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University of Sunderland poster for the visiting Fulbright Scholars.
Tim Tate and I have been powering through our stay here at the University of Sunderland in the beautiful northeast of England. This is a blog update of some of the adventure we have participated in whilst on our Fulbright Scholarship to the UK.
The University of Sunderland Glass Centre and the glass roof deck.
Kevin Petrie, Head of the Glass & Ceramics Department
We arrived on Thursday, met at the airport by the University’s head of the Glass and Ceramics Department, Kevin Petrie. Kevin took us on a whirlwind tour of the massive building complex. The centre, built in 1998, has a glass panel roof – where one is invited to walk across and watch the blowing facilities down below.
Tim Tate takes a walk on the glass.
The size, equipment and state-of-the-art facility was overwhelming. It was great to see some old friends that had come to DC in years past waving a welcoming hello from across the acreage of studio space. We would be coming back to the University after a couple workshops in town.
Some of the many huge kilns at the university.
The beach in front of the hotel in Seaburn.
Our hotel could not have been better – sweeping views across the North Sea, with Seaburn beach in front of our hotel. Nice.
Creative Cohesion’s new studio and exhibition center in Sunderland.
The arts organization, Creative Cohesion, held a cocktail reception to welcome us and inaugurate the new hotshop at their new facility in Sunderland city centre . For those of you from DC, you might remember the organization and its many talented artists that participated in the 2006’s Glass 3 exhibit in Georgetown, organized by Artomatic. In 2009, many more artists from Sunderland participated in the Artomatic held near the Navy Yard/near the new Nationals Ballpark. The non-profit arts organization began over 10 years ago, initially designed as a way to help for glass artists coming from the university mature into professional artists. The success of the organization’s mission has expanded and now includes ceramic and visual arts, performance artists, and poets in its umbrella of services.
Our arrival coincided with the center’s celebration of the opening of their new hotshop – our workshop would be the first for the glass shop. Upon arrival – we see a familiar face – a poster of the UK artists working in Dave D’Orio’s DC Glasswork’s hotshop is in the window.
The artists from Sunderland listen with intent.
The big burly electrician Richie tries fusing for the first time. And shows real talent.
Roger Tye gets the glass into shape.
The next day, Tim Tate and I were welcomed at the University of Sunderland. We first gave a lecture about our work, the Washington Glass School & Studio and the Glass Secessionism movement.
Professor Tim Tate speaks about his work and influences.
Coming up soon – a posting or two about the workshops at the National Glass Center, touring around the area and the London Affordable Art Fair! Stay posted!
Washington, DC and Sunderland, UK Sign Friendship Agreement
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USA & UK – BFF
The UK’s Sunderland City Council will be signing a “Friendship Agreement” with Washington, DC tomorrow, February 22, 2010. Sunderland is the only non-capital in the world to have such an agreement with Washington, DC. The original agreement was signed in 2006, and a formal renewal and signing will take place at the British Embassy with the UK’s deputy head of mission to the US Philip Barton.In DC, delegates from Sunderland University, the Sunderland Chamber of Commerce and business representatives are joining Sunderland council chief executive Dave Smith at the Embassy renewal.
Delegates from the University of Sunderland tour the Washington Glass School
L-R Peter Fidler, Vice Chancellor Sunderland University, Angela Fidler, Erwin Timmers, WGS.
The delegation is attending a series of meetings, including a meeting with DC’s Mayor Gray – and a visit to the Washington Glass School.
Commercial Director of Sunderland AFC Gary Hutchinson said: “We all know that our city and region have strong links with the US and Washington DC. It was a major coup to see these strengthened in 2006, we’ve built upon that agreement and now we are about to renew it.”
Council leader Paul Watson said: “Since signing this historic Friendship Agreement with Washington DC, we’ve seen a range of economic and educational benefits.
“Young people in a number of our schools, as well as Sunderland Youth Parliament, have had the opportunity to learn more about America, explore issues important to young people on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as learn more about their own history and heritage.
In June 2006, Sunderland signed the original Friendship Agreement with Washington DC. The Friendship Agreement cements the city’s unique historical link with Washington DC, as George Washington’s ancestral home is located within Sunderland, England’s boundary and sets out to create benefits for the people of both cities through economic, educational, and cultural co-operation as well as exchanges of experience in key policy areas.
Later this year, Washington Glass School’s Professor Tim Tate and Professor Michael Janis will be teaching at the University of Sunderland and the UK’s National Glass Centre as part of their Fulbright Scholarship, and continues the interaction between the two glass centers.
Tim Tate & Michael Janis – Fulbright Recipients
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This March, WGS Professors Janis and Tate will be heading over the pond to Ye Olde England as Fulbright Scholars – heading to University Of Sunderland and the The Institute for International Research in Glass (IIRG).
Sponsored by the US Department of State, the Fulbright Program is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by US Senator J. William Fulbright. The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, operating in over 155 countries. Forty-three Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes, including two in 2010.
The University of Sunderland has the largest glass and ceramics department in Europe. The Glass & Ceramic department is housed in the National Glass Centre’s landmark £17million building, adjacent to St.Peter’s Campus.
The UK National Glass Centre has interesting glass shop procedures. Above is photo by Anna Liukas from Sunderland’s 2010 calendar featuring shots of students at work in the hot shop.
Above, a flamework studio student pictured hard at work. photo: Anna Liukas
Apparently, the North East of England is much hotter than we were led to believe. Traveling light should be the bywords for our two intrepid scholars.
DC & UK Glass School Connection
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UK’s National Glass Centre at the University of Sunderland
Representatives from one of the world’s leading glass art education centers – the UK’s University of Sunderland and National Glass Centre met this week with the directors of the Washington Glass School to discuss collaborative educational opportunities between the two glass schools.
Residencies both here at the Washington Glass School and at the University of Sunderland, exhibitions and how to enable a free exchange of ideas, students and staff are amongst the topics to be worked through.
It would be very exciting to have many of the UK glass artists we first met at the Artomatic-sponsored “Glass 3” collaborative exhibit between 3 world glass centers held in 2008, and saw more of during the critically acclaimed Artomatic 2009, come and teach their techniques and tricks.
We will post more information on this topic as this collaboration develops.
News From Across The Pond
>Artists from the UK’s Cohesion Glass Network were some of this year’s Artomatic highlights. The work from the Brits was astounding, and the artists were a fun and energetic force as they stormed the US Capital.
Stephen Beardsell cast glass demo
Click HERE to jump to Cohesion Network’s newsletter with their review of the DC arts festival.
Click HERE to read what UK artists Sarah Blood & Joanne Mitchell thought of the show – from an artist’s perspective.
Stephen Beardsell Cast Glass
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UK glass artist Stephen Beardsell had a workshop at the Washington Glass School this past weekend – here is the glass demo piece after the firing
Sunderland Glass Artist Demo – Stephen Beardsell
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Artist Stephen Beardsell showed how achieves great depth in his kilncast panels.
Working with chunky frits, Stephen layers the colors and inclusions. His talk about the use of strong vibrant colors and generous depth created much discussion amongst the students.
Sunderland Glass Artist Demo – Karin Walland
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Karin Walland gave a fascinating demonstration on the casting glass using fine frit powder and freezing it with water to make a paste. Her talk
at the Washington Glass School had the students abuzz with the 
possibilities on their own application of this unusual technique.
More Artomatic Glass Demonstrations
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DC GlassWorks and Sculpture Studios would like to invite you to an afternoon of glassblowing demonstrations by glass artists Roger Tye and Phil Vickery. Roger and Phil are extremely accomplished glass makers and they have offered to demonstrate their work with the students, instructors, and friends of DC GlassWorks and the Washington Glass School. Roger and Phil are two of the 37 creative businesses heading to Washington DC from Sunderland England, to take part in the five-week Artomatic Exhibition.
This event is free and begins at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 30, 2009. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to info@dcglassworks.com by May 26th 2009. To learn more about Phil and Roger and to see samples of their work, please check out their websites:
http://www.rogertyeglass.co.uk/
http://www.philvickeryglass.co.uk/
DC GlassWorks and Sculpture Studios
5346 46th Avenue Hyattsville MD 20781 -2307
301.927.8271
Click HERE to see DC GlassWorks website
Demos from visiting UK Glass Artists
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On Sunday, May 31st from 2 to 5pm the Washington Glass School will be hosting demonstrations of glass techniques from two artists from the National Glass Centre in Sunderland, England, Stephen Beardsell and Karin Walland. Stephen Beardsell “Lady in Poppy Field”.
Karin will show how to cast small objects in frozen glass powder (an alternative to the messy lost wax method). Karin holds a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Glass with distinction. She often incorporates recycled glass creating pieces from jewellery pendants to large sculptural installations expressing fragility, loss, brokenness, death and new life in both nature and human experience.
Karin Wallend “Washed Up At The End of The Day”, “Broken Arch”
Stephen graduated from Sunderland University with a Batchelor of Art degree in Glass and Ceramics, and later achieved a Master of Art Degree in Glass.
Currently he works in the glass department at the University of Sunderland and also in the National Glass Centre. Stephen will be showing and describing his method of creating great depth with frit casting and inclusions.
Stephen Beardsell “Poppy Field group”.
This Seminar/demo is entirely FREE to anyone who cares to learn from these 2 talented UK artists! Please let us know if you plan to attend so we know how many to expect.