Entries are now being accepted for the third annual FUSE Glass Prize, presented by Adelaide-based JamFactory for glass artists achieving innovation and excellence in Australia and New Zealand. The prize began in 2016 as a collaboration between JamFactory and glass collectors Jim and Helen Carreker. The prize is the most generous in the Australian glass industry, and occupies a spot previously held by the respected Ranamok Prize, which was awarded for the last time in 2014.
The FUSE Glass Prize "provides a platform for artists to push themselves and their work to new limits and focuses public attention on the importance of glass as a medium for contemporary artistic expression, the outstanding public collections in the region, and the globally connected art glass ecosystem," according to the official competition announcement.
The deadline to apply is on March 20th, 2020 at 11:59 AEST. Entry is free. The winner will receive AU $20,000. The David Henshall Emerging Artist Prize will also be awarded, with the winner receiving AU $2,500 and a professional development residency within JamFactory to the value of AU $2,500.
The Glass Quarterly Hot Sheet spoke with Brian Parkes, the Chief Executive Officer of JamFactory, for some insight into the prize's history and influence.
We understand that the FUSE Glass Prize evolved from a dialogue between JamFactory and glass art collectors Jim and Helen Carreker. Can you speak to the origins of this dialogue and help us understand how the prize was developed initially, and why the Carreker's were moved to fund it?
"Originally from the United States, Jim and Helen Carreker chose the Barossa Valley in South Australia from a number of possible options around the world as the most suitable location to pursue their plan to set up a boutique luxury accommodation business within a major wine region (https://thelouise.com.au/). They chose South Australia, in part, because Adelaide (the state’s capital city) is a recognised hub for glass artists and they had been passionately collecting glass for many years. Jim was one of the founding Directors of the Tacoma Glass Museum. When the long-running Ranamok Glass Prize wound up in 2014, the Carreker’s approached JamFactory – with whom they had already forged a connection – to see if there was interest in creating a new prize that might continue to encourage the development of exciting new work and promote glass from our region to a global audience. JamFactory saw immediate synergies with the idea and felt it as a great opportunity build on the work we have done in supporting and promoting glass artists through our hot glass studio and exhibiting programs since the 1970s. The Carrekers led an effort to secure additional donors to join them in ensuring that the significant costs associated with running and delivering the prize were covered by private support. The biennial FUSE Glass Prize was subsequently launched in 2016."
The David Henshall Emerging Artist Prize will also be awarded. What have previous winners of this prize gone on to do in the glass industry? Why was it important to have a second tier of prize to recognize up-and-coming artists?
"The FUSE Glass Prize was set up to include an emerging artist category from the beginning to acknowledge JamFactory’s long-standing dedication to training and supporting emerging glass artists. For 2020 this category prize has been named in honour of the late David Henshall whose family have been generous supporters of JamFactory and the FUSE Glass Prize.
Previous winners were:
2016 – Alex Valero - http://www.fuseglassprize.com/emerging-category-winner-alex-valero/
2018 – Ursula Halpin https://ursulahalpin.com/about/
Both artists are continuing to evolve their practice."
Are there specific trends you have discovered in running this prize in terms of aesthetics or technique?
"I wouldn’t say there has been any real trend and the exceptional works that have been selected as finalists in previous years have been refreshingly diverse."
We also spoke with last year's winner, Jessica Loughlin.
When did you first realize that you wanted to work with glass?
"I became first intrigued with glass at high school. As we all know it is such a sexy material -so hard to resist! however I think what I was most attracted to about glass is it's ability to hold and manipulate light. This attraction to light may have come from my father who was an architect, and often talked about the importance of light within a building. But since starting in glass it the amazing light of the Australian Landscape, especially in the desert areas."
What do you find most challenging about glass?
"Everything! But it is also so rewarding."
How do your ideas evolve from conception to execution?
"In general I aim for my work to be quietly emotive. In terms of the process, It involves looking, thinking, perceiving and playing; It involves researching, reading, leaning, questioning, experimenting; Then it involves making, refining, finishing and … letting go to share with others."
What was your experience winning the FUSE Glass Prize?
"What can I say, joy and surprise. There is a lot of artists doing great work in glass in Australia and New Zealand."
How did it impact you and your work?
"How it impacted my work is it allowed me to make more work! It also means a bunch of well respected people in the field have publicly said they think I'm doing some good things - which is always nice."
This year's FUSE Glass prize judges include Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney; Robert Cook, Curator of 20th Century Art at the Art Gallery of Western Australia; Zhang Lin, Founder, Director and Executive CEO of the Shanghai Museum of Glass; Brian Parkes, CEO and Artistic Director at JamFactory; and Jessica Loughlin, the winner of the 2018 FUSE Glass Prize.
Finalists' work will be exhibited at the following:
JamFactory’s GalleryOne, Adelaide - May 15th to July 4th, 2020.
JamFactory at Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley - July 11th to September 27th, 2020
The Australian Design Centre in Sydney - October 9th to November 18th, 2020
JamFactory’s Glass Studio is the longest running hot glass facility in Australia. "For over 45 years, JamFactory has been presenting outstanding exhibitions and public programs and nurturing the careers of talented artists, craftspeople and designers. A unique not-for-profit organisation located in the Adelaide city centre and Seppeltsfield in the Barossa, JamFactory is supported by the South Australian Government and recognised nationally and internationally as a centre for excellence."
For more information about the FUSE Glass Prize, please visit the award’s website.