PRESS RELEASE
Transformations
Form
and Function in Recycled Glass
10th
September to 24th October 2009
Zest Gallery is delighted to announce Transformations, our first exhibition dedicated to
energy-efficient art, as part of the London Design Festival. The exhibition focuses on makers who
recreate glass art by recycling, reusing and remaking. It promotes the issue of sustainability
in an accessible way by featuring the work of artists who are revolutionising
the way glass art and glass products are created, using less energy than
conventional studio glass techniques.
During the exhibition, we will be running a number of creative
events at Zest Gallery
and the adjacent Aaronson Noon Studio, one of the largest hot glass studios in the UK. With artist talks, making workshops and
demonstrations designed to encourage people to see discarded glass material in
a new light, there will be lots to see and do!
Melting glass uses energy and affects the environment. As part of our continued effort to
reduce energy consumption and with the assistance of a Carbon Trust loan,
Aaronson Noon recently switched to energy efficient furnaces saving 25 tonnes
of carbon per annum. However,
recycling glass uses far less energy and reduces pollution even further! WhatÕs more, glass as a material has a
unique ability to be infinitely recycled – a compelling case for the
recycling of glass. With this in
mind, glass artist Adam Aaronson wanted to find an innovative way of recycling
wine bottles into water carafes without losing the integrity of the original
vessel. In most recycling
processes, the glass is broken up and completely re-melted. Adam liked the idea of giving new life
to an existing object to retail at £30!
ÒThe main production challenge is that bottle glass has been
designed to be machine made and not worked by hand. The whole thing is a fairly organic process, since IÕm
recycling wine-bottles, where I may have actually drunk the contents prior to
proceeding – not on the same day though! I add silver leaf and re-shape the bottles by hand. I use a fierce flame to patinate the
silver, sometimes creating a graffiti style H2O and sometimes an abstract
pattern.Ó Adam Aaronson
Helene UffrenÕs work also uses the instantly recognisable form of a previously used
wine bottle as the starting point for her work. She wanted to transform its identity and its use - to add
value and upgrade its status. She
creates hybrid multi-purpose bottles, decanters and multi function food jars by
combining free blown elements together with the recycled wine bottles. This work is a playful investigation
into balance and contrast between something familiar, something new and
continuity.
Brett Manley
creates one off moulds using found objects or things sheÕs grown on her
allotment - recycling nature into glass and found glass into art! Xiaoou Zhang has recently completed an MA in Glass
Design and is similarly inspired by natureÕs delicacy and strength to create
both functional and decorative work.
For Jude Stoll reusing and recycling forms the foundation of her work. She delights in transforming
undesirable waste into a beautiful object that people will want again. As well
as developing a community recycling project and scrapstore, Jude secured
funding from Cumbria County Council Waste Prevention Fund and Cumbria Learning
Links to set up a recycled art studio.
She holds art workshops utilising waste as material, aimed at educating
the community about recycling.
Anne Arlidge
creates cast glass vegetables from real vegetables by re-heating a piece of
cold recycled Dartington crystal andletting this take the form of a mould. Similar to the lost wax process Anne
calls it "The Lost Vegetable Process". Using discarded glass from the manufacturing process is
something glass artists have been doing for a number of years – a perfect
example of Òwaste not want not!Ó
Zest Gallery is
internationally recognised as London's foremost destination for contemporary
glass. Founded in 2003 by Adam Aaronson, Zest brings outstanding British
and international glass to
a wider audience through an exciting exhibition programme. The gallery showcases the work of
emerging talent alongside established artists who are
the best in their
field. Over the last 30 years, as
well as making his own work, Adam has supported makers at various stages of
their careers and this collaboration is the latest example.
Zest runs varied and
innovative events throughout the year, as well as offering visitors the chance
to enjoy a fascinating insight into the skilled process of glass making in Adam
AaronsonÕs adjacent glass studio, where we are committed to reducing our carbon
footprint.
Entrance to the exhibition
is free and all work is available to buy from Zest Gallery.
Zest Gallery is
open: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to
6pm
For images, artist biography or
further information on the exhibition, Zest Gallery or
Aaronson Noon Glass Studio please
contact:
Nell Reid on +44 (0) 20 7610 1900
or email nell@zestgallery.com
Roxby Place (end of Rickett
Street), London, SW6 1RS
Notes to editors:
Zest
Gallery
Zest Gallery opened
in September 2003 to exhibit cutting edge contemporary glass art. It showcases
the work of renowned glass artists as well as new faces on the scene.
Aaronson Noon
Glass Studio
Adam AaronsonÕs
studio runs half-day glass blowing courses offering an exciting and intensive
experience aimed at introducing beginners or novices to the wonders of hot
glass. Further information available from nell@zestgallery.com / +44 (0) 20 7610
1900.
Adam
Aaronson
For more than 25 years, aside from making his own glass, Adam Aaronson has been discovering and promoting emerging artists, including many who are now established glass artists, such as Tessa Clegg, Anna Dickinson and many others. He has always offered residencies and internships to both British and international artists and continues to support new glass talent by working collaboratively with artists, encouraging their use of hot glass in his studio.