Blanche Tilden in her studio with one of her glass components used in her jewelry series that references 19th-century architecture.
GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet: What are you working on?
Blanche Tilden: I’m continuing to develop work for my “Fer et Verre“ [French for “Iron and Glass”] exhibition series, which is glass and silver jewelery inspired by late-19th-century architecture. This new work was first exhibited at the Canberra Glassworks earlier this year, and is scheduled to be re-exhibited as part of the 2011 Ausglass Conference in Sydney, at Metalab. I’ve been flameworking borosilicate rod and tubing for the past 15 years but now I’m moving in a new direction, using CAD and water-jet cutting borosilicate sheet in combination with hand-finishing and flameworking to produce new components for the “Fer et Verre“ series of necklaces.
Blanche Tilden, "Graded Palais" necklace, 2010. Flameworked borosilicate glass, oxidised 925 silver. H 1/2, D 11 in.
GLASS: What artwork have you seen recently that has inspired you and got you thinking about your own work?
Blanche: Mechanical movement and artifacts of the Industrial Age have been constant sources of inspiration. The built environment and, in particular, the Crystal Palace, and the Palais des Machines, built to house the Great Exhibitions of 1851 and 1889 respectively, have provided the inspiration for my most recent work. The simplicity and elegance of these structures, as well as the way they were made of prefabricated glass and cast iron components are are qualities that I’ve tried to capture. My interest in this architectural style and the wider influence of industrialization and machines is reflected in the titles of my work, which reference architects and engineers of the time such as Joseph Paxton and Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Blanche Tilden, "Paxton" necklace, 2010. Flameworked borosilicate glass, oxidised 925 silver. H 3/8, D 9 3/4.
GLASS: Where is it possible to see you work ?
Blanche: Work in my “Fer et Verre“ series will be on exhibit at Metalab from January 21st through February 26th, 2011 as part of the Ausglass conference. A selection of my work can also be seen at Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h in Montreal, Canada. Finally, more of my work can be seen on my personal website.