London. February 2013

This week's trip was a couple of days in London. 

The main reason for our visit was to see Cirque du Soleil's 'Kooza'. After our previous attempt to see it resulting in its cancellation due to technical problems, needless to say I was itching to see it!

It was worth the wait!

Just spectacular on every level! The acts, costumes, make-up, staging, and music were all amazing! I had seen this show years ago on DVD, but nothing compares to the live performance - We sat there with our jaws dropped throughout. Although I do find myself distracted at times with my curiosity and amazement at how the staging was constructed, how hard the acts have trained, how the concepts were thought up, how much material was needed to create the vast sheets billowing at the sides of the stage, etc etc...

I have a love for the theatre (after studying it at school), and even more so for circus performances such as this. When I can tear myself away from glass making, I engross myself in pole dancing, poi, stilt-walking, and other circus-related activities. So I can certainly appreciate and admire the skill involved in putting a show like this together, if only on a basic level. 

Queue the day dreaming of running away with them one day...

So it now strikes me...Why have I not thought to take influence from this fascination and transfer it to my glass work? Probably not in the literal sense by glassblowing whilst hanging upside-down from a trapeze, but by taking aspects such as balance, colour, and strength. 
-Something to work on.

After seeing Kooza, Totem (what an amazing birthday viewing that was!), and Alegria, I can't wait to see the next show that comes this way!

Rain Room

Up and out first thing in the morning, after 4 previously failed attempts, we were determined to see 'Rain Room' at the Barbican, by Random International. We joined the queue an hour and a half before it opened, and after about a 2 hour wait (a perfect opportunity to do some knitting!) we were let in. 

Now this was my kind of art! The first thing that hits you is the sound coming from around the curve, through the darkness. It completely changes the atmosphere. The ceiling is covered in panels that throw down heavy rain. Stand at the edge watching as others pass through the downpour before you start to creep through yourself. Sensors detect your movements creating your own invisible umbrella. Then moving further in, the veil of water closes behind you, sealing you in. It's  quite magical and very calming.

It is certainly something you have to experience in person to fully appreciate, but for a better idea, there are some videos of the exhibition here. There have also been some dance performances running on a few dates in Rain Room which would have been really interesting to see. 

Rain Room

Our next stop was London Glassblowing studio. However we accidentally stumbled upon Borough Market, so it would have been rude not to have a look around! There was just too many delicious things to choose from!

Tearing ourselves away from the food, we continued on to London Glassblowing. Somehow I'd never visited before (?!), so it was great to finally see it. The Coalesce exhibition was on with some fantastic work. My favourite pieces were definitely those of Bruce Marks. -beautiful colours and form. Of course, Peter Layton's work was wonderful to see up close, but that's a given! It was lovely to meet him briefly. 

Bruce Marks

Louis Thompson

I spied these pieces (above) by Louis Thompson which I was intrigued by. I don't know what it is about them that's so appealing? Louis and Bruce were both making in the studio, so we watch for a bit as they worked their magic.  

The Shard

To top it all off, the sun was shining for most of the trip, so we got a glorious view of the new Shard building up close. I rather like it, and after watching a documentary on how it was constructed, I am also seriously impressed!

Nottingham Contemporary

My friend and fellow artist Rachel (a.k.a Pink Couch) suggest the jolly good idea of us taking a trip up to Nottingham to see what was going on at Nottingham Contemporary gallery last week. 

There was also a lace exhibition going on at the castle which would have fit in perfectly with some new work I'm doing, but us being us, we didn't realise that the castle closed early during the winter months, so we missed that one - D'oh! 

The Contemporary is a great space (can't believe I've never been there before!) and presented us with two exhibitions from Piero Gilardi and John Newling. 

I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to conceptual art, so I'm sure there was something I was missing when it came to Newling's work on the 'social and economic systems of society'. Although did find his framed pieces with dried cabbage leaves intriguing - with their appearance meant to change through the duration of the exhibition. His use of gold leaf made them quite attractive. (It didn't occur to me at this point to take a photo!)

Piero Gilardis foam stones and leaves

I had more of an appreciation for Piero Gilardi's work from the 60's with the technical skill involved in transforming synthetic foam into such realistic representations of natural forms. All hand-carved and painted. Our urge to jump on the art works welcomely relieved by the separate piece made for our squishing curiosities. :)

The outside of the Contemporary - I got some lace inspiration from the trip!

Holland, January 2013

Last week this Duck spread her wings and flew to Leerdam, Holland with Niki from 'Niki Steel Glass' for some glass blowing and inspiration. The trip turned out to be timed nicely with the snow and  sub-zero temperatures freezing up the canals - all very picturesque! 

There's so much glass making in the area, what with all the studios, factories, galleries and museums, so we had lots to see. It's the Stourbridge of the Netherlands! A massive thanks to Chris Maas for showing us around! We managed to squeeze in a little trip to Utrecht one afternoon which was like a mini Amsterdam, very pretty. I found a lovely fabric shop so bought some lace to try out some new ideas for my glass work.

Even just going to the Glass Museum was worth the trip - such a huge amount of amazing (and some questionable!) contemporary and traditional pieces to see. We spent hours in there and left packed with ideas to try out with our own work. It was much needed! Now I've been itching to get started on new ideas, and rather excited about the prospect.

May I also mention (while I remember) the most amazing pancake I've ever had! I'd move there just for that!  :o)  Yum yum yum...

We visited Bernard Heesen's studio which was wonderful. Such a gorgeous setting and curious building filled with magical glass things.

I'm developing quite the fascination for old glass blowing photographs.
I think this is Bernard's Father. I really like this shot.

A somewhat challenging day glass blowing in the Leerdam studio. It's been 5 years since I've worked with any assistants (or working as one) due to making all my work solo. There was a lot I wasn't used to on top of the new workspace and certain ways of working that I'd forgotten. A day just wasn't long enough, so fingers crossed we'll be able to go back again soon. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on some photos of me making in the studio...

Everyone we met was so friendly and welcoming. Thanks for having us to play, Leerdam!

Glass blowing statue in Leerdam