A review of the inaugural
‘BRITISH GLASS BIENNALE’
The superb atmospheric space in which the exhibition is held.
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The First British Glass Biennale Exhibition closed on 18th September 2004 but continues in a virtual form here on the website where gallery pages are available to view.
At the heart of the festival, the British Glass Biennale is the most important exhibition of glass in the UK for over ten years; a ground-breaking exhibition displayed in the vast and dramatic shell of one of the area's most famous glasshouses. Chosen by a distinguished jury, the exhibition showcased current British makers with all pieces having been made in the last two years and all available to purchase. Most artists made new work specifically for the Biennale.
The Jury panel selected work from a total of 81 artists for the Biennale, looking for work that reflected the highest levels of creative imagination and technical achievement across the full range of contemporary glass practices - from architectural, installation and sculptural work to object-based work.
The Winning Piece was selected by the jury on the day of the preview.
International Festival of Glass Biennale Award 2004
Chair of the Jury, Professor Andrew Brewerton announced the result at the preview night which was attended by hundreds of people and specially invited VIPs. "The winner of the inaugural International Festival of Glass Biennale Award is Hannah Kippax, for her kiln-cast glass sculpture 'Seeking Rovnováha'.
Her work was chosen from among 150 exhibits by 80 selected glass artists as the 'best in show'. Hannah received her £5,000 award from Debra Shipley MP at the opening night on August 26th.
The jury admired the formal assurance of the work, its technical achievement and sureness of touch. They commended its scale and strength of presence in a show of exceptional range and diversity, in which a generation of young British glass artists had appeared to 'come of age'.
They noted increasing evidence of international influences within the exhibition as a whole, and acknowledged that their final decision had been a difficult, though unanimous one, in a field in which established artists were also seen to be pushing their own creative boundaries."
Professor Andrew Brewerton
Chair of the Jury Panel
Jury
Chair: Professor Andrew Brewerton, Dean, School of Art, University of Wolverhampton
Keith Brocklehurst, Head of Glass at Glasshouse College
Charles Hajdamach, Glass Historian & Author
Jeanette Hayhurst, Director of Jeanette Hayhurst Fine Glass
Zafar Iqbal, Director of The Studio Glass Gallery, London
Exhibition Organiser: Candice-Elena Evans - EMAIL the Biennale Curator.
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BIENNALE CATALOGUE
ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!
A full colour 112 page hardback catalogue featuring works by the exhibiting artists accompanies the exhibition.
The catalogue will become a regular snapshot of the state of UK glass, marking the emergence of styles, fashions and artists. It will prove a valuable resource for anyone interested in researching glass over the years. It is printed in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Kristianstad Book Printers who have an enviable environmental record.
Available at £25.00 GBP (+P&P - £5 UK) - ORDER NOW by email.
Take a look at the LIST OF ARTISTS who were selected to participate in the inaugural exhibition and a Gallery of Images from the 2004 event.
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