Lucent - NZGBA Exhibition
An exhibition of glass jewellery and sculpture opens at The Depot Artspace, Devonport, in October. The New Zealand Glass Bead Artists (NZGBA) annual exhibition, Lucent, explores the use of translucent and transparent studio glass, presenting an exciting snapshot of current practice by both established and emerging glass artists.
Lucent explores the physical properties of glass and light through beads, jewellery and sculpture. Local makers are exhibiting along with artists from as far afield as Christchurch and Wellington, and all have produced amazing work. From organic table lamps to exquisite beaded jewellery and a very colorful chandelier, the exhibition will be varied and interesting.
On the back wall of the Main Gallery is Metamorphosis, a collaborative artwork constructed from over 200 glass butterflies. Symbols of peace, hope and transformation, the butterflies float along the wall moving gently with the air currents. Metamorphosis will be donated to The Child Cancer Foundation and auctioned, with all proceeds supporting the Beads of Courage programme in New Zealand.
Alongside the exhibition, the NZGBA are running a second community project; planting handmade glass beads around Devonport. Release a Bead is a global project, with the aim sharing the joy of bead making. Over the course of the exhibition, we will be releasing over 100 beads into the wild, wonderful surprises for people to find in the most unexpected place.
Lucent Runs from October 16th through to October 28th in the Main Gallery at The Depot Artspace in Devonport. For more information, please visit www.nzgba.org.nz.
About the NZGBA
The New Zealand Glass Beads Artists (NZGBA) is a small community whos aim is to educate and promote the art of Glass Bead making, preserve its traditions and encourage a continued renaissance. The NZGBA hosts an annual glass exhibition which is a major event for all members. This year the show, Lucent, will be held at The Depot Artspace in Devonport, running from October 16th – 28th.
The NZGBA also hosts an annual ‘Bead Week’ in May, with meetings, demonstrations, international tutors and the National Glass Bead Competition. Held alongside Bead Week, this is the only award of its type in New Zealand. The competition has a number of different catagories, from beginners to advanced and the awards dinner is always an interesting event.
The NZGBA donates beads to The Child Cancer Foundation Beads of Courage programme. Beads of Courage is designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the program, children tell their story using colourful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones achieved along their unique treatment path. The NZGBA donate one of a kind, handmade beads to the programme including purple hearts to represent the end of treatment and butterfly beads that are given to every parent who has experienced the loss of their child. We are very proud to be able to donate work to such a great cause.
About the Glass Bead making
To create glass beads, lampworkers melt narrow rods of glass with a blow torch. Molten glass is wound around a metal rod or mandrel and the space occupied by the metal becomes the bead hole. Turning the mandrel and holding it in different positions allows gravity to help the bead take form, tools are then used to push and pull glass beads into shape.
Once the bead is formed, surface decoration is applied and the finished bead is put into a hot kiln to cool or anneal. This makes the glass strong and able to withstand the shock of normal wear and tear.
Contact: Lisa-Jane Harvey - artist@lisa-jane.com
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