PRESS RELEASE
The Friends of the Glass Museum present the 8th edition of the Glassblowing and Lampwork bead days in Sars-Poteries
9th and 10th September 2017
1. The Friends of the Glass Museum association 2. Description of the event 3. Key players of the event 4. Photos of artistic pieces 5. Event proceedings 6. Useful information 7. Accommodation 8. Press and media contact details
1. The Friends of the Glass museum association The “Friends of the Glass Museum” is an association that organises cultural activities at the MusVerre (Glass Museum-workshop of Sars-Poteries), as well as other various artistic activities, exhibitions and publications with the aim to promote glass creations. For the past few years, the association has been taking an active part in the patronage that has been put in place by the Conseil départmental du Nord’s [departmental council of the Nord region]. The association was founded by Louis Meriaux in 1967, when Mr Mériaux organised the first exhibit of whimsey glass. With the help of the association, Mr Meriaux then went on to open the Glass museum of Sars- Poteries (under the name of museum-workshop) and to organise the International Symposium of the Contemporary Glass in 1982.
For several years the “Friends of the Sars- Poteries Glass Museum” has organised a two-yearly event: the glassblowing and lampwork bead days. This event has promoted the lampwork beads as an object of art and brought recognition to contemporary glass artists. Indeed, for many, the first thing that glass brings to mind is Murano, Saint Louis and Lalique. However, it has now become a medium in its own right, like marble and bronze, with specialised artists.
This year, the event is being organised in partnership with the new MusVerre (departmental glass museum-workshop in Sars-Poterie) that opened its doors on the 1st of October 2016, replacing the old Museum- Workshop.
Every year, the “Friends of the Sars- Poteries Glass Museum” organises various cultural activities for its members, including a themed trip. The association is run by a board of 15 members, with the help of numerous volunteers who are always present for the association’s key events; and to date there are 180 members.
2. Description of the event
Over the course of two days (on the 9th and 10th of September 2017), the association will be organising the 8th edition of the glassblowing and lampwork bead days. The event will be held in various locations: in the Sars-Poteries salles des fetes [community center]; in the MusVerre (the Glass museum-workshop of Sars-Poteries) and in the maisons des associations [associations house]. This is an opportunity to meet some internationally renowned lampwork bead makers and glassblowers. This sales-exhibit will allow the public to discover the techniques of glassblowing through demos and conferences. The event will welcome artists who have won the prestigious title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (M.O.F.) [best craftsmen of France]. This year, our guest of honour will be Valerie Vayre, president of the French association of lampwork bead makers. Ms Vayre has been striving for many years to make lampwork beads recognised as a contemporary artistic medium in its own right.
The public will be able to enjoy an exhibit of antique (Venice) and trade beads (used for bartering in Africa until the 12th century). There will be conferences and lampworking demonstrations. The MusVerre (museum- workshop of the MusVerre) will also organise glassblowing demonstrations.
As a special tribute to the founder of our association and of the very first Glass Museum-wokshop, one of the rooms in the new Glass museum is dedicated to Louis Mériaux and the masterpieces exposed on the ground floor are a reminder of his legacy. The museum is rooted both in the rich glass history of the village, and yet completely open to contemporary glass art.
3. Key players of the event
52 internationally renowned glass blowing artists, from France and from overseas, will come together to show the public their talents. Country Last name First name Country Last name First name D ANDERSON Michou F LATAILLE Floriane B BAYENS Anusch F LEMAHIEU Delphine F CADOT Charlotte F LEROUX Francois F CANAL Magali L LUDOVICY Michele T CHANG Pei-Chen F MAURETTE-DE Guy- CASTRO Marcia F CHENE-MORIN Muriel/Cyril CH MEIER Angela F COLIN Adrian F MULA Philippe F CONNAN Yannick L NICLOU-SPOO Dorry F COUDYSER Pascal J OKAMOTO Yuriko Howard/ F CREPEAUX Christian F CROTTAZ Nathalie F OPPER Marie- Jose F DEBARALLE Elisabeth L OSWALD- Olga SHOROKHOVA F DECRIEM Julie F PARISOT Laura F DEREU Laurence F PETRE Laurence F DOREMUS Pierrot F RENAULT Florence F FANCHINI Valerie D RODER Vera I GAIGHER Guiliano D ROMER Martina F GODART Marie- I ROSSO Elena France F GRAVALON Anne F SANLAVILLE Chrystelle F GREER Katryn J SUZUKI Michi F HARTMANN Andre F THURU Claudie F HAUPTMANN Karin F TOURRILHES Floriane F HOT Virginie D TRIMBUR- Claudia PAGEL F HUMBERT- Marcel B VAES Frieda LABEAUMAZ B JANSSENS/DEGUIDE Anne/Alain F VAYRE Valeria F KRZYSIA Christine D WUTSCHKE Manuela (KOZLOWKSI) F LABE Herve F: France J: Japan D: Germany L: Luxemburg B: Belgium T: Taiwan I: Italy CH: Switzerland
4. Photos of artistic pieces
5. Event proceedings Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September from 10am to 6pm
Salles des fetes [community center] Sales-exhibit Sale of catalogue and raffle tickets Conference at 3pm Lampwork demonstrations 12 to 2pm: light meals Bar open all day
MusVerre (Room Louis Meriaux) Sales-exhibit Sale of catalogue and raffle tickets Glassblowing demonstrations (MusVerre workshop) Bar open all day
Methods used in the demonstrations:
“Lampworking” allows for immediate results by playing on the exact moment between fusion and solidification when working glass. The glass used is often a compound of borosilicate (example of a brand name: Pyrex) which gives the artist a lot of flexibility thanks to its low coefficient thermal expansion. The artists works with rods of coloured glass that they work in the flame of a welding torch.
“Hot working” is a technique that uses molten glass to work or sculpt the ductile glass under the effect of the pressure of the air blown in by the glassblower. Once the piece is finished, it needs to cool down very slowly (at least 12 hours) in a furnace called a lehr.
6. Useful information
Dates: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2017; from 10am to 6pm
Location: SARS-POTERIES 9, rue Jean Jaures near to the Town Hall and the MusVerre, the new Glass Museum Gate 1: 76, rue du General De Gaulle Gate 2: Impasse Pasteur
SARS-POTERIES is an Avesnois village between MAUBEUGE and AVESNES ; close to the VAL JOLY holiday park. It is 40 km from CHARLEROI and MONS (Belgium) and 100 km from BRUSSELS or LILLE by car.
GETTING THERE: By car: the RN2 that links BRUSSELS and PARIS By train: From PARIS, LILLE or BRUSSELS, arriving in AULNOYE- AYMERIES and/or MAUBEUGE and/OR AVESNES SUR HELPE. By bus: (On weekends and public holidays) direct line 407 leaving from AULNOYE-AYMERIES (www.arcenciel4.fr) See the “Via Michelin” map Avesnes/Helpe
For more information on our association or the exhibition, visit our website www.amis-musee-du-verre.fr
7. Accommodation
There are many bed and breakfasts and holiday rentals around SARS- POTERIES and can be found on the internet. Try the following searches on Google: “accomodation avesnois” “bed and breakfast avesnois” “www.tourisme-avesnois.com” “chambres-hotes.fr Sars-Poteries”
Or
Hotel du Château de la Motte in LIESSIES
Tourism office of SOLRE LE CHATEAU tel: 03 27 61 81 94 Tourism office of AVESNES/HELPE tel: 03 27 59 32 51 Coeur de l’Avesnois tel: 03 27 56 57 20
8. Press and media contact detail
President: Monique DELOS +32 (0) 474 19 42 42 Vice-president: Michèle LANTOINE +33 (0) 6 78 47 20 06 Secretary: Marcelle CYR +33 (0) 6 44 18 67 81
WEBSITE: amis-du-musee-verre.fr
EMAIL: [email protected]
ADDRESS: Les Amis du Musée du Verre BP 16-F-59216 SARS-POTERIES