- Jessica Townsend
- Work
| After Graduating a Masters in 2005 at Edinburgh College of Art, Jessica Townsend is one of the up and coming glass artists in the U.K. Her personal approach to work and use of glass as an artistic medium, bring about a unique angle and draw on the natural qualities of the material.
"My work emerges from personal experiences, which leads me to research different aspects of a chosen theme. I use this to make a personal comment using the physical nature of glass as an instigator. Femininity, Media and the Human form play a key role!” Having specialized in Cast Glass Jessica works predominantly with this technique, although “the ideas dictate the process… for me I have to understand what I am conveying with my work and use the best material possible.” Education Edinburgh College of Art (2001–2005) Masters in Design (MDes) - Glass BA (Hons) Glass Design Exhibitions SOFA New York – represented by Zest Gallery – April 2009 Beautifully Crafted – National Glass Centre, Sunderland, October 2008 – February 2009 In & Out - New Brewery Arts, Cirencester October 2008 British Glass Biennale – Ruskin Glass Centre, Stourbridge, August 2008 Crafts Council ‘New Makers’ Showcase, V & A, London January – March 2008 Christmas Exhibition - Mint, London December 2007 City Art Centre, Edinburgh – Scissors Paper Stone, October 2007 CGS & Devon Guild of Craftsmen – Side by Side, September 2007 New Designers – One Year On, July 2007 Hertfordshire Art Fair - May 2007 Highland Craft Residencies, Showcase exhibition and Handling Collection, 2006 - 2007 British Glass Biennale, Ruskin Glass Centre, Stourbridge 2006 New Designers, London 2006 MDes Exhibition, Edinburgh 2005 The Blue Room, Touring Exhibition 2005-2006 Bombay Sapphire Martini Glass, London 2004 New Designers, London 2004 ECA Degree Show ‘The Revelation’ Edinburgh 2004 The Glass Furnace, Istanbul 2003 The Crystal World, Edinburgh 2003 Work in Progress, Edinburgh 2003 Collections Glass Art Hotel, Tacoma Washington, from August 2007 – Permanent collection Awards and Competitons Glass Sellers Prize 2006, Runner-up British Glass Biennale 2006, Shortlisted Bombay Sapphire Glass Award 2005 - Shortlisted Headley Trust Scholarship, 2004-2005 Bombay Sapphire Student Award 2004 - Shortlisted Award for Morton Cricket Club, Edinburgh 2004 The National Amateur Gardening Show, Bath 2003 Silver Work The Arts Project (T.A.P.) – February 2007 to May 2007 Teaching two short courses introduction to Kiln formed glass. Launch of own business Cast Glass UK – August 2006 to Present. Set up own workshop and creating work for exhibition and galleries. Nick Allen – October 2004 to June 2006 Glass workshop assistant, mould making, finishing, gallery work, general studio assistance etc Primavera Gallery, Cambridge – March 2006 to April 2006 Gallery assistant, in charge of the upkeep of glass in the gallery, curating assistance etc Contemporary Glass Society – December 2002 to January 2005 Committee advisor (Present), Student Representative (till Jan 2005) – Attending regular meetings, help to organize events, updating education course database, writing articles, connecting students etc JacksonFawkes – July 2004 to September 2004 Glass workshop assistant – mould making, air tooling, sandblasting, general studio assistance etc Edinburgh College of Art – October 2004 to December 2004 & August 2003 Teaching an Introduction to Kiln Forming on Degree course Summer School teaching assistant – Packing Kilns, mould making, teaching students general glass skills etc. Herts Regional College – March 2004 Visiting Lecturer, ‘Introducing you to glass’ |