Confluence

Ceramics >< Glass
25 March – 10 September 2023

Confluence developed from initial conversations between Andrew Livingstone (artist and Professor of Ceramics at the University of Sunderland) and Julia Stephenson (Head of Arts National Glass Centre) around the relationship between ceramics and glass and proffered the question; how might an artist who works predominately with clay/ceramic explore the medium of glass? There are some commonalties between the materials, processes, and studio equipment, however there are also vast differences which exude their own languages within the creative processes of both mediums. The work in this exhibition exposes the commonalities and differences but more importantly presents a confluence, a point at which the two materials meet. This is contextualised through the presentation of ceramic work by each of the artists which is selected from their respective practice. 

Three artists Bouke de Vries, Andrea Walsh and Andrew Livingstone were invited to the Glass and Ceramics department, housed within National Glass Centre, to experience the expertise and possibilities for glass that are afforded by the team and specialised equipment available within this world class facility. Following this visit the artists developed proposals to extend their creative practice into glass, the outcomes of which can be seen in this current exhibition.

The work you encounter in the exhibition is supported by experts from the academic and technical team based at National Glass Centre and the University of Sunderland who have worked with the artists on the development of ideas and realisation of the artworks through design and manufacture. This work was realised as part of a ten-day residency executed over the last four months where each of the three artists worked closely with the glass team.

The project has been produced and curated by Gregory Parsons (independent curator and consultant).

Image credit: Left – Bouke de Vries, Photo: Stefano Vuga. Top Right – Andrew Livingstone, Photo: Colin Rennie, Torus Torus Studios. Bottom Right – Andrea Walsh, Photo: Shannon Tofts.

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