web site: mandysmith-glass.co.uk
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Statement
I design and make kiln fired and slumped glass bowls, sculpture and jewellery. Glass is an endlessly fascinating medium to work with, I particularly enjoy the process of transforming knife sharp, hard, cold glass into luxuriously rounded, flowing pieces of art. The way in which light brings glass pieces to life adds an extra dimension to the work.
Assembled layers of translucent glass, sometimes interleaved with silver thread, gold leaf or copper sheet are fired in the kiln to produce a fused sheet of glass. This is then re-fired over a ceramic mould to produce the finished piece. The transformations that occur with each new firing give exciting and sometimes unpredictable results.
The landscape near my home in Yorkshire is a rich source of inspiration - from the large vistas of hill and sky to the small intricate patterns found in a dry stone wall or an icy stream. Influenced by all I see, when designing a piece, I start with a shape or a colour and allow the work to flow and evolve.
I create glass to share its beauty with others. It illuminates any setting, its intrinsic beauty shifting with the movement of light throughout the day. It is a seductively beautiful material, its smooth flowing surface inviting a strongly tactile response. It is a pleasure to create beautiful, unique objects for people to own in this age of mass production.