Glass Festival Stourbridge

Information posted by Carol Griffin

The Glass Festival at Stourbridge is a great event happening over the bank holiday weekend.
There is lots to see, including international exhibition, different venues around the area, bead fair, street entertainers etc.
Web site for more information is www.ifg.org.uk

PLAYING WITH FIRE

The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, Devon
Saturday 20 September – Sunday 2 November 2008

A major survey exhibition of contemporary UK enamelling
Featuring work by Kathryn Adamson, Stephen Bottomley, Helen Carnac, Beate Gegenwart, Grace Girvan, Rachel Gogerley, John Grayson, Joan Mackarell, Jilly Morris, Zsuzsi Morrison, Liana Pattihis, Kimberley Scott, Ed Silverton, Jessica Turrell, Tamar de vries Winter.

Playing with Fire is a collaborative exhibition developed by The Devon Guild of Craftsmen with the University of the West of England (UWE) and the British Society of Enamellers which will tour nationally during 2008/9.

Enamel, in its most basic terms, is ground coloured glass that is fired, in a kiln, on to a base of gold, silver, copper, steel, stainless steel and aluminum. It is a medium that can produce a vast range of objects and art forms, from the finest exquisite pieces of jewellery to large scale work for walls or spaces. The quality of colour is unique and there are no limits to content or imagery. Some techniques require the highest level of skill but very simple enamelling processes can produce fascinating results. Perhaps best known to the public through the work of jewellers such as Faberge, Cartier, Tiffany and Lalique, enamel is also a medium for large scale work. Liquid enamels, such as those used in industrial applications, can take enamelling into the world of public art and contemporary fine art. Playing With Fire contains exhibits spanning the full extent of this potential.

The challenge for each exhibitor is to show pieces that take their previous work into new territories. The makers have been selected from an open competition selected by a jury (see below for details)*. The resulting exhibition is a mixture of established and emerging makers, working in traditional and contemporary applications, at the cutting edge of their fields.
Playing With Fire shows off the wealth of existing enamelling talent in the UK and stimulates new approaches to the medium from professionals and new makers alike. The project will inform audiences about enamelling as a relevant and contemporary activity that is worth appreciating, preserving and learning.

There will be a full colour catalogue accompanying this exhibition.

Talk by Elizabeth Turrell (Senior Research Fellow, UWE)
Looking at key historical works, the development of mass production and the emergence of enamel as a creative medium for today’s visual artists.
Monday 20 October 6.30pm in The Terrace, The Devon Guild of Craftsmen.
Advance booking on 01626 832223.

Tour Schedule
The Devon Guild of Craftsmen (20 Sept – 8 Nov 2008), Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford (15 Nov 08 – 4 Jan 09), 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe (28 Feb – 9 May 09), Rhyl Arts Centre (6 June – 18 July 09), Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton (5 Sept – 31 Oct 09), Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum (14 Nov 09 – 10 Jan 2010)

Press:
Full details of artists and a CD of superb images are available on request
Contact Saffron Wynne (Exhibitions Officer) saffron.wynne@crafts.org.uk
or Simon Williams (Marketing Officer) on simon.williams@crafts.org.uk 01626 832223
The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, TQ13 9AF
01626 832223 www.crafts.org.uk

*The selection jury consisted of Simon Fraser (Director for MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture & Jewellery for Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design) Dorothy Hogg MBE (Artist in Residence at the V&A and until Sept 2007 Head of the Jewellery and Silversmithing Department at Edinburgh College of Art) Evangeline Long (an award winning maker of international standing) and Elizabeth Turrell (Senior Research Fellow in Enamel, University of the West of England).

Jane Short V&A Video

As part of the new display at the recently opened and newly refurbished Jewellery Gallery at the V&A , there is a great information video by Jane Short, on how an enamel is created.

By the wonders of the internet it is possible to click here > Jane Short's Enamel Brooch Video to view the clip which is also on display in the gallery.

If you have time click around the new V&A website, there is plenty of other interactive entertainment to be had ranging from making your own kaleidoscope images to listening to talks on various aspects of the collections.

42nd International Exhibition Japan

Call for interest....

Info sent to the blog by Penny Gildea.

The Japanese Enamelling Artist Association are organising their 42nd International Exhibition, which take place in at the Toyko Metropolitan Art Museum in Japan, between the 29th Jan until the 4th February 2009.

There is an entry fee of $50 and the deadline for registering your work is the 16th September 2008. Application for initial selection is by photograph and all forms of expression are eligible. The artist may enter up to 3 pieces. Selected Work is needed by the 30th of September 2008

Penny Gildea has entered previously and has more information. She would be like to here from anyone who is interested - it's not definate and this would need to be clarified and organised, but maybe if there is enough interest the work could go over as a group of pieces and getting the work there could be discussed / organised somehow.....Penny's email penny@gildea15.freeserve.co.uk

If you are interested in entering your work and would like a copy of the information email me ruth@ruthballdesign.co.uk or Penny Gildea.

Design Show Liverpool

BSOE members Ruth Ball and Jane Moore will be exhibiting at DESIGN SHOW LIVERPOOL.

The show, which is just one of the many Capital of Culture 08 events, takes place between the 19th - 22nd of June and is held at the Contemporary Urban Center 41 - 51 Greenland Street Liverpool L1 OBS. ( Click here for a map )

Check out this exciting new event here ! http://www.designshowliverpool.com/info

and if you'd like to know more about what's going on in Liverpool this year check out all the amazing things happening on the following sites.

http://www.liverpool08.com/ - capital of culture events

http://www.visitliverpool.com/ - tourist information

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/capital_of_culture/ - BBC info

(check out their link list on the right hand side )

http://www.artinliverpool.com/ - lots of arty info !

British Silver Week

British silver week is set for their June launch.
Events will be taking place between the 10th - 16th June 2008
Check the web site for details
http://www.britishsilverweek.co.uk/

Bursary Information from The Guild

The Guild of Enamellers are offering a bursay........

The Bursary will be given as

Free Membership to The Guild of Enamellers for one year
Meet enamellers for regional talks and workshops
Full access to the Guild’s website
Quarterly Journal
Use the extensive Library

Free place at the Guild’s Residential Weekend Conference
Exhibit your enamels and enter for awards
Assist a workshop tutor, attend the Master Class and lectures
Standard return rail expenses within the UK

Download the application form @ www.guildofenamellers.org
or
Apply for a leaflet, sending SAE to:
The Bursary Secretary
Guild of Enamellers
Barton House
Woodlan
Ashburton
Devon TQ13 7LN

• 
  Requirements for selection
  Some previous experience of enamelling to guarantee a sustained interest.
  Statement declaring how you would benefit from a bursary and how your interest in enamelling could be furthered.
  Applicant’s CV (there is no age limit but we would appreciate an indication of your age).
  Three images of enamels recently made by applicant.
  
  Closing date for applications 30th September 2008
  
  
  Please click here for the all the information.
  http://www.guildofenamellers.org/content/bursary2008.php

Dale Devereux Barker - Exhibition News

Dale Devereux Barker will be showing his latest works " From an Island "
An Exhibition of Monoprints and Enamels from 20 May - 20 June 2008
At the Jill George Gallery in London.

The exhibition is Dale's sixth solo exhibition at the Jill George gallery and is sponsored by the contract enamellers A.J. WELLS. Dale will give a talk on his work at the Gallery on Thursday, 29 May - Please contact the gallery for details.

Contact Details:
Postal Address: 38 Lexington Street Soho London W1F 0LLUK
Phone(+44) 020 7439 7319
Fax(+44) 020 7287 0478
Email jill@jillgeorgegallery.co.uk
Website: jillgeorgegallery.co.uk
Location and Opening Hours Location Map

Shrewsbury Workshop

JUST A FEW PLACES LEFT !

Saturday and Sunday 10th & 11th May 2008
Saturday: Liquid Enamels with John Ball
Sunday: Leaf & Foils with Ruth Ball
Saturday: 11.00am – 5pm (or later)
Sunday: 10am – 5pm
English Bridge Workshop, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6AD
£25 for both days (including liquid enamels, hot & cold drinks).

Supply your own lunches, enamelling supplies and accessories.Please arrange your own Saturday night accommodation in / near Shrewsbury. Some beds available with members. Contact Jill Leventon jill.leventon@btinternet.com 01743 289946 (away 5th – 13th April)

This weekend workshop promises to be an exciting and sociable event, with an opportunity to discover and experiment with two very different enamelling processes. We hope that people will bring examples of previous work using these media, share ideas and learn from each-other. We would also like everyone attending to dine together in Shrewsbury on Saturday evening. Places are limited to 10 and are for both days, allocated on a first come basis.
The liquid (wet process) enamel workshop on Saturday will be led and supplied by John Ball of W G Ball Ltd (manufacturers). This is an opportunity to discover the wonderfully spontaneous application methods and design opportunities of working with wet process enamels. Pattern, texture, sgraffito, marbling, dipping, painting, printing etc can all be explored. Come and play!

The Sunday leaf & foils workshop will be led by Ruth Ball. She has had a great deal of experience of working with leaf / foils in her own work as well as in teaching previous workshops, and is a fount of knowledge and inspiration. Please supply your own foils & leaf to work with. Please bring all your own enamelling accessories, stilts, jewellery enamels, leaf / foils, copper or whatever substrate you wish to work on. Some copper will be available to purchase at the workshop.

Travel directions, a list of equipment to bring and suppliers list will be sent on receipt of your payment.

Please book ASAP if you are interested, places are going fast !!
If you would like to attend, please complete and return the slip below to:
Melissa Rigby,17 Aubert Road, London N5 1TX together with your cheque. For further information contact Melissa on 020 7359 3591 or rigbymelissa@hotmail.com

Fiona's Marathon Update

Hello all,

I just wanted to thank you for your generosity and wonderfully supportive comments. I had a great race and completed in 3.50 53 seconds setting a new PB. Jill was the closest with a time of 3.50 30secs being 23 seconds out and so wins the Jewellery. Apologies if I let you down on your guessed time, maybe next yr……who knows sub 3.45!

Thanks once again, with your help I have managed to raise in excess of £3000 for a very worthwhile charity.

Best wishes
Fiona

www.justgiving.com/fionaflm2008
It's not too late to donate ! Please click on the link for information - Many Thanks