Over our third Covid lock down, in Spring 2021, I became involved in an art project initiated by the Glass Society of Ireland – The KeepWell Glass Quilt, entitled ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’.
Our project was a unique collaborative initiative, wherein 50 glassmakers came together virtually to collaborate on a large glass quilt, making two pieces each.
The primary aim of this project was to look after members’ mental health and create connections within the glass community. Professional and amateur glassmakers are represented as well as all techniques of glassmaking, from traditional cutting, glass painting, kiln working, blowing, etching, engraving and lampworking. Made of individual rhomboid shapes, each glassmaker interpreted their own ideas around what the theme – ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ – meant to them.
Glass Society of Ireland
Design Inspiration
For my own pieces, I took inspiration from all the walks within our 5K that usually led us to the Sandymount Strand. I’ve been enthralled with the ever evolving textures and patterns on the Strand since we moved to Ireland in 2019.
Using the tiny kiln available to hire at Glint Glass Studio, and recycled window glass, I created my pieces using kiln carving techniques. I designed these pieces to emulate the sand texture on the strand and to evoke the feeling of wide open space when you’re walking along the Strand – like the ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ theme.
Quilt Fabrication & Connections
When all the contributors finished their pieces, I was part of the team at Glint that helped unpack, sort and arrange them. We then shipped them out to the fabulous fabricator and GSOI member Kathryna Cuschieri, who took on the immense task of creating the quilt from the submitted pieces.
In addition to creating my own pieces, being so involved in the Glass Quilt as part of the quilt committee and as the volunteer social media manager for the GSOI was a helpful balm during the third lock down and the loss of my older sister, Linnea, due to Covid. I only realized recently how much it helped me during a time when I felt so isolated and far away from my family and friends in the US. Huge shout out to Aoife Soden, the fabulous volunteer manager of the Quilt project, and who was a wonderful collaborator for all the communications we sent out to the GSOI members about this project.
The KeepWell Glass Quilt on Display
The KeepWell Glass Quilt was selected for the prestigious Venice Glass Week in September 2021 and exhibited at Gallery Effe Due in Murano, Italy. It was also displayed in Dublin Castle during the World Craft Council conference in October 2021.
It was also an immense honor to be part of the group from the Glass Society of Ireland that met with President Micheal D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin to to share this collaborative work with him.
As lovely as meeting the President of Ireland was, his dogs Bród & Misneach truly stole the show as we were leaving Áras an Uachtaráin…
KeepWell Glass Quilt Travels in 2022
The Quilt was displayed in the State Dining room from December 2021 for several months, and then traveled to the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, where it was on display before traveling to Glasgow, Scotland to join the ‘Stories – Whispers from the Past and the Present’ – Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland.
I was delighted to join my glassy friends Sinéad Brennan, Emer O’Donnell, Aoife Soden and Róisín de Buitléar in Scotland for the opening of this joint exhibition between the Scottish Glass Society & the Contemporary Glass Society. Sharing the joy of this project with others and seeing how they respond to this work has been a complete joy!
The Quilt has now traveled back to the NMI- Country Life in Castlebar, Mayo for a temporary exhibition. If you are in the West of Ireland, go have a visit and enjoy how many different viewpoints are encapsulated into one piece of art.
