Visit To Ulster Museum

I've been thinking of submitting something for the 'Inspired By' exhibition that is opening in the Space Craft gallery in February. So I decided to go and have a look at the newly reopened Museum. I had visited the museum about 6 years ago when on a flying visit to Belfast for a family gathering in Armagh. What a change, they have basically gutted the whole building just keeping the historic facade of the building and built a modern interior.
They have a two floors dedicated to art which includes applied arts with a fantastic collection of cut crystal Irish glass and contemporary glass from around Europe. I've posted some of my favourites including work by Peter Dreiser and Colin Reid. I was a bit disappointed that most of the top floor had been given over to an exhibition on Sean Scully's work which all seemed too much of the same.

Inspired By

‘INSPIRED BY…’

CDC’s Annual Exhibition 2010

The Craft & Design Collective, CDC, invites you to submit work for it’s Annual Exhibition 2010 ‘INSPIRED BY…’.

‘INSPIRED BY…’ will be an exhibition of Craft, Applied Art and Design, open to Artist/Designer/Makers working in Craft Disciplines recognised by either the Crafts Council of Great Britain or the Crafts Council of Ireland (see attached/enclosed ‘LIST OF RECOGNISED CRAFT DISCIPLINES). The exhibition is intended to both challenge and inform the public perception of Craft, Applied Art and Design. A catalogue will be produced to coincide with the exhibition complete with images of the selected Artist/Designer/Makers pieces.

To celebrate the recent reopening of the Ulster Museum after it’s 3 year £17million redevelopment project Artist/Designer/Makers are invited to visit the Ulster Museum www.nmni.com/um and to then create one-off or limited edition pieces inspired by an object/s within the museum’s collections or to submit an existing piece/s that shows affinity with an object/s within the museum’s collections.

Sunset in Ballyclare

I took this image earlier in the week when we still had some snow on the ground. I love the intensity of the sun as it was setting between the trees.

If You First Don't Succeed Try Again

I made a second attempt at making the largest void again and all went well until I tried to take the fablon off when it cracked again!! This was a big set back but I had one more piece of glass so thought I would give it another go and until I finish sandblasting there is no point in cleaning down all the dust that has been created in the workshop.
All has gone well on the third attempt and the fablon is off. But when I came to take the fablon off another of the voids tonight another one broke so will have to do that again tomorrow. I'm hoping that won't take too long so I can start engraving the glass in the next few days.

Started Fabrication

I started fabricating my entry for the 'Heart of Swansea' exhibition and had to do it the wrong way by making the frame first. This was so that I would know what size to cut my glass because of the specific size that they require for the exhibition.
So frame made, glass cut and ready to fabricate. I managed to get three layers of the glass sandblasted with the voids but the forth one provided to be more tricky and broke, so I will have another go tomorrow.
I had forgot how much the grit gets everywhere when sandblasting! Was in need of a shower and hair wash after it and the workshop will be in need a good clean by the time I've finished.

Fragile Heart with Slumped Heart

This is the result with the slumped heart.
I like the way that the heart stands out from the void but I am still undecided which one to go with, decisions, decisions!!!

Slumped Heart

I fused some red frit into a heart shape onto float glass and fired it in the kiln.
Once it was cooled I cut a heart shape in some fiber board the same size as the heart. This was sanded down around the edges to make it smooth and then fired in the kiln to 600 degrees celsius to burn off the binders within it.
The fused glass was then placed on the fiber board on top of some small kiln props and fired to slump the glass.
This is the final concept that I wanted to try to add to the exhibition piece I am making and want to see what this slumped heart may add to the design.