Exhibitions

2013- "The Gathering" Exbo- Sept -Spiddal Craft Village.

OF THE EARTH ARTWORKS,Unit 11,  Spiddal craft village,Co.Galway.      

 OPEN Mon-Sat  10am - 6pm Sun 12-5pm 
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Glass workshops

    GLASS FUSING-Please e-mail Sue for more information on workshops.

Introduction to Fusing Glass - Beginner 2 Hour Class

With a blend of colour and creativity this class will introduce you to the wonders

of fused glass. This class offers a taste of the process for those who are curious  and want an opportunity to experience the sensation of glass. It is a celebration of the transparency, colour and vibrancy that only glass as a medium can capture. Students will learn basic glass techniques such as cutting, colour exploration and effects of firing in the kiln. Students also learn about the safety and the equipment needed for glass making. 

Course outline:

Handling cut glass.

Colour and decoration; enamels, frits and metals.

Effects of heat; fusing, slumping and annealing.

Firing schedules and kiln care.

Through demonstrations, explanations, and hands-on practice it is my intention for everyone to walk away from this class with a fundamental understanding and feeling of working with glass.

Students can make anything from a glass plate to glass coasters, glass panels or glass jewellery. Fusing workshop numbers are small to allow greater individual tuition. 

Short History on stained glass

Although the true origins of stained glass may have been lost to time and tall tales, one commonly known legend of the beginnings of this craft tells of shipwrecked sailors who accidentally discovered stained glass by setting a fire that melted the sand and blocks of soda from their cargo into hardened glass. Others point to the Egyptian or Mesopotamian potters as the true creators of Stained Glass. Stained glass is a unique and remarkable art form. It has a history of 1000 years or more (there are mentions of the use of coloured glass back to 500AD), during which it has literally enlightened the lives of many.

Whatever the true beginnings might be, it is safe to say that Stained Glass has been a part of our planet's history and culture for thousands of years, including Romans glazed glass windows in the first century, England's St. Paul's Monastery (founded in 7th century) which housed one of the first examples of multi-colored glass windows, then developing through the Gothic and Renaissance periods and resurging into today's decorative marketplace.

The 1st quarter of the 12th century, Theophilus, a German monk, wrote a description of the techniques of making stained glass. Stained glass was made by heating sand to the point of melting, then cooling slowly and adding metallic salts and oxides. This would capture specific portions from the spectrum of white light allowing the human eye to see various colors.

Gold would produce cranberry, cobalt produced blues, silver produced yellows and golds, and copper would produce brick red and green.
History is also duplicated in narrative designs as is Literature. More importantly stained glass windows that duplicated the story of Christ were known as the poor mans Bible. Not everyone was able to read, therefore, the windows told the story.
Stained glass, as an art and a craft, requires the artistic skill to conceive the design, and the engineering skills necessary to assemble the decorative piece, traditionally a window. Today the art and craft of stained glass has evolved into window panels, lamps, vases, sun catchers, wind chimes, art pieces, The possibilities are endless. 
 

 Links.

www.flair.ie

www.spiddalcrafts.com The best craft center in Co.Galway

www.chentaichiireland.com  Niall O'Floinn- Tai-Chi Academy Galway

www.cupantae.ie/andrea/contact.html   Brazilian Artist, Spiddal, Co.Galway

www.jannesvintage.com Vintage jewellery , clothing & accessories.

www.harryclarke.net Stained glass windows

www.derryauncrafts.com Great courses for learning new crafts/Co.Mayo

www.russellgallery.net  Fine art & more in Co.Clare

www.glassartists.org Glass Artists

www.ccoi.ie  Craft Council Of Ireland

www.ballynahinch-castle.com 4 Star Hotel in Connemara