PRESS RELEASE
Glass Wear '09
Part
of Coutts London Jewellery Week
4th June to
11th July 2009
Zest Gallery is celebrating creative
excellence with Glass Wear, our annual contemporary glass jewellery exhibition. The show features work by some of the
hottest British jewellers who explore the wonderful medium of glass. The
exhibition is one of a number of exciting events at Zest as part of Coutts
London Jewellery Week including:
Artist
Talks
Simone Bremner
– Thursday 11th June, 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Find out
about the inspiration and making processes behind her stunning jewellery.
Natter,
Necklaces and Nibbles with Jenni Rhodes – Saturday 13th June,
3pm
Sit back and
enjoy tea and cupcakes with the fashion model and jewellery maker, and discover
her passion for combining contemporary and vintage glass.
Prize
Draw
Visitors to
Glass Wear can enter the draw to win some unique jewellery.
First prize
is a necklace from Marion Sterner's groundbreaking UV sensitive
ÒLiving CollectionÓ worth £750. We also have a pair of Quintuple Bobble
Earrings by Charlotte Verity worth £180 and a
Sweetie Bracelet worth £75 by Simone Bremner.
Make
Your Own Glass Pendant / Brooch Course
Sunday 14th June, 11am to 4pm (hourly sessions), £40 per person.
Make your own glass pendant at Aaronson Noon Glass Studio with a little bit of
specialist help from glassmaker Adam Aaronson!
Spaces
limited for all events, please contact Zest to book your place.
Glass Wear exhibition information:
PRIVATE VIEW: Wednesday 3rd June,
6.30-8.30pm
Glass Wear highlights the versatility of glass as a medium
for making jewellery. Each jeweller has their own method of working with this
fascinating medium, which results in extraordinarily beautiful and varied work:
Abigail Stradling works with both hand blown and manufactured
glass forms to make conceptual jewellery. Time and a sense of place are both
themes that predominate in her collection of work.
Jed Green designs and makes jewellery using
glass in combination with other materials including silver, wood and pearls.
She creates innovative contemporary pieces inspired by the fragility and
lightness of glass.
Jenni Rhodes first worked in fashion as a
colourist then had her own children's clothing label. She has been a model for
more than 40 years and now makes necklaces combining vintage and new beads with
glass pendants, designed and made by Adam Aaronson.
Marion Sterner continuously challenges herself to
discover new technical skills to combine with her creative ideas. Marion has
recently developed a new collection of groundbreaking UV sensitive jewellery,
which means her pieces take on a whole new life in the daylight.
Brett Manley studied at Central Saint Martin's and her work is
part of the St. Martin's collection. Brett loves experimenting with kiln forming techniques
and incorporating the unexpected quirks that occur during the making process.
Zoe Garner won the Pearson Glass Prize for best use of
Glass in Flame Working and Jewellery in 2008. She is inspired by unusual forms
and textures, and through the wearing of her work she aims to improve the way
people feel about themselves.
Antje Illner is inspired by organic shapes from nature. Her jewellery aims to create a calming
effect, either visually or by touch for the wearer. Antje joined the RCA in
1996 as a visiting lecturer and became a tutor in jewellery in 1998.
Simone Bremner was captivated by the fluidity and transparency
of glass whilst studying at Plymouth College of Art and Design. Her jewellery
collection is inspired by childhood memories, including the colours and shapes
of traditional sweets.
Kathryn Wightman's work is inspired by textiles and
fashion, which results in an explosion of colour, pattern, and texture. In 2007, she won best 'newcomer' at
the Journal Cultural Awards for her achievements and involvement with the art
in the North East.
Charlotte Verity's jewellery consists of multiple lustred blown
bubbles inspired by gothic imagery and fashion. She is a recipient of a Goldsmith's Craftsmanship and Design
Gold Award.
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 please contact:
Nell Reid on +44 (0) 20 7610 1900 or
email nell@zestgallery.com
Notes to editors:
Zest
Gallery
Zest Gallery is
internationally recognised as London's 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.
Coutts
London Jewellery week is an award winning event celebrating
London's jewellers, The week will feature big name designers such as Stephen
Webster and Shaun Leane, whose pieces are worn by the likes of Christina
Aguilera, David Bowie and Liv Tyler.
The aim
of the week is to give a wider audience the chance to experience beautiful
handmade jewellery by well accomplished British jewellers as well as showing
off the rising stars, like Amanda Brighton and Assya. This is done through a
number of different events, such as catwalk shows, exhibitions, treasure hunts
and much more.
Aaronson Noon
Glass Studio
Adam Aaronson's
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.