, Isobel Brunsdon, Michael Bullen, Catherine Carr, Helen Cowart, Elizabeth Cull, Jacky Edwards, Claire Fairley, Fiona Fawcett, Pamela Freedman, Hannah Gibson, Steven Graham, Jianyong Guo, Siobhan Healey, Kate Henderson, Vicky Higginson, Alison Jardine, Alison Kinnaird, Tim Kirman, Jessie Lee, Frankie Leigh, Julie Light, Catherine Lowe, Chris MacCormick, Anthony McCabe, Judith McCrorie, Fiona McLean, Rhona Morrison, Wendy Newhofer, Emma Nightingale, Lois Parker, Ian Pearson, Rachel Phillips, Susan Purser Hope, Penny Riley-Smith, Charlotte Rodgers, Karen Shakespeare, Phillipa Silcock, Angela Thwaites, Gail Turbutt, Jane Vincent, Lee Watson, Brian Waugh, Liz Waugh McManus, Frans Wesselman, Sarah Wilkinson, Christina Yip, and Wang Ziyan.

Trades Hall is at 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UH. Website: https://www.tradeshallglasgow.co.uk

Wasps Creative Academy is at Midmills Building, Stephen’s St, Inverness IV2 3JP. Website: https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk

Image: (left) Alison Jardine’s ‘A Letter Home’ and (right) Frans Wesselman’s ‘The Seal Without her Skin’.

Apply for Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2023

Are you an artisan whose work sets new standards for the future of craft? If so, why not enter the Loewe Foundation’s sixth Craft Prize?

The organisation seeks to recognise uniquely talented craftspeople and its Craft Prize awards the winner a prize of 50,000 euros. In addition, the shortlisted and winning works will feature in an exhibition to be held in New York, USA, in Spring 2023.

Entries can be made by an individual or group and all nationalities are welcome.

Work submitted must demonstrate artistic intent, as well as technical proficiency, and should be handmade or partly handmade. It must also have been produced within the last five years, be one of a kind and have not won any prizes previously. It should be innovative, in the sense that it updates tradition. The work can be a single piece or a series.

An expert panel will select a shortlist of 30 works, which will be presented to a jury of 13 leading figures from the world of design, architecture, journalism, criticism and museum curatorship. This jury will choose the winner.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 25 October 2022.

The Spanish Loewe Foundation was established in 1988 by Enrique Loewe Lynch, a fourth-generation member of the Loewe family. Today, under the direction of his daughter Sheila Loewe, the Foundation continues to promote creativity, support educational programmes and safeguard heritage in the fields of poetry, dance, photography, art and craft.

Find out more and submit your application via this link.

In memory of a life well lived

Monarchist or Republican, Queen Elizabeth II’s passing is a time for us to pause and draw close to those we love and cherish – those who are important to us.

Sue and Pam
Chair and Adminstrator, Contemporary Glass Society

Bedazzling glass exhibitions at Pyramid Gallery, York

Two exhibitions of glass by members of the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) are launching at the Pyramid Gallery in York, England.

The ‘Bedazzled – 25 Glass Makers Impress’ exhibition is a selected show featuring the work of 25 artists to mark the CGS’s 25-year anniversary.

CGS Chair, Susan Purser Hope, commented, “We invited our members to provide us with glasswork that dazzles us with colour, technique, sparkles and quality. The exhibition aims to show us why glass is such a precious material to work with. And there are also some elements of silver to bedazzle us and to commemorate our 25 years.”

The chosen artists are: Sarah L Brown, Tabitha Burrill, Julie Coakley, Catherine Dunstan, Shirley Eccles, Jianyong Guo, Crispian Heath, Vicky Higginson, Catherine Hough, Alison Jardine, Juliette Leperlier, Monette Larsen, Catherine Mahé, Tracy Nicholls, Ian Palfrey, Susan Purser Hope, Morag Reekie, Helen Restorick, Cathryn Shilling, Elizabeth Sinková, Amy Skachill Burke, Helen Slater Stokes, Pippa Stacey and Liz Pearson, Nancy Sutcliffe, and Bethan Yates.

Pyramid Gallery owner Terry Brett was one of the panel who decided on the exhibits. He said, ‘The CGS is impressively well organised and able to attract submissions from a huge range of glass makers and artists. Between us, we have selected 25 individuals, many of whom are new to the gallery, but also several who we have worked with before. It will be an exciting and stimulating show that will certainly impress our customers and glass collectors.”

Alongside this show is a fun exhibition of small works submitted by over 50 CGS members. This display is called ‘Razzle Dazzle: Five x Five’, with pieces measuring no more than five inches square and for sale at prices to suit all budgets.

Both exhibitions are on from 10 September to 30 October 2022 at The Pyramid Gallery, 43 Stonegate, York YO1 8AW, England. https://www.pyramidgallery.com

If you cannot visit in person, why not find out more about the artists and the work for sale via this link?

Image: (left) ‘Microscopic Pools’ by Bethan Yates; (right) ‘Metamorphosis’ by Cathryn Shilling (photo: Agata Pec).

CGS launches The Human Condition online glass exhibition

Glass by Eva Walsh

Take a look at the latest CGS online exhibition, ‘The Human Condition’, which is featured on the CGS website until 30 October.

The theme for the exhibition is an exploration into what makes us human. CGS Chair, Susan Purser Hope, explains, “We wanted our member artists to really explore what characterises the essentials of human existence from birth and continues throughout our lives.

“We invited artists to ponder on birth, growth, emotion, aspiration, conflict and mortality, or simply demonstrate through their glass what makes them who they are. Their work celebrates their own personal condition, as they let their glass do the talking. They show us what they love, hate, fear and hope for.

“The aim of the ‘The Human Condition’ was to give CGS members the chance to reveal parts of themselves that might be vulnerable, challenging, or celebratory. The entirety of human experience involves being human and living human lives. We are mortal beings, and through our journeys as humans, we live through a cascade of biologically-determined events. It is how we react to or cope with these events that is the human condition.

“Put simply, the human condition is the act of living and everything it entails.”

The artists exhibiting are CGS members from the UK and around the world. They are: Janine Altman, Janette Garthwaite, Eva Walsh, Tali Grinshpan, Jo Mitchell, Nancy Sutcliffe, Nicholas Rutherford, Deák Zsuzsanna, Malina Cipleu, David Reekie, Becky Harris Cowley, Phillipa Candy, Teresa Chlapowski, Samantha Schmid, Elana Tree, Julia Kastler, Mariana Sabbatella, Julie Light, Linda Harris, Lesley Pyke, Annie Ross, Jacque Pavlosky, Steven Graham, Anne Scott, Lois Parker, Jan O’Highway, Mark Ammermann, Jacky Edwards, Hillary Heckard & Marco Signoretto , Morag Reekie, Zihao Xiong, Steve Jensen, Shannon Ellis Baker, Fabrizia Bazzo, Pascale Enfold, Vicky Higginson, Richard T Roberts, and Emma Borland.

After it ends its showcase spot on the website on 30 October, ‘The Human Condition’ exhibition will remain in the online gallery for the long term.

Image: ‘The Age of Enlightenment’ by Eva Walsh.

Ancient rings frozen in glass

US-based Jim Scheller makes glass art with an engineer’s eye, using kilnforming and coldworking to achieve his intricate pieces. Linda Banks finds out more.

What led you to start working with glass?

When I retired I guess I was hanging out at home too much. In 2012 my lovely wife saw an advertisement for an evening class at Bullseye in Portland in the US. She bought it for me as a gift. It turned out the be the gift that kept on giving.

Jim Scheller fell in love with kiln formed glass.


What glass techniques have you used and which do you prefer?

I’ve tried pretty much everything you can do in a kiln, except pate de verre (I’ve only made one very simple piece). I started with the usual, fusing two sheets of glass together and slumping that. Then I moved on to pattern bar-based pieces. I really enjoyed making thick things. I learned how to do lost wax casting from Nathan Sandberg at Pilchuck in 2014, which led to my ‘Tafoni’ series.

‘Tafoni 1841’ is made from kiln cast glass.

My most recent work is made using three-step moulds from Bullseye, starting with my ‘Lines’ collection.   For the past year I have been creating the ‘Ancient Rings’ series, which involves on-edge construction, followed by slumping with the Bullseye three-step moulds for deep vessels. I am really enjoying making deep vessels.

‘Lines’ series. Vessel Composition 33 – Planes Of Primary Lines.


What is your creative approach? Do you draw your ideas out or dive straight in with the materials?

Mostly, I imagine what I want to make. I run scenarios over and over in my mind. When I hit on something I like I make a quick sketch. However, in the case of the ‘DeStijl’ inspired pieces, where precise dimensions are important, I draw them out using PowerPoint. Any 2D CAD program will work, but I have years of experience in my previous life as an engineer making PowerPoints.

‘A Bowl for Guy de Lussigny’. This brightly coloured kiln formed glass vessel is inspried by the 1973 painting “Réf : 105 M III” by French artist Guy de Lussigny (1929 – 2001).


What inspires your work?

I am inspired by artists from the early 20th century, particularly the DeStijl movement of Dutch artists, who promoted geometric from in their work. My glass vessel designs are informed by studying the simplicity and abstraction of neoplasticism that they used. Inspiration for cast works comes from a fascination with the geological forms, textures and colours found in nature. As an engineer, I become immersed in the process of making, joining glass, heat and gravity to create works inviting one to view the once molten glass in a dance of light and colour.

This kiln formed glass vessel is inspired by Piet Mondrian’s 1943 painting ‘Broadway Boogie Woogie’.


What message(s) do you want to convey through your art? 

My message is to enjoy what you are seeing. The viewer can make up their own story.

‘Opaque Water’ is one of Jim Scheller’s large bowls.


What is your favourite tool or piece of equipment and why?

Right now, for the ‘Ancient Rings’ series, there is no way I could place the more than 15,000 tiny pieces without my 15mm tweezers. The strip cutter is a necessary tool. I also love the 24-inch flat lap.

‘Ancient Rings 21’ glows in green against the white glass.


Do you have a favourite piece you have made? Why is it your favourite?

I really like all the pieces in my ‘Ancient Rings’ series. If I had to pick a personal favourite right now from what I have done so far it would be ‘Ancient Rings 17’, because it is quite different to all the others.

Jim’s personal favourite currently is ‘Ancient Rings 17’.


Where do you show and sell your work?

I am represented by Philabaum Glass Gallery in Tuscon, Arizona and Piece Art Gallery in Vail, Colorado. I am also represented by Artful Home and Springfield Art Association, which is a wonderful organisation that offers so much to Springfield, Illinois, and the surrounding area. In addition, all of my work can be seen on my website.

What advice would you give to someone starting out on a career in glass?

It’s tough to make a living. I don’t. But some people can. My advice on any career would be what I followed in my ‘before glass’ life. This is to study hard and learn to be the best at what you do. Work hard at your job. People notice. Continue studying and improving. Love your work. People notice.

‘Tafoni 2’.


Do you have a career highlight?

Every time I have been to Pilchuck, in a class or residency, has been a highlight. I always come away with lifelong friends and inspirations for my art.

Another continuing highlight is the relationship I have with the galleries that carry my work. I am fortunate in that regard.

And finally…

I am in a show featuring my ‘Ancient Rings’, which opens on 4 February 2023 at Philabaum Glass Gallery.

 About the artist

Glass artist Jim Scheller.

Jim Scheller works exclusively in glass, kilnforming at his Macoupin Prairie Glassworks studio in Staunton, Illinois near his childhood home of Mt. Olive.

In September 2018, after 27 years, he moved from his forest home and studio – Chehalem Mountain Glassworks in Schools, Oregon.

After a long career as an engineer and technologist he discovered glass kilnforming in 2012.

He finds great pleasure in pushing the limits and developing new techniques. His works are composed with glass sheets, crushed glass (frit) and glass slabs (billets), which are fired to over 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. The fired works are extensively coldworked to achieve the final finish.

Find out more about Jim Scheller and his work via his website or follow him on Instagram: @schellerjim.

Main image: ‘Ancient Rings 12’. This series features many thousands of 9mm squares of glass that are slumped several times to achieve the deep bowl shape.

‘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.

Best in Show winner Sarah Aumayer (left) with CGS Chair Susan Purser Hope in front of the Holiday Heaven display of postcard-sized works of art at the International Festival of Glass.

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.

Apply now for CGS ‘Glorious Glass’ exhibition, Torquay

Throughout 2022 the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) has been marking its 25th anniversary – and the UN-designated International Year of Glass – with lots of exciting events and exhibitions across the country. All members are invited to take part in the grand finale exhibition of this momentous year, ‘Glorious Glass’, which will be held at the Artizan Gallery, in Torquay, Devon.

This show is unselected and open to all CGS members, regardless of where they are in their career or where they are located. All work in the exhibition will be for sale.

The exhibition will take place from 26 November to 24 December 2022.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 19 September 2022.

CGS Chair, Susan Purser Hope, explains, “The aim of the ‘Glorious Glass’ exhibition is to demonstrate how utterly glorious and amazing contemporary glass is, so that everyone can appreciate and enjoy its magical colours, textures, use of light and variety of techniques, as well as discovering their own local glass artists. The work displayed will feature as wide a range of techniques as possible. Although South-Western-based CGS members are encouraged to enter, all CGS members are welcome to take part.

“We are delighted to be exhibiting for the first time with Julie and Jacob Brandon at Torbay’s Artizan Gallery, which is an independent fine art gallery dedicated to championing the work of local artists in the South West.”

For more information and the application form click here.

If you are not yet a member of CGS and would like to take part in ‘Glorious Glass’, why not join here now?

Image: A view of the interior of the Artizan Gallery, Torquay, Devon, where the ‘Glorious Glass’ exhibition will be presented.

Chris Day’s glass sculpture unveiled at Stourbridge Glass Museum

Glass artist Chris Day’s winning artwork ‘After the Darkness, the Light’ was unveiled by auctioneer and TV personality Will Farmer, at the new Stourbridge Glass Museum (SGM) on 26 August 2022, during the International Festival of Glass 2022 celebrations.

To mark the Contemporary Glass Society’s (CGS’s) 25th anniversary, the opening of the Museum and the UN-designated International Year of Glass, CGS and the Museum launched a competition for a jointly-funded a commission that would form part of the permanent collection at the SGM.

The winner of this competition was Chris Day. Talking about the piece he created, Chris explained, “In the late 17th century, an estimated 50,000 Protestant Walloons and Huguenots fled to England, about 10,000 of whom moved on to Ireland. In relative terms, this could be the largest wave of immigration of a single community into Britain ever. The Huguenots left a legacy in the glass industry that represents a positive view of immigrants that enriched Britain’s landscape.

“Unfortunately, today Britain is still impacted by the immigration of people fleeing persecution and war. One of the obstacles faced by these people is the label society has placed on them due to the negative representation of the media and some political bodies. My family was part of the Windrush era and faced the ugly side of racism. I feel that the stigma is now being placed on this new wave of immigrants, instead of seeing the benefit they could bring.

“When I was awarded this commission the warring conflict in the Ukraine wasn’t on the radar, although Afghanistan and Syria were. I wanted to create a piece of work to open a discussion about immigrants and change the dialogue, which, at the time, was extremely negative, given the images of orange dinghies abandoned on the UK coastline. In that instance we forget that these are people – fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and, more importantly, human beings. In their mother county they may have worked as architects, lawyers, doctors or perhaps, like me, a plumbing engineer. But all that is portrayed is a group of people trying to access a benefit system, instead of the positive benefits they could bring.

“When the war broke out in the Ukraine, like everyone I was shocked by the images, although we have all been subjected to them before, e.g. Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine and various other war conflicts around the world. Over 14 million people have fled their homes since the Russian invasion, with one difference; many counties have welcomed them with open arms and we see flags of support all around the world.

“My question is what’s the difference between Syria and Ukraine? And this is what the work commissioned has developed into from my initial conception. I hope this work will create a healthy conversation regarding immigrants historically and present and give the viewer a chance to reflect on the horrific images we have all been subjected to recently.

“The boat has always been a way of getting to this country throughout history and I have created a sculpture boat, shaped using the copper structure I have developed within my work.

“The colour selection used has been a huge development in my practice and something I am coming to terms with – with the help of sunglasses! The colours used represent the flags of the different counties of people that have migrated to Britain. The copper structure was blown into to create tension in the work, while the bright colours disguise this with their beauty. Other materials also intertwine in the sculpture, such as concrete, rebar, chains and rope, with the purpose of engaging the viewer with layers of conversation.

“It has been an honour to receive this commission and I am extremely thankful to the CGS and SGM for all their support throughout, and especially on this project.”

See his artwork in person at the Stourbridge Glass Museum, Stuart Works, High Street, Stourbridge, DY8 4FB. Website: https://www.stourbridgeglassmuseum.org.uk

Image: Chris Day with his installation ‘‘After the Darkness, the Light’ that was unveiled at the Stourbridge Glass Museum, where it will form part of the permanent collection. Photo: Iain Palmer.

International Festival of Glass 2022 winners announced

Over £17,000-worth of awards were announced at the Private View evening at the launch of the International Festival of Glass on 25 August 2022.

More than 700 guests attended the Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge, UK, to enjoy the cream of British glass art. A total of 128 glass works, by 103 artists, were selected for the British Glass Biennale exhibition.

The British Glass Biennale’s Best in Show award went to Karen Browning for her piece ‘Miss, Spent Youth’, a cast glass piece capturing the impact of a gunshot (main image). The jury who selected the winner comprised Michelle Bowen, Brandi P Clark, James Devereux, Michelle Keeling, Wayne Strattman and Bryony Windsor.

Nina Casson McGarva’s ‘Yellow Lichen’.

The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London selected Nina Casson McGarva’s ‘Yellow Lichen’ for their Arts & Crafts Award winner. They were so impressed with the work on display that they awarded two runners up prizes: Layne Rowe for his piece ‘Ornithology’ and Jon Lewis for ‘Moon Rock’.

Layne Rowe’s ‘Ornithology’.
‘Moon Rock’ by Jon Lewis.

The Glass Sellers’ Student Award winner was Stephen Chadwick for his piece ‘The Drowning of Handcraft’, with Giles Fearon the runner up with ‘Furo’.

Stephen Chadwick won the Glass Sellers’ Student Award with ‘The Drowning of Handcraft’.
Giles Fearon’s ‘Furo’.

Other winners were Sogon Kim, for ‘Interstellar’, and Juliet Forrest for ‘Gorgonian Paradise’, both winners of the Glass Society Best Newcomer Awards. Rachel Elliott won the Glass Society Uniting the Planet award for her piece ‘Maelstrom’.

‘Interstellar’ by Sogon Kim.
‘Gorgonian Paradise’ by Juliet Forrest.
Rachel Elliot’s ‘Maelstrom’.

The US-based Glass Art Society selected Anthony Amoako Attah as the winner of the International Artists Award, for his piece ‘Stole’.

‘Stole’ by Anthony Amoako Attah.

The first International Bead Biennale exhibition saw the top prize go to Stéphane Olivier for ‘Coral’, with ‘My View’, by Astrid Riedel, selected as runner up. These awards were sponsored by Barbara Beadman, Master of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers.

The International Festival of Glass is on from 26-29 August 2022, with several exhibitions continuing to 1 October, across Stourbridge Glass Quarter and Wolverhampton.

For more information visit www.ifg.org.uk

For a full list of artists in the British Glass Biennale visit www.glassbiennale.org

Main image: The British Glass Biennale’s Best in Show winner  ‘Miss, Spent Youth’, by Karen Browning.