Some hobbies and crafts are solitary missions while others are social, with cultures and trends. We glassies are blessed with a rich, accessible culture of glass in the UK and worldwide. In my experience it wasn't always this way. I've been thinking a lot recently about how I've seen it change and grow in the last seven years since I first started working with glass. The real beauty of the community is that it's now open to everyone, it’s less clique-y, and there’s so much more crossover between the cold, warm and hot glass communities than before. More and more, fusers, stained glass artists, blowers, engravers, painters and casters exist in the same circles, both online and in real life. As a result the work people are creating is more exciting, more complex and suddenly we don't just have a hobby, or a craft, we have a society.
There are so many ways to get involved, and doing so can help you grow your business (if you have one). From a creative perspective, there are plenty of platforms to share ideas, learn from peers and make social and professional connections. Here are some of my favourite routes into the culture that I recommend if you're looking to immerse yourself in the world of glass.
Get to know your retailers
Yes they are shops, but they are often also leading course providers and the staff are often artists themselves with a wealth of knowledge. They are the people who know the products you use best and they are the best troubleshooters. Got an issue with a product or not sure how to use something? Chances are someone else has already asked them about it. Don’t be afraid to chat to them and build friendships. Retailers love knowing their customers and they’re all small businesses. If you’re nice, they’ll remember you.
Contemporary Glass Society
CGS is a charity with a mission to represent glass artists, holding a space for collectors and members of the public to find glass artists. As well as hosting the online directory, they also run events across the UK offering artists the opportunity to meet up and collaborate. These events often feature talks and workshops. They print a magazine for members with the latest news from the glass world and advertise relevant opportunities and jobs. You can also get discounts at some retailers when you are a member.
International Festival of Glass (Glass Biennale)
The Glastonbury of the glass calendar, this bi-annual event at Ruskin Mill is a must if you want to see work from all of the glass artists you admire all in one place, and likely meet them too! There’s a number of exhibitions (lots of opportunities for artists at all levels to get involved), workshops and masterclasses, talks and music. A lot of it is free to see, and some things require tickets or booking. A great way to make connections and likely place to meet artists you may have made friends with online. Which brings me to…
Social media
There are some great Facebook groups. It’s highly likely you’re already a member of some of them as that’s where I share this blog! They’re a great way of getting instant feedback and advice on your glasswork. There’s so much information and knowledge shared on these groups and it’s a great way of making connections, finding artists local to you or those exploring similar techniques. My favourites are Glass Fusing UK, Fused Glass Enthusiasts UK, Fused Glass Fanatics, Unique Glass Colours, Silkemat Tips & Techniques, Fused Glass Tutorials & Books, Creative Glass Guild Members and UK Fused Glass Teachers Group. Facebook groups are also where you’ll find the latest free tutorials, e-books and upcoming courses. Of course there’s also Instagram, and if you haven’t I really recommend creating an account that is specifically focused on your glass, especially if your intention is to build your following and reach more potential buyers. I used to have my glass and personal life all together and it was very incoherent. Potential followers like clarity, regular posting and concise captions. Instagram is a great place to discover things you wouldn’t otherwise come across. You can search by hashtags, which means if you search for #glassfusing for instance, you can see every post that has ever been made with that hashtag in chronological order, and very soon you can be commenting and connecting with other artists all over the world.
Artist talks
Glass shops, museums and galleries occasionally run talks from glass artists who are visiting or exhibiting. These are really valuable, as they are a rare and cost effective occasion to learn about another’s process in a focused environment where you are able to directly ask questions about process, technique and inspiration. If you go to a talk at a glass retailer, the talk will be tailored towards glass artists and more likely to go into depth about technical processes whereas those at galleries and museums will be more likely to appeal to a wider audience without glassy knowledge. These events will be attended by those with similar interests, so it’s a great way to make connections both with the artist delivering the talk and other audience members.
Fairs and open days
Creative Glass Guild holds a fantastic Summer Fair. (I may be biased on that one, as I design the program and organise the day! Other retailers and events are available!) There is always a big sale, which is a draw enough in itself. But there are also artist talks, discussion panels, competitions, demos and workshops, free lunch and a chance to catch up with glassy friends and visit the shop in person. Often the talks and demos will be led by internationally renowned artists and industry product creators, offering you the only opportunity I can think of in the UK where you can meet manufacturers based in the US.
Group exhibitions
By making friends within the community, you increase your chances to exhibit your work professionally. Group exhibitions are especially useful if you’re fairly new to glass, or looking to become professional but haven’t yet taken the plunge to exhibit in a gallery. This is for two reasons; it’s much more cost effective to pay for a gallery space and advertise your event if there are a number of you exhibiting, and you only need to have one or two pieces that fit your brief or theme rather than having to get together a full collection of work. If you like this idea but haven’t considered it before, why not post on one of the social media platforms and see who is local to you or suggest a theme and see who responds?
There's a real sense of excitement in the glass fusing community at the moment; excitement to share skills, projects and ideas and of course, as ever, excitement to open the kiln. There’s such a wealth of stuff to read, watch, visit and discuss that it’s easy to forget that working with glass is still niche in the grand scale of things! Can you think of anything else we can be doing to grow the community?
Catherine Dunstan is a glass artist and teacher working predominantly with fused glass. She also has seven years’ experience producing glass courses with local and international artists, booking them to teach in the UK.
The Resources for Artists blog speaks mainly to those working with glass, but its content is also applicable to artists working in other mediums.
© Catherine Dunstan Glass 2019. All rights reserved.