GLINT 2015 residency wrap up

For the last 6 weeks I have been involved in a fantastic artist residency called GLINT. It's the residency lovechild of Canberra Glassworks and Megalo Print Studio. 6 artists, 3 of glass and 3 of print get to wander between the 2 studios sharing skills, trying out new techniques and expanding our individual practices through the lens of another medium.

From the glass world GLINT 2015 were George Agius, Debra Jurss and Spike Deane (myself) and from the print world we had Nicci Haynes, Julie Ryder and Luke Chiswell. We all had very different skill sets, even within our own mediums which was a great bonus, the opportunity was there to learn and try SO many different things.

L-R. Deb Jurss, Julie Ryder, Nicci Haynes, Spike Deane, George Agius, Luke Chiswell

The arts community around the Canberra Glassworks and Megalo Print Studio is such that we had input from other artists too, notably Ruth Oliphant who gave us a fantastic powder printing demo, Lisa Cahill who helped out with some slumping, Peter Nilsen with cold-working and Matt Curtis.

Yesterday was our last day, which really involved sorting through the amazing amount of tests and samples on our 'studio tables' and checking every corner of both buildings for anything we may have left behind... oh and some cleaning (it always gets messy in the final week).

A big thank you to the staff of Canberra Glassworks and Megalo Print Studio who helped enormously through out the residency duration with advice on projects and booking equipment.

So what did I get up to? See my Instagram feed for ALL the photos. I think I will need to break up the photos and projects into separate posts, but here is a small selection.

Used one of my popular silhouettes for etching

Casts of a woodcut

powder printing

screen printing fabric

GLINT 2015

I received a reply to my GLINT residency proposal. While I crossed my fingers of my left hand and squeezed my eyes shut with hope, I opened the email.

YAY! I got in. So thrilled.

Here is a look at last years GLINT.

Megalo Print Studio and Canberra Glassworks have partnered to create an exciting residency opportunity appropriately called GLINT, a combination of Glass and Print. 

In 2014 this project offered eight artists a unique opportunity to explore the connections between printmaking and glass practice, working across the facilities of Canberra Glassworks and Megalo.  

The eight artists were selected as a result of an Expression of Interest process include Scott Chaseling, Emilie Patteson, Ben Rak, Annika Romeyn, Dionisia Salas, Mark Thiele, Annie Trevillian, Melinda Willis. 

IMAGE: Emilie Patteson + Annika Romeyn working on a lithographic stone

The artists, made up of 4 glass and 4 print artists, worked in a collaborative manner, sharing skills and forging the links between Glass and Print through a two month residency concluding 30 May 2014 

The work created during the GLINT residency culminated in an exhibition at Canberra Glassworks Gallery from 25 June – 4 August 2014, curated by Alison Alder, former Director of Megalo.  

This was the first collaborative project between Megalo and Canberra Glassworks. Both organisations are excited about the prospect of future collaborations and look forward to working together to establish Kingston Foreshore a visual arts hub for Canberra.

Glass and Science

Today the Glass & Science Glassworks Education Supplement was in the 'The Canberra Times'. I have an early piece of mine on the front cover and a writing piece on casting inside.

'The Tree' opening

Piccies of my work "New stories from the old wood" at the opening tonight of 'The Tree' at the Canberra Glassworks.

The Tree Exhibition

Here is a better lit image of the piece i'm making for the tree exhibition. The front will be properly polished, the stag silhouette will be sandblasted and painted with the antlers more branchified (probably black) and the golden tree will be redone with finer detail. I was really making a mock up for a photo and substituting this piece of glass. Seeing it works so well I decided to use this piece of glass rather than the other I had been making specifically. 

I am still on the search for the origins of the 'tree-antlered deer'...

Here is my exhibition statement, thanks as always to my wonderful editor (or as a friend and I call him...my blurb master)

My work draws on narratives from folk, myth and fairy tales to explore themes of individual transformation and metamorphosis. I am especially interested in how contemporary re imaginings from literature and film effect the continuity, meaning and relevance of an individual story.

In every culture the tree has a symbolic role to play. In the realm of folk and fairytale, when the motif of forest or woods appears we can be sure that our hero (or our projected self) will be tested or challenged in some way. The liminal space of grove and glade are sites of personal introspection and growth.

The history of the majestic deer / tree spirit is unknown. It is a modern hybrid, integrating the metaphorical qualities and symbolism of both the deer and the tree. Versions of this quasi mythical creature - who grows tree branches, sometimes in bud or bloom in the place of antlers, appear frequently in pop culture: from film to fantasy fiction, from t-shirts to tattoos. The popular image of the 'tree-antlered deer' is an example of 'myth blending', the seamless merging of symbol and folklore with modern storytelling genres to give birth to new tales that evoke the timeless pull of antiquity.

Bagging pixie dust

Well that is what it felt and looked like. I bagged Cerium, Pumice and grades 80, 220, 400 & 600 of Silicon Carbide at the Glassworks today.

dryad piece in the kiln

the Dryad piece is now in Kiln 19. The glass is furnace cullet, from when the CGW furnace was emptied before Christmas. Tom brought out the usable glass into patties for me, nice thick chunks of annealed glass. the schedule was a bit of a mash up. I suddenly realised that the Dryad piece is quite thick, so quite a few extra hours were added.

4 more 'master' keys

My success rate on this batch was pretty low, about 50%. I need to make a better mould if I'm going to do many more of this shape.

Secrets ready to go

Despite some unforseen difficulties 'Secrets' are ready to go to the store...soon to be available for purchase at Gather! the Canberra Glassworks retail shop. Woot!

Matt makes a paperweight

Dougie's nephew Matt has been staying with us for a bit, while he finds his feet in Australia. After a hearty brunch in Kingston we visit the Canberra Glassworks. Before you know it Matt finds himself being signed up for OTS (off the street) make your own paperweight.

Matt re heating his glass in the glory hole

Summer holidays kids classes

All 3 days worth of seals, whales and penguins ready for glass melting...and I'm ready to sit down!

Icebergs ahoy

Cast glass Antarctic animals (+ visiting Artic polar bear) in their new environment. Thanks to Ruth Oliphant for creating a good home for them.

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Antartic animals let out of the kiln

Here are the bunch of animals I made for Ruth's 'Antarctic diorama' (to entice kids to make the workshop). I probably said this too many times yesterday...but I've never really made anything CUTE before...

Penguins, seals, starfish and random fish (and a visiting polar bear)

my favourite seal

baby Harp seal (hopefully)

granted, Polar bears live in the North not South

Polar bears...are not antarctic animals

Whilst I was at the Caberra Glassworks today, I made some more "Antartic animals" for a diorama of glass beasties to entice young persons to take the Glassworks' "Antartic animals" workshop....
Luckily as well as a polar bear, I made some seals and penguins...

Graduate in Residence at Canberra Glassworks

Today is the start of a four week residency at the Canberra Glassworks. The Glassworks has 4 GiR's (Graduate in Residence...pronounced as 'grrrrs') this year; Pamela Manning from Monash, Melbourne / Lucy Palmer from Uni S.A, Adelaide, South Australia / Alex Frasersmith from ANU, Canberra, ACT and myself (Spike Deane from SCA, Sydney, NSW).



We each submitted a project proposal, we have access to the glassworks 7 days a week from 8-5.30 and $500 worth of equipment hire a week. and conversations with all the artists coming and going

Today was a bit of a blur of introductions and inductions combined with a growing sense of excitement after seeing all the fabulous facilities available.

I have recently moved to Canberra (no fixed address as yet) and I have, in response to all the cycle paths in this town bought a bicycle. Today I cycled to and from the Glassworks...and even ventured at times on to the road.

Alasdair and Rish Gordon: Engraving at Canberra Glassworks

Last week I spent 7 days at the Canberra Glassworks doing a Copper wheel engraving workshop.



I really wish that I could rotate pics in blogger

Canberra Glass works, week 7

During our assessment week, we were not required to attend uni on Wednesday.

6 of our glass class decided to take a day trip to Canberra, mainly to watch glass artists make glass at the Canberra glass works.