Archives: Online Exhibitions

“Exploring Light and Clarity”

We invited CGS member glass artists to submit a piece of work that reflects an intuitive use or concern for light, or clarity within the glass. We were looking for work that involves light, captures light and transforms or harnesses light.

Light is the brightness that lets us see things. Light comes from sources such as the sun, moon, lamps, energy and fire.
Light is the existing agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
Light illuminates, refracts, dims, changes, sparkles and moves.

25 glass artists, CGS members, were selected from a number of entries.

The exhibition was launched on 30th Sept 2018

Thank you to all those that entered work and took part.

25 CGS member glass artists share work with us that explores the world of Murrini/Millefiori.

Murrine are colored patterns or images made in a glass cane that are revealed when the cane is cut into thin cross-sections. One familiar style is the flower or star shape which, when used together in large numbers from a number of different canes is called millefiori.

Murrine production first appeared in the Middle East more than 4,000 years ago and was revived by Venetian glassmakers on Murano in the early 16th century.

Once murrine have been made, they can be incorporated into a glass vessel or sculpture in several ways. A number of murrine may be scattered, and then picked up on the surface of a partially-blown glass bubble. Further blowing, heating, and shaping on the marver will incorporate the murrine completely into the bubble and then the formed.

Alternatively, the murrine can be arranged in a compact pattern and then heated in a furnace until they fuse into a single sheet. The sheet can be formed over a mold (such as a bowl shape) and further heated so that the murrine are slumped to take the form required.

Another technique using a sheet of murrine made as above is to make a small disc (collar) of molten glass on the end of a blowing iron, then roll the disc along one edge of the sheet, picking up the sheet on the blowpipe in the form of a cylinder. The end of the cylinder opposite the blowpipe can be squeezed together and sealed. With further heating, the sealed cylinder can be blown and formed into any shape a glassblower can make.

Exhibition launched on 24th July 2018

7 glass artists that explore Graal and Ariel Techniques.

In this exhibition we are inviting artists to share the old Swedish glassblowing techniques of ariel and graal.

Graal is a type of decorative glass developed by Orrefors of Sweden in 1916. The design is carved, engraved, or etched on a parison of colored glass, which is then reheated and cased in a thick layer of transparent glass of a different color, and inflated.

In the ariel technique, a colored layer of glass is encased by a clear layer. Onto this “blank” a design is applied by sandblasting. This is then encased in clear glass and it is heated again and blown into its final form and size. While encasing colored glass that was engraved, air bubbles trapped in the recesses of the design remain.

Both techniques are part of the Swedish art glass movement.

The show was launched on the 28th April 2018.

As with all the CGS gallery shows, this will be a juried exhibition.

Please check out our resources area for guidance on photography on our ‘How To’ section. https://cgs.org.uk/information/104

‘Glass Inspired by Great Artists’- AN OPEN SHOW

35 glass artists were selected, CGS members and also non-members.

We asked UK glass artists and International artists to answer the subject of whether there is/was a famous artist who is an inspiration to them and who inspired their work?

Work which displayed a figurative, literal or thematic inspiration of a particular artist’s work on their own.

We even had artists from Japan, Costa Rica, The UK, China, Denmark, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Ireland taking part and sharing their work with us.

Soft crocodiles, delicately painted layers, exquisite engraving, sharp, angular or delicate casting, intricate stained glass, shapely blown forms- a true wealth of techniques and creative ideas explodes here.
Each artist has been inspired by a famous artist and their ideas have been replicated, diluted, pulled apart and recreated within their own work.

As with all CGS online gallery shows, this was a juried show. Works are selected on the merit of both the work, and also photography.

If you would like to become a member and take part in our online gallery shows, please email admin@cgs.org.uk

This online exhibition was launched on 18th March 2018.

We loved the idea of this online gallery exhibition: Size!
60 CGS members were selected that demonstrate glass art that is either tiny, or huge!
Size matters with this show!

We were looking for members to submit work that falls within either of the following parameters:

1. Is under 10cm in size
2. Is over 1 metre in size

We were overwhelmed by entries to this show, so could not include everyone unfortunately. Thank you to all those that entered a submission.

To submit an image, please follow the link to your Member Login page: https://cgs.org.uk/user

The exhibition was launched on 31st of January 2018.

” Interactive Glass – A first for CGS (to include video and film)”- was launched on 18th of October 2017

We wanted to explore glass that really interacts with a viewer, that inspired by the need to be touched, moved, immersed in, or participated with. The results are marvellous. As our shows goes from strength to strength, this online exhibition seeks to push us into a different realm.

These 55 pieces of work, are not just beautiful to look: they require a physical, optical or practical investigation. They prompt questions. They suggest you look and touch. They suggest a use, maybe within a timeline. They have been designed and made with people in mind, a user, an operator or an inquisitive exploration.

Can an audience or viewer interact with the work? Are there moving parts, wheels, tactile areas? Does the artist use film or photography and installations to interact with an audience?

We also invited 3 International Artists: Aaron Ristau, Bernie Huebner and Simone Crestani to share their work in the exhibition with us.

We are honoured to include them and their amazing collections. A big thank you to them for exhibiting their work in this exhibition.

Thank you, Nicola Schellander and the CGS Board

Action Potential from Jenny Walsh on Vimeo.

‘CELEBRATIONS’- Sponsored by Mark Holford
(Online highlights of the CGS Open Exhibition at the International Festival of Glass, 25th August – 9th September 2017)

Celebrations is the CGS Exhibition at the International Festival of Glass in 2017 as part of our 20th Anniversary.
124 CGS members made a piece of glass that celebrates any event of special importance, however big or small.
All work is for sale and might be the perfect present you are looking for, for that special occasion. Come and find the live exhibition in the Ruskin Centre.

97 of the artists so far, have submitted work to be shown online in this gallery area.

ALL WORK IS FOR SALE!! THOSE THAT ARE SOLD WILL BE MARKED AS SOLD.

If you would like to buy any of the unsold pieces please contact admin@cgs.org.uk

The winners are as follows:

The Prize Winners;
Best in Show
Pippa Stacey,
Runners up
Vic Bamforth
Ruth Shelley
Highly Commended
Nancy Sutcliffe
Ruth Shelley
Linda Banks
Bev Dyson
Sarah L. Brown.
Fiona Fawcett.
Priska Jacobs.
Karlin Rushbrooke.
People’s Prize –
Ruth Shelley for ‘Fabulous’

Prizes sponsored by Mark Holford & Alan J Poole
Best in show £300 sponsored by Alan J Poole
People’s Prize £300 sponsored by Mark Holford
Two runners up £100 each sponsored by Mark Holford

This online highlights show was launched 12th September 2017

This online gallery glass exhibition will explore the theme of being ‘In Relationship’. We asked glass artists what it meant for them.

“Relationship-The way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected.”

What does this mean for the artist. Do the pieces of glass have a relationship with each other? Does the artist explore the idea of man and his relationship with others? His surroundings? His own thoughts? Does their work explore the relationship that they have with the material of glass?

From a very large number of entries, 80 CGS members were selected to take part in this exciting and vibrant exhibition. WE also welcomed several new CGS members to this show.

The exhibition was launched on the 4th of August 2017.

Thank you to all those that entered work. Due to the number of entries, we could only put forward a select number of artists.

We asked members if their work was smashed, flattened, crumpled or collapsed?
Or whether their work was a piece of something new by crushing traditional forms or breaking work apart?

We had a wonderful response and for the show, 30 Contemporary Glass Society Members were selected and put forward.

This show is edgey, sharp, and crisp. It shows care but also random acts of glassmaking and the sense of fluidity that glass reveals at times.

Thank you to all those that submitted work.

The show was launched on the 16th of June 2017.

The Contemporary Glass Society supporting glass in Latin America.

The Contemporary Glass Society (UK) is delighted to announce an online exhibition of 44 selected glass artists residing in Latin America.

There was no allotted theme for the show except that artists must be living, studying or residing in Latin America.

The show exhibits a particular strength of character, demonstrating a vibrance and diversity that we have maybe not seen before here in our Gallery area. Many of the pieces are strongly symbolic, with echoes of both a lifeforce and cultural identity. Stories are told. Pieces lie glancing at the viewer, challenging them to take part and discover more.

Artists did not need to be a member of the CGS to submit work for this show, but are welcome to join the Society in the future and take part in all our shows.

The CGS is a charity, registered in the UK. The organisation is funded entirely through members and from donations made by individuals and organisations. We represent glass at an international level and give glass a voice in the media along with forging links between all those involved with glass in an artistic, technological, manufacturing or support capacity.

A huge thank you to our friends and associated across the water and in particular to Dina Priess for her help in sharing our details with artists in Latin America.

This exhibition was launched Mar/Apr 2017