UK Glass Artist Susan Ratliff is overwhelmed by the Americanness of it all.
Forget all the kerfuffle about the newest UK arrival at Buckingham Palace. The Washington Glass School has its own UK arrival - University of Sunderland artist Susan Ratliff has begun her artist residency thru August. Susan is about to begin third year as an undergraduate in Glass and Ceramics at Sunderland University. Susan came to glass after a career in the field of Special Educational Needs - both as a teacher and as a Head of Service.
Susan Ratliff, "Can You Remember" sandcast glass. The series of cast panels references loss of memory caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Said Susan about her studies in glass: "I have always loved glass but only in the last few years have I learnt how to work with glass,it is an amazing material . I started by taking some classes at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland,which then led on to me studying at the University of Sunderland."
Michael Janis discusses sgraffito techniques with Susan Ratliff at University of Sunderland, 2012.
"During my first year Michael Janis and Tim Tate came to the University of Sunderland on their Fulbright scholarship and taught two Masterclasses on Dry Plaster Casting and Sgraffito. They were amazing and I learnt many new techniques." Susan said about coming to Washington Glass School: "I came to learn about the real world of glass, to find out how a studio works, including day-to-day issues like balancing the cost of
materials and equipment, setting kiln-firing schedules, dealing with the pressure of commissions and
also the sheer joy of creating. I hope through the Internship to prepare
myself a little for life after University as a working artist....I inquired with Tim and Michael about internship opportunities and a year on, here I am at The Washington Glass School!"
Susan Ratliff, "Landscape", kilncast glass, mirrors. The 1st year presentation dealt with self image and identity. Susan had incorporated dry plaster casting techniques for the installation piece.
If you are coming to the studio - make sure you stop by and say "Hi" to Susan, and make the Brit feel at home!
We are bracing for a new British Invasion! The Brits are arriving to set-up the collaborative arts exhibition at Pepco's Edison Gallery. Arrangements are now being mad for workshops talks and demos to be part of the exhibit, organized by Artomatic and the DC Sister City- part of Washington DC's Office of the Secretary.
International Glass + Clay March 1 through March 22, 2013 Opening Reception is Friday, March 1, 2013, 6-8 PM Edison Place Gallery 702 Eighth Street (between G and H Street) Washington, DC
To bring an exhibit of this size to the US Capitol, there are a number of sponsors and partners for the International Show:
The UK’s Crafts Council presents new work by 17 pioneering British glass makers as a way to illustrate contemporary ideas developed from traditional glass blowing processes. The traveling exhibition is presented as the "British new wave". While the exhibition claims to feature a new wave, some artists remain more rooted in the Studio Glass movement than some of their more experimental American counterparts.
El Ultimo Grito’s ‘Apartments’ is an imaginary architectural form created from repurposed scientific glass products. On first viewing, the pieces seem to be lifted from the laboratory but on closer inspection their function has been re-appropriated; they are models of futuristic glass apartments.
Joanna Manousis’ ‘Reaching an Ulterior Realm’ that presents us with what looks like helium mounted targets fired at by arrows (with varying degrees of success). The targets are not as fluid and the arrows not as light as we imagine however, as it becomes apparent they are made of solidified blown glass
Alongside the glass work is a newly commissioned film "Sing in Sand and Roar in Furnace Fire" to show how glassblowing is a controlled, balletic, and choreographed practice. The duet explains through interpretive dance the elements of trust, cooperation and synchronicity and how that is necessary for the production of glass art.
Urban Glass’s Glass Quarterly blog features more info on the show – click HERE.
For the “Breath-Taking” gallery guide pdf – click HERE.
