Third year glass students Irene Duffy, Luke Holden and Hattie Billingham travelled to the Czech Republic on the 2nd of March to take part in the Junior glass ways exhibition held at Hut Frantisek in Sazava. Accompanied by their tutor Caroline Madden, they visited a series of amazing exhibitions and galleries over their stay

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On Friday the 3rd of March they began their day visiting the studio of Marian Karel and Dana Zamecnikova. Dana is a glass artist who paints and layers her glass, exploring the thematics of family and connections. Marian is a lecturer at the University of Applied Arts in Prague and uses light, glass and geometric forms to make illusionistic sculptures that challenge the viewers perception of space. Greeted by Dana, the students had the unique opportunity to see the artist workspace, view the works that were in storage and ask Dana questions about her practice. 

 

 

 

After the visit to Dana and Marion's studio, they visited the studio of Pavlína Cambalova. Pavlína is a glass engraver who studied under Jiri Harcuba, her work focuses mainly on the human form. Past Ncad student Michelle Ryan is currently working with Pavlína, Michelle engraves Irish landscapes into her glass, then using these engravings to create prints. The students were again granted a valuable insight into a functioning studio, and given the opportunity to ask the artists about their practices and techniques.

Pavlína took the students and Caroline to an exhibition in Zelezny Brod which featured the work of Zdenêk Lhotsky, Oldrich Plíva and Jaroslav Róna. The exhibition, which featured cast works of glass explored the qualities of this technique, playing with the movement of light through glass and experimenting with perceptions of form. Zdenêk, who studied under the world famous casters, the Liebinsky's then invited everyone to see his workshop, known for its incredible facilities. Caroline, Pavlína, Michelle and the students visited the studio that afternoon, where they saw the incredible sizes of the kilns, and the impressive cold working facilities. The work of Karen Le Mont could among other artist could  be seen at different stages of creation.