An exhibition celebrating Irish women working in the medium of hot glass has opened at the Glass Attic Gallery, Jerpoint Glass Studio in County Kilkenny.
While glassblowing is traditionally thought of as a male-dominated profession, this group of Irish women are turning that perception on its head. Jerpoint have exclusively invited eight Irish women working in hot glass for their ‘Year of Craft’ exhibition, to coincide with Kilkenny Arts Festival.
The exhibition entitled ‘Hot Glass Divas’ will run throughout August and will show a variety of innovative hot glass pieces including sculpture, free forms and vessels. World-renowned glass artist Róisín de Buitléar is showing her sculpture ‘Molten’ that juxtaposed hot glass against granite, and Seattle-based Paula Stokes explores the fragility of life with her organic forms ‘Warm Series, Bellybottles’.
Lucinda Robertson has used the encalmo technique in her vessels of layered colour, and Valerie McHugh has created intimate sculptures entitled ‘I Love You Forever’ and ‘Wrapped in You’.
While visitors to Jerpoint Glass are always welcome to view the glassblowing in the studio, during Kilkenny Arts Festival there will be exciting glassblowing demonstrations by the exhibitors. This special event is a unique opportunity to watch some of the best glass-artists in Ireland demonstrate their skills in the hot glass studio, which promises to be a highlight of the Festival.
“This is a very exciting time, where else would you see eight women glassblowing together?” said Kathleen Leadbetter of Jerpoint Glass.
The exhibition was officially launched by Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer of the Crafts Council of Ireland to mark Year of Craft.
Jerpoint Glass, the family run glassblowing studio and gallery shop, established in 1979 is renowned for its exclusive range of hand blown glassware, recognised from RTE's Saturday Night with Miriam and the blockbuster, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Hot Glass Divas, sponsored by Flogas will run until August 31 at the Glass Attic Gallery, Jerpoint Glass in Stoneyford, Co Kilkenny. The exhibition is open daily and free of charge. For further information contact Jerpoint on 056 7724350 or enquiries@jerpointglass.com.
