A Touch of Glass Newsletter of the Creative Glass Guild of Queensland June 2018 Edition A word from our new President As I travelled down the But there have been a few speed Irrawaddy River in bumps on my path to taking up Myanmar in May, my the role. Shortly after arriving back from Myanmar, I had to infrequent wifi access have what I thought was routine brought increasingly surgery to have three sun anxious emails about the cancers removed from my face. future of the Creative Glass Guild. This proved to be a little more complicated, with the surgeon There was a looming possibility mosaic-ing my nose with various that the Guild would have to be bits of cartilage and skin cut from closed down following the various parts of my ear and face. inability to appoint a new Not a pretty picture! President and to satisfy the Big shoes to fill legislative requirements of Incorporated Associations. So I am finally able to step into the shoes vacated by Lyndall Halfway between Mandalay and Davies. These are big shoes, Yangon, I heeded the call – and Congratulations to figuratively speaking, and I have volunteered to be considered as Jan Bimrose, who to acknowledge and congratulate President. has put up her hand Lyndall on the role she has Aware of outstanding work played as President, and her to be President of admirable work in ensuring the Having been a member of the professionalism of everything Guild for some years in the past, the Glass Guild for being undertaken by the Guild. and having renewed my member- 2018/19. ship at the 2017 Exhibition, I am My taking up the reins is being only too aware of the outstanding Jan has stepped into aided and assisted by detailed work of the Creative Glass Guild briefing and wise advice by the in fostering, teaching, and the breach under 2018 Management Committee exhibiting the various glass skills challenging circum- members – Katrina Jackson acquired by so many members (Vice President), Denise Olsen over the long years of its history. stances, and looks (Secretary), Lyndall Davies (Treasurer), and Joyce Arnold. Strong belief was catalyst forward to the When I walked into the 2017 It would be a sad day if the Guild support and assist- had to close its doors. And it was Exhibition, I was so impressed with the creativity and high my strong belief in the work of ance of all members standards of the work on show, the Guild that prompted me to in her new role. that I immediately renewed my become the new President. membership. Cont on P2... A TOUCH OF GLASS PAGE 2 A Word from the President Over the years, I have taken (cont from P1) most of the courses offered by the Guild, including sand blasting, Lamp prize is a The 2018 Exhibition is fast copper foiling, fusing and approaching – and if the hive of slumping, leadlighting, lamp Prairie de-light activity in preparing for this is making, and the recent smalti any indication, this will be workshops run by Marian Many thanks to member Jenny another wonderful showcase of Shapiro. the work of the Guild and its Keys (pictured below) for her members. I look forward to I must confess to being an abject contribution of a beautiful lamp failure at bead making and, like a working with you to make it a as the raffle prize for our very successful Exhibition. number of Guild members, I have upcoming Exhibition. an unfinished stained glass Keen to meet project. The lamp is in the ‘Prairie’ style, a late 19th/early 20th century design As this is my first message to the Becoming President of the philosophy with roots in Chicago, many members of the Guild and Creative Glass Guild was not on and developed from the idea that to other readers, I am only too my itinerary for this year but I wide, flat, horizontal lines invoke aware that, while I already know am delighted to “step into the the vastness of the landscape, some of you, there are many breach” - but this has raised in particularly in America’s Midwest. others I have yet to meet. I look my mind the very real need to forward to that pleasure – and if “future proof” the Guild, to you see me around, please ensure that such a situation does introduce yourselves. not arise again. Mosaics a passion One of my priorities is to initiate As I travelled through Myanmar, a process of strategic planning, I was captivated by the many to plan for a viable and exciting glass mosaics in temples and future for the Guild so the elsewhere, especially as mosaic valuable and rewarding work of work continues to be my passion, this organisation continues well followed closely by fusing and into the future. slumping. Best wishes, Jan Bimrose FREE WORKSHOPS Published by the Creative Glass Guild We’re planning a permanent of Queensland mosaic tree mural for the external wall alongside Broncos 64 Fulcher Road, Red Hill Qld PO Box 14, Ashgrove Qld 4060 Leagues Club – and you’re US architect Frank Lloyd Wright General enquiries: invited to participate! [email protected] is the most familiar name in this genre. He designed his buildings Our mosaic tutor, Catherine, will Course enquiries: be running a series of FREE leaf [email protected] to look as if they had sprung making workshops for members T: (07) 3369 7322 naturally from the site. His only. There will be three (phone not always manned) furnishings were not only specific workshops – on Wed 4th July Website: to a building; he designated (6:30pm to 9:30pm), Thursday www.creativeglassguild.com.au specific pieces to go with 5th July (10:00am to 1:00pm) Workshop/Sales: particular rooms. and Sunday 8th July (2:00pm to Saturdays, 9.00am-12.00pm The lamp’s timber base, which is 5:00pm). But you must book General meetings: Bi-monthly on first sympathetic to the style, was into a workshop session in order Monday of the month at 7.00 pm to participate.Full details on how (Notice will be emailed to members). created by Carina Men’s Shed and donated by member, Roger to book are listed in the email Management Meetings: Alternate sent to members on 22nd June. months or earlier if required Appleby. Big thank you to all Check it out! concerned. A TOUCH OF GLASS PAGE 3 Jenny’s mosaic challenge brings out the best at Murwillumbah Art Trail 2018 Last month, Guild member and Tweed Valley artist, Jenny Sayer, issued a unique challenge to mosaicists in Queensland and northern New South Wales. The assignment - in conjunction with the 2018 Murwillumbah Art Trail - was to create a mosaic interpretation of one of Jenny’s Above: Jenny Sayer’s original Above: The winner: Catherine paintings (above left) which painting of Sisters Beach, Conaty’s outstanding ‘A Sparkly Tasmania—the subject of the depicted a coastal scene located Day at the Beach’. mosaic challenge at Sisters Beach in the Rocky Cape National Park region of Below: Kay Neilsen’s Below: Jenny Sayer’s ‘Low Tide’ north-west Tasmania. ‘Dreamtime Beach’ All up, eight mosaicists, includ- ing Jenny - took up the challenge, and the original artworks that resulted were as varied as they were innovative. The winner – as judged by Murwillumbah Art Trail visitors over a 10 day period – was our very own Catherine Conaty, whose entry ‘A Sparkly Day at the Beach’, (above right) featured a selection of iridescent, opalescent and tempered glass to recreate a sparkling coastal scene. Illustrated on this page and page 4 are Jenny Sayer’s original painting, along with the eight mosaic creations. A TOUCH OF GLASS PAGE 4 More mosaics from the Art Trail Challenge What a spectacular mixture this challenge produced! Coordinator Jenny Sayer explained that because all entries were forms of mosaic, the majority used cut glass. But other materials included broken car glass, fused glass, wire, shell grit and sand, stones, shells, glass frit and in the case of ‘Treasure Beach’, jewellery, hessian, paint and crockery. Catherine Conaty, who created the winning entry, borrowed John Sollinger’s signature fluid double reverse technique to create realism in her work. To produce ‘sparkly’ water, Catherine sourced windscreen glass from a wrecker’s yard. After cutting and placing all her pieces in a temporary Pictured: Ian Dymock’s ‘Coloured Pictured: Jenny Sayer’s ‘Tide’ binder, she turned it over (no Sands’ easy task with a piece this size!) to reveal her mosaic, ready for its final touches. Pictured: Jennifer Grainger’s/ Pictured: Glenys Fentiman’s Pictured: Susie Ross’ ‘Sister Jenny Sayer’s ‘Treasure Beach’ ‘Tidal’ Beach’ A TOUCH OF GLASS PAGE 5 Here comes the Exhibition — 21-22 July 2018 It’s hard to believe there’s We hope work is progressing well We also make a special plea to less than a month to go on your project for this year’s anyone who has completed a until the Guild’s Exhibition! Special Theme Award, in the leadlight window project in the category of ‘Poetry & Song’. past 12 months. If your window Last year we hit a record number There is a special prize for this is not yet installed (or easy to of people through the door and category, so get into it! uninstall), we would absolutely receipts for the Guild. This year, love you to put it on display, as Request information kit we’re aiming even higher, but we struggle every year to find we’re going to need your help.