Isle of Wight Studio Handmade Glass Gifts

IOWSG 'Studio Day 3' 18th October 2009

- Slide show of the days events ~ Click Here

The third Collectors Studio Day took place on 18th October 2009. It is of course the highlight of our events. What a fun filled, joyous day it was but with a very serious purpose. It is the opportunity for our most dedicated collectors to see Tim Harris in action and, once again, he certainly did not disappoint!.

As usual we had guests galore and to name but one there was our most avid and valued stalwart Mark Hill, who as most of you know wrote the definitive book on our founder Michael Harris and all he had accomplished (still available but now very close to a sold out edition - to purchase online click here). Our guest speaker was Martin Evans. Martin was the first Isle of Wight Studio Glass 'Gaffer' ~ A.K.A. 'Big Cheese' glassmaker ~ who was in charge of the glassmaking teams for many years, almost from the outset. He held as all spellbound while he regaled us with humorous tales of the 'way it used to be'. He now runs his own studio 'Glory Art Glass' in Sandown, Isle of Wight.

The collectors were then split into two groups to either watch Timothy making something special or to watch the glassmaking team members making production items.

There was the chance to 'Blow a Glass Bubble' illustrating why it takes a very long apprenticeship to get it right. Some of the efforts would not be out of place in the Tate Modern !! All good fun.

The afternoon saw a reversal of activities, some watching, some blowing bubbles (even more modern art for the Tate collection ??!). However, the double delight was that Tim made a stunning new design as a Collectors Edition in two versions of 'Seagulls'. He has again excelled himself with two fabulous designs, one called ' Seagulls' depicting seagulls soaring over a beach kissed by a golden sunset and 'Seagrass' with seagulls soaring over a sublime blue sea with swaying seagrass below. These are still available to Collectors' Club members.

Now, the piece de resistance ~the highly exclusive 'Collectors Day Piece.' Once again an almost iconic design process but originated by Tim in 1994 as 'Jazz'. When this design was first introduced it was so far ahead of its time that it was not understood and sold in VERY limited quantities.

Now of course it is highly desirable.This has now been embellished and reproduced in that most recognisable of IOWSG shapes - the lollipop. Multicoloured and cased in clear glass it is a most attractive and desirable addition to the special Collectors Studio Day pieces produced to date. The day finished with an entertaining interlude of 'Show and Tell'. The collectors had the opportunity to beat the experts by bringing any of their own glass items which were a mystery to see if Tim, Mark and Ron could throw any light on them! Well, in the main, they did but would you expect anything less?! All went away with a pretty good appraisal of their mystery pieces. Good fun again.
Then finally it was the opportunity for attendees of the day to put their name down for another of Tim's most accomplished Day Piece creations. Especially designed, made and marked for the day, it is a rare treat indeed!
The next Collectors Studio Day is scheduled for eighteen months time in April 2011.