Three exhibitions at the National Glass Centre

Three exhibitions of contemporary glass are on show at the National Glass Centre (NGC) in Sunderland until March 2023.

Harvest: Fruit Gathering

The exhibition ‘Harvest: Fruit Gathering’ features the work of Rachael Woodman and Neil Wilkin, acclaimed as two of Britain’s leading artists working in hot glass. They have worked collaboratively for almost 40 years, but this exhibition is their first opportunity to present their work together. This new work is inspired by the natural and spiritual world.

You may have noticed some of Rachael’s work (‘Joyful Assembly’) and Neil Wilkin’s ‘Gloriosa’ flower in the background behind Huw Edwards when the BBC presented the news from the NGC in mid-October.

This event is on from 15 October 2022 to 12 March 2023 in the NGC Gallery.

Glass Prize Research

In the NGC’s Research Gallery Catherine Forsyth and Helen Pailing present their research to date after they were awarded bursaries to develop new work as part of the NGC Glass Prize.

This Prize was funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation through the Weston Culture Fund.

Helen Pailing commented on her research, “During the pandemic, we were frequently advised against coming into close contact with others. I had my first baby in 2020 and a second in 2021, so it has felt like a paradoxical situation for me, as I have never before had so much skin-to-skin contact with others.

“It has been fascinating to see the tiny hairs on my babies as I watch them grow. This led me to think more deeply about how hairs are the receptors to convey touch sensation. Making hairs out of glass, that break when touched, became a way to start exploring ‘matrescence’ – the physical, psychological and emotional changes that occur during the process of becoming a mother – during this extraordinary time in my life. The work makes reference to rituals and mementos, and seeks to acknowledge moments that are both precious and often precarious.

“As well as space and time to focus on my practice, the bursary allowed me the opportunity to flamework with Zoe Garner, have regular mentoring sessions with Helen Maurer, visit Collect art fair in London and work with musician Marc Rigelsford, with whom I collaborated to make the short film ‘Transition’. Thank you to Glass and Ceramics students Hannah Masi and Hannah Peverley for their assistance.”

This display is on now until 12 March 2023.

40th Anniversary Exhibition

To mark the 40th anniversary of the University of Sunderland’s Glass and Ceramics department in 2022, another ongoing exhibition at the NGC features the work of some of the most influential students and teaching staff to have worked in the department.

Artists participating include Emma Baker, Effie Burns, Vanessa Cutler, Mike Davis, Sasha Delabre, Marco Andre Rodrigues Goncalves, Laura Johnston, Bridget Jones, Joanna Manousis, James Maskrey, Joanne Mitchell, Jeffrey Sarmiento, Angela Thwaites, Göran Wärff and Cate Watkinson.

‘40 years of Glass and Ceramics’ is presented in the Balcony Gallery until 12 March 2023.

The National Glass Centre is located in Liberty Way, Sunderland SR6 0GL, UK. Find out more on the website.

Image:  A detail of Rachael Woodman’s ‘Fruit Bowl – purple lustre’, (2022). Photo: Stephen Heaton.