Last week I went into the hotshop to start experimenting with glass forms, and begin to design the new installation "The last refuge". It consists of a series of glass "pebbles" or stones, which represent the present state of fragility that many of us seem to be experiencing.
Here's a link to a film that I made about the process, on Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/219235578
working from some simple pen and ink drawings......
I drew some quick sketchy chalk marks on the floor of the hotshop.....
Lawrence then blows the glass........
with a tiny bit of help from me ( honestly, my contribution is very moderate at this stage!!)
after a fair bit of prototyping, Lawrence then brought me in to shape the hot glass. These cork pads kept bursting into flames as I shaped, since I didn't move them in quick enough circles over the face of the glass, but Lawrence is endlessly patient with my efforts....
and eventually we end up with some really pleasing forms....
then it's into the lehr, for the long annealing process.....
amazingly, they all emerge without a single crack this time, and now there's a chance to review the forms, and the endless job of cold working. I quite enjoy cold working, because although it takes ages, it gives a chance to hide behind the ear defenders and just concentrate solely on a single task. For those who know me, you will realise just how relaxing that might be.......more from the hotshop in the next few weeks, as I am back there next Tuesday, refining forms.....and making a whole new kinetic piece.......
