Celebrating Glass at the London Olympics

I am really amazed at the amount of detail that the artists created the art featured in the Swansea Olympic Games art display http://bbc.in/Mb9wNd. From soccer and discus throwing to a spectacular piece that pays homage to the Games beginnings in Greece, the artists have captured the spirit and emotion of the competition. The exhibition will only open officially for a private viewing today by Gwyn L Williams, the Creative Programmer for Wales for London 2012 at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea but it is already getting worldwide attention for its creative use of glass. A jury of four judges whittled the exhibit down to thirty seven panels, after receiving over sixty entries. I would have hated to be one of the judges for that competition! Most of the glass art was created by students at the Swansea School of Glass, and painters from the British Society of Master Glass. I really think that the power of art is its ability to stimulate the senses and create conversation. Love it or hate it, everybody has to have an opinion on a piece of art! Glass art is unique because light can play a role in the interpretation of the piece. The world is full of great art. Whether its “Bent of Mind” by British artist Tony Cragg at the Nangang Software Park or John McEwen's Search Light, Star Light, Spot Light in Toronto, art is meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone. In the spirit of the world's Olympic Games, art is the best way to promote the values of the games, Excellence, Respect and Friendship.

Architectural Glass is Like Commuting at an Art Gallery

You really don't know what to expect from one day to the next. When I started my glass design studio a couple of years ago, I never would have imagined that I would see my art at an airport. And when I was approached by the Aspen Pitkin County Airport, in Aspen, Colorado and the Bismarck Airport in Bismarck, North Dakota, that's exactly what happened. When we step out into the world each morning, either walking on the street or taking a bus or subway, we're surrounded by art. From the famous “Whirls and Twirls” by artist Sol LeWitt at the Columbus Avenue/59th Street station in New York to the beautiful statues at the Bangkok Airport, art is everywhere that people commute. In their infinite wisdom, city planners, architects and designers have all realized that art doesn't only belong in an art gallery but where people can enjoy it. And airports are definitely a major touchpoint for art and the community. Airport terminals are becoming the go-to places for contemporary art. While visitors are waiting to pick up relatives from their international excursions or passengers milling about the terminal, on their way to a connecting flight, glass art can add to the airport experience. Airports can be a confusing place, but glass art can make someone stop and relax for a moment. And for people that have a fear of flying, relaxing is a good thing. An airport terminal is the perfect mirror to the world of the contemporary artist. She can offer peace and tranquility in a busy space and make the real world of delays and lost baggage go away, at least for a minute.

The History of Slumping

As glass designers we spend a lot of our time slumping. You heard me right we love to slump. Slumping is the term that is used to describe how we form warm glass into a shape that our customers will want for their backsplashes, wall or stand alone pieces of art, countertops or glass boards. By applying heat to the point where the glass will soften, our glass designers increase the fluidity of the glass causing the glass to 'slump' into or onto the mold underneath. Here's how we do it. Once the oven reaches the right temperature we put a sheet of glass in, 'slumping' it over a form or into a mold. We use molds that are made of plaster, clay coated with plaster, graphite, sand or steel. Once the glass is formed, we reduce the temperature so that it can cool off or anneal. Slumping has been around since the days of the the Romans. They used slumping on everything from vessels to bowls and plates. They would place a sheet of glass over a mold which produced vessels with rough surfaces, which could then be ground or polished to a smooth finish. Some of the other techniques that they used to get their unique pillar-molded bowls was through the use of a special slotted tool to for the glass into a ribbed shape before it would go to slumping. This helped create a ribbed effect on the exterior of the bowl. Glass is a malleable material that can be made into almost any shape that you want. In my coming posts I'll write about them to give you a better idea of the techniques that we use.

Why I Just Love Glass

My love for glass goes back many years ago, when I was visiting Europe and some other parts of the world. I was enamored with the beautiful glass art that I saw on my voyages. When I came back to lovely Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2008, I started my business, wanting to share my passion for artistic glass work with others. So I purchased my first kiln, and decided to try it for myself. Today,four years later Castle Designer Glass has earned the reputation for creating custom designer glassworks that will get people talking about our customers, for the right reasons. We're well known for our innovative approach to glasswork, and we have most recently added the extremely practical and versatile glass whiteboards that can be installed in different interior spaces, including offices, board rooms, schools or hospitals. Our glass whiteboards come are manufactured in two ways 1) back painting the glass white or 2) sandblasting the glass. We also frame it with some shiny hardware to make it standout. Our glass whiteboards are highly functional and pleasing to the eye. I guess that the educational philosophy behind our the glass whiteboards is that the more students like their surroundings, the more they'll be motivated to learn. And cleaning is a snap, using mild detergents will keep your glass whiteboard stain free! Designer glass is a stunning way to add value and distinction to any space. It is a diverse material that can be used in door inserts, dining tables, countertops, wall décor and feature walls.