Glass
At once delicate and strong, glass demonstrates its strength in many ways. Heated until it becomes liquid, glass is a remarkably versatile medium, and something that most of us use everyday. From tableware to sculpture, leaded panes to kiln-casting, glass can be worked hot or cold, and sometimes both.
Terms: Handblowing glass is a noisy and physical process that belies the delicacy of the finished object. Glass is heated in a furnace and hand-blown through a pipe as it is twisted to keep it level. Moulds or tools are skillfully used to create the precise shape required. Molten glass can also be cast into moulds in a kiln. Annealing, or cooling, must be done slowly to prevent breakages – pieces are left in a hot kiln that will gradually lower its temperature at a controlled rate.
What to look out for: Unsurprisingly one of the main delights of glassware is its transparency and colour. Cold working the glass can alter its surface, making it matt with sandblasting, or etching patterns. Colours can be fused together or become an integral part of the whole. Look out for pieces that capture the natural fluidity of the medium in brittle form. Glass Art by Peter Layton is a great introduction to the history of the contemporary glass scene.
Katy Bevan ©2006
clockwise from top left: bi-me, Bob Crooks, Michael Ruh, Gillies.Jones