Showcase 2013

Recently I got the opportunity to visit Showcase at the RDS and talk to some of the makers there. Here is a quick summary of the glass that was on display this year:

Louise Rice

Rice Glass

Rice is based at the Leitrim Sculpture Centre. She is known best for her sculptural work which consists of life like mould-blown forms often combining found objects. Rice’s work at Showcase is a new range of wall art which uses bullseye glass and powdered enamels to depict natural flora. The work is elegant and well presented with an affordable price point. This series is sure to be a hit.

http://louiserice.net/

louisericeglass@gmail.com

Jerpoint Glass Studio

Jerpoint glass is a family run glass studio based in Killkenny making quality home wear products. The studio and gallery are open all year round to visitors and you can watch skilled glass blowers at their trade. At showcase this year Jerpoint brought a selection of their production range which is full of multiple colours. They have also just released a new range called Cherry Blossom with is a soft pale pink and uses optic moulds for a delicate, vintage feel; a great product for Valentine’s Day and springtime.

 www.jerpointglass.com

enquiries@jerpointglass.com

Jonathon Ball

Glass and Metal Artist

Trained as a blacksmith Ball studied glass blowing at Edinburgh college of art. He is now based at the Leitrim Sculpture Factory. Ball combines his knowledge of blacksmithing with his glass skills to create bespoke pieces of sculpture. The pieces on display at Showcase this week include a triptych of large glass anvils. The sides of these pieces are left with an opaque finish and the tops polished to a transparent window through which one can peer inside. The large glass and metal sculpture uses blown pieces of glass and is a striking feature as one walks up the stairs to the top level of the building.

 www.glass_metal_artist.com

Jonathonball323@hotmail.com

The Irish Handmade Glass Company

The Irish Handmade Glass Company was set up in Waterford after the closure of the Waterford Crystal Factory in 2009. They have a passion for continuing the tradition of glass blowing in the area and all the work is handmade at the studio. Their work at showcase was highly colourful, the most memorable pieces being their large spun glass plates. They are also releasing a special Emblems of Ireland range for the 2013 Gathering.

www.IrishHandmadeGlass.com

info@irishhandmadeglass.com

Terence MacSweeney

Kerry Crafted Glass

Kerry Crafted Glass is based in Killarney and is also open to visitors, they offer free glass blowing demos but to avoid disappointment you should contact them in advance of your trip. Their work uses an earthy colour pallet to create functional home wear such as vases, plates and candle sticks. Their glass lamps use coloured firts to create soft coloured shadows in a room. As well as their blown work they have some fused pieces, a range of glass mirrors. 

www.irishkerryglass.com

kerrycraftedglaass@eircom.net

  by Fiona Byrne

GLASS CLASSES AT LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Glassblowing for Beginners Workshop

Dates:  Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th September 2012/Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th September 2012
Trainers: Louise Rice & Graham Reid
Course Fees: €240 (two days) – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maximum Participants:   4 (no experience required)
In this two-day workshop you will explore the extraordinary medium of hot glass. You will learn how to gather glass out of the furnace, to control and shape the hot glass, to blow a bubble and make a simple vessel. Working in two small teams, the emphasis of this course is hands-on experience, with demos and support from an experienced glassblower.

Louise Rice is based at the Sculpture Centre in Manorhamilton and studied glass at Edinburgh College of Art and the Rietveld Acadamie in Amsterdam. Rice has work in the Ulster Museum and in the National Glass Museum, Netherlands. Graham Reid received a Bachelors degree in Sculptural Glass from Massachusetts College of Art. He built Knockbeg Studios where he taught glassblowing, and now works as a sculptor in glass, wood and metal from his studio in Sligo.

Sand Casting with Hot Glass Workshop

Date: Friday 21st September 
Trainer: Keith Seybert
Course Fees: €140 (one day) – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maximum Participants: 6 (no experience required)

This course will introduce you to the potential of molten glass as a creative material through the process of hot casting into sand moulds. You will have the opportunity to ladle glass straight from the furnace and pour into prepared open-faced sand moulds made with found and sculpted objects. This is the most direct method to create your own solid sculptural forms in glass. No previous glass working experience is required and all materials will be provided. Feel free to bring in your own objects to press in the sand. Appropriate footwear is a must; leather boots are preferred, leather shoes are acceptable, no open-toed shoes or sandals!
 
Hot Glass-casting into Zircar Moulds Workshop

Dates: Monday 24th - Wednesday 26th September 2012
Trainer: Keith Seybert
Course Fees: €395 (three days) – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maximum Participants: 6 (no experience required)

This three-day course will introduce you to the potential of Zicar. This 'space-age' mould material exhibits excellent surface reproduction with an optical finish. Molten glass can be poured directly into light-weight porous moulds with no need for gating or venting. You will have the opportunity to ladle glass straight from the furnace and pour into preheated sculptural moulds. This is the most cutting edge mould method for hot-casting your own solid sculptural forms in glass. No previous glass working experience is required and Zircar will be provided.

Participants must bring in wax objects to use in the moulding process. Appropriate footwear is a must; leather boots are preferred, leather shoes are acceptable, no open-toed shoes or sandals!

Keith Alan Seybert received MA qulifications in Sculpture, and Glass and Ceramics from Washington University, St. Louis in 1987 and 1995. He has led numerous workshops in a variety of glass and sculpture techniques in the US, Europe and beyond. From 1999 to 2001 he was a Senior Researcher at the Royal College of Art, London, where he headed an in-depth examination of investment type refractory moulds for casting glass and bronze; a topic he has lectured on at many international venues including 2002 and 2009 at the annual Glass Art Society conference. He currently lives in Ireland and works from his studio in Blarney, Co. Cork.

B&B rates start from €20/ night.

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 985 5098

GLASS CLASSES AT LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Glassblowing for Beginners Workshop

Dates:    Mon 23rd & Tue 24th April
Trainer: Graham Reid
Course Fees: €240 (two days) - 10am to 5pm
Participants:   4
Experience: No experience required

In this two-day workshop participants will explore the extraordinary medium of hot glass. They will learn how to gather glass out of the furnace, to control and shape the hot glass, to blow a bubble and make a simple vessel. Working in two small teams, the emphasis of this course is hands-on experience, with demos and support from an experienced glassblower.

Sand Casting with Hot Glass Workshop

Dates:   Sat 28th & Sun 29th April
Trainer: Keith Seybert
Course Fees: €285 (two days) - 10am to 5pm
Participants: 6
Experience: No experience required

This two-day course will introduce participants to the potential of molten glass as a creative material through the process of hot casting into sand moulds. They will have the opportunity to ladle glass straight from the furnace and pour into prepared open-faced sand moulds made with found and sculpted objects. This is the most direct method to create your own solid sculptural forms in glass. No previous glass working experience required and all materials are provided. Please bring your own objects to press in the sand. Appropriate footwear is a must; leather boots are preferred, leather shoes are acceptable. No open-toed shoes or sandals!

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 98 55098

HOT GLASS STUDIO FOR HIRE, LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

For experienced glass artists the hot glass studio at Leitrim Sculpture Centre will be available to book in the week after LSC workshops - 25th, 26th & 27th April. The blowing rate for sole use of the studio is €35 an hour (incl glass). Casting rates upon request. Email Leitrim Sculpture Centre for more details or call Louise for technical details on 087 313 9013.

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 98 55098

GLASSBLOWING FOR BEGINNERS WORKSHOPS, LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Dates: Sat 21st & 22nd April
Mon 23rd & Tue 24th April
Trainer: Louise Rice & Graham Reid
Course Fees: €240 (two days) - 10am to 5pm
Participants: 4
Experience: No experience required.

In this two-day workshop participants will explore the extraordinary medium of hot glass. Participants will learn how to gather glass out of the furnace, to control and shape the hot glass, to blow a bubble and make a simple vessel. Working in two small teams, the emphasis of this course is hands-on experience, with demos and support from an experienced glassblower.

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 985 5098

SAND-CASTING WITH HOT GLASS WORKSHOP, LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Dates: Sat 28th & Sun 29th April
Trainer: Keith Seybert
Course Fees: €285 (two days) - 10am to 5pm
Participants: 6
Experience: No experience required

This two-day course will introduce the potential of molten glass as a creative material through the process of hot casting into sand moulds. Participants will have the opportunity to ladle glass straight from the furnace and pour into prepared ‘open faced’ sand moulds made with found and sculpted objects. This is the most direct method to create your own solid sculptural forms in glass. No previous glass working experience is required and all materials are provided. Feel free to bring your own objects to press in the sand. Appropriate footwear is a must. Ryanair fly from Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, Luton, & Stanstead to Knock Ireland West Airport (45minutes away from Leitrim Sculpture Cenre) and B&B starts from €25 per night.

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie

LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE OPEN ART EXHIBITION OPEN DAY

You are cordially invited to the opening of the Leitrim Sculpture Centre’s Christmas Open Art Exhibition from 11am to 7pm on Friday 9th December 2011.

They will have a huge selection of art work for sale at reasonable prices made by artists based in the North West, including hand-blown glass Christmas decorations, jewellery, paintings, etchings, sculpture and much more. Mince pies and mulled wine will be served from 1pm, and the Farmers’ Market next door at the Bee Park is open until 2pm.

The Christmas Open Art Exhibition will be open Monday to Saturday 12pm to 4pm until 23rd December 2011.

W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 985 5098

GLASSBLOWING AND SAND CASTING WORKSHOPS, LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Glassblowing for Beginners
In this two-day workshop participants will explore the extraordinary medium of hot glass. How to gather glass out of the furnace, to control and shape the hot glass, to blow a bubble and make a simple vessel will be taught. Working in two small teams, the emphasis of this course is hands-on experience, with demos and support from experienced trainers.

Dates: Sat 26th & Sun 27th November
Mon 28th & Tue 29th November
Trainers: Louise Rice & Graham Reid
Course Fees: €240 (two days), 10am – 5pm
Participants: 4, no previous experience required

Sand Casting with Hot Glass
This two day course will introduce the potential of molten glass as a creative material through the process of hot casting into sand moulds. Participants will have the opportunity to ladle glass straight from the furnace and pour right into prepared ‘open faced’ sand moulds using found and sculpted objects. This is the most direct method to create your own solid sculptural forms in glass. All materials are provided, but feel free to bring in your own objects to press in the sand. Appropriate footwear is a must: leather boots are preferred, leather shoes acceptable; no open-toed shoes or sandals!

Dates: Sat 3rd & Sun 4th December
Trainer: Keith Seybert
Course Fees: €240 (two days), 10am – 5pm
Participants: 6, no previous experience required

W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 985 5098

GLASS AND BRONZE WORKSHOPS AT LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE, MANORHAMILTON

Glassblowing for Beginners Workshop
15th & 16th October / 19th & 20th October 2011
Trainer: Louise Rice & Graham Reid. Course Fees: €240 (two days) 10am – 5pm
Participants: 6. Experience: No experience required.

In this two-day workshop you will explore the extraordinary medium of hot glass. You will learn how to gather glass out of the furnace, to control and shape the hot glass, to blow a bubble and make a simple vessel. Working in two small teams, the emphasis of this course is hands-on experience, with demos and support from an experienced glassblower. Louise Rice is based at the Sculpture Centre in Manorhamilton and studied glass at Edinburgh College of Art and the Rietveld Acadamie in Amsterdam.

Advanced Refractory Mouldmaking for Kiln Cast Glass & Bronze Casting Workshop
Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd October 2011
Trainer: Keith Seybert. Course Fees: €200 (three days) 10am – 5pm
Participants: 8. Experience: Some basic experience required.

This workshop will cover how to make a successful investment type refractory mould for casting Bronze or Glass. You come with a vision, a wax and a will to work, and you’ll leave with a mould ready to “burn out” and pour in the next bronze workshop. Mould construction, “Gating & venting”, investment refractories, and ceramic based mould materials will be discussed with an aim towards enabling participants to “customise” their approach to fit their vision. Both poured “block” moulds and Roman/Italian “hand built” moulds will be demonstrated.

Bronze Casting Using Solid Investment Workshop
Thursday 3rd - Sunday 6th November 2011
Trainer: Tim Morris. Course Fees: €370 (four days) -10am to 5pm
Participants: 8. Experience: No experience required

Participants will make a piece of sculpture working directly with wax, vent and sprew, make an investment mould and cast their own piece on the final day to make a finished bronze. On this course, you will get to make probably two moulds, depending upon their size and complexity. One of which you will have time to melt out and pour in the bronze. Generally, a beginner will come away with a minimum of one rough bronze (for example a 6" statue or axe head). You may not have time to file and clean it, but this can be done in your own time. Finished bronzes can then be patinated on the Patination Workshop. Extra moulds can be poured at another time. Your work will be weighed on the last day and anything over 10lbs will be charged at €5 / lb. For example, two 6" statues will generally be less than 10lbs, so for most people, no extra payment will be necessary.

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie
T: 071 985 5098

NATURAL 3, LEITRIM DESIGN HOUSE

Leitrim Design House is very pleased to present three collections of innovative glass art in Natural 3. The exhibiting artists are three local artists of international accolade; Louise Rice, Caroline Madden and Naomi Draper. The work of these artists in this exhibition evokes thought through the themes of nature, place and the human condition. Natural 3 will open at 7pm on 20th October 2011 at Leitrim Design House.

E: info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie
W: www.leitrimdesignhouse.ie
W: http://www.craftinireland.com/events/details/natural3-an-exhibition-of-glass-art/
T: 071 9650550/50533

MOULDMAKING FOR ARTISTS AND ARCHITECTS WORKSHOP, LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Keith Seybert will lead this workshop on Saturday 8^th and Sunday 9^th October 2011. The workshop will cover a variety of mould making techniques, including: multi-part, plaster bandage, dental alginate, and silicone. There will be a discussion of ‘separators’, fillers, coddling approaches and best practice. These primary moulds will then be used to make multiple positives including some waxes. The resultant waxes will be used to facilitate an investigation of refractory mould making techniques and materials that have proven valuable in casting both metal and glass via the lost wax process. The information shared in this workshop has applications in art as well as architectural restoration. The course costs €130 for two days.

E: info@leitrimsculpturecentre.ie

W: www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie

T: 071 985 5098

THE ESSENCE OF CRAFT EXHIBITION, LEITRIM DESIGN HOUSE

Running from 1st April to 30th June, The Essence of Craft in the Leitrim Design House is this series of exhibitions explores how craft can be expressed in different material and forms, with focus on a different media each month. For more information visit:

W: http://intoleitrim.com/

WORKSHOPS AT LEITRIM SCULPTURE CENTRE

Throughout 2011 Leitrim Sculpture Centre will be running a wide range of two- and three-day workshops in photography, film, wood and stone carving and more. In particular, they are running workshops in hot glass, glass casting and mould-making for glass and bronze casting with Irish-based glass artists Louise Rice, Graham Reid and Keith Seybert. For more information and to book your place, visit:

W: http://www.leitrimsculpturecentre.ie/programme/workshops.html