PRESS RELEASE
BOWLS OF ST. MARTINS
3rd to 24th
August
ZeST Gallery, London's top destination for contemporary glass art, is
showcasing the work of nine innovative British glass artists who have joined
forces with established glassmaker Adam Aaronson to push the boundaries of
their work.
The
artists met while studying on a post graduate course at Central St. Martins,
London's leading art school, and while they work on a variety of projects they
all normally use kiln formed glass techniques. Bowls of St. Martins shows a selection of their work alongside
their first ever freeblown pieces, created in an intensive workshop session
with Adam and his team, giving them huge scope for experimentation. This
exhibition presents a unique opportunity to see the diverse and exciting
results that can be achieved through the versatility of glass.
'When I
saw their work I was so impressed that I wanted to see how it would develop if
they had the rare opportunity to work with blown glass. It was a very
stimulating event and the maturity of the results is remarkable.'
Adam
Aaronson
'It was a fabulous opportunity for us
to explore working with glass in such a fluid way. I was struck by how
instant the hot glass process is in comparison to kiln forming. We are so used
to working with cold flat sheets, blocks, strings and powders etc., and never
directly manipulating the glass as a fluid substance. I felt it was the
most exciting working day of my life, because it made a material that we are
all passionate about and very familiar with, suddenly fresh and new.'
Lucy Batt
The artists featured in the exhibition are:
LUCY BATT
ANDREW BODDINGTON
MARIA FAGAN
JANETTE
GARTHWAITE
BRETT MANLEY
ALEX R
AMANDA J. SIMMONS
PIPPA STACEY
WENDY STONE
ZeST Gallery continues Adam's aim to bring
outstanding British and international glass to a wider audience through an
exciting, changing exhibition programme alongside an extensive permanent
collection of Adam's own work.
Visitors are also able to see the adjacent glass studio, where Adam
makes his critically acclaimed work, and will enjoy a fascinating insight into
the skilled process of glass making.
Entrance is free and all designs are available to buy from ZeST Gallery.
For images,
artist biographies or further information on the exhibition and Adam Aaronson,
please contact Nell Reid on 020 7610 1900 or email nell@zestgallery.com
ZeST
Gallery is open:
Tuesday
to Saturday, 10am to 6pm
Notes to editors:
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.
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
/ 020 7610 1900.
Kiln Formed Glass
Most
contemporary fusing methods involve stacking or layering thin sheets of glass,
often using different colors to create patterns or simple images. The stack is
then placed inside the kiln and heated through a series of rapid heating cycles
and holding the temperature at a specific point until the separate pieces begin
to bond together.
Freeblown Glass
A
highly skilled hand working process of forming glass into shapes while the
glass is in a molten, semi-liquid state. Made by blowing a glass bubble on the
end of a hollow tube, a blowpipe. The glass is then shaped into a vase, bottle,
glass or other objects by using iron tools, spinning, pinching and rolling.
Central St Martins
Central
Saint Martins has a distinguished international reputation and offers one of
the most diverse and comprehensive ranges of undergraduate and postgraduate
courses in arts and design in the country.