A new book by Shiona Airlie and Brian Blench provide a definitive history of four centuries of glassmaking in Scotland. (click image for more info)
The main event in a year-long celebration of Scotland’s 400 years of glass will be a four-day festival kicking off October 1st, 2010, at the Edinburgh College of Art, entitled The International Glass Conference in Scotland. Organized by Scotland’s Glass and with sponsorship from The Glass Manufacturers Educational Trust, the Scottish Glass Society, and The Glass Association, the four-day event will feature events and demonstrations, as well as a number of speakers covering the history of Scottish glassmaking and its future.
Glassmaking counts as one of the oldest manufacturing industries in Scotland, and one with a storied tradition — from glassmaking for royalty to the powerhouse industry of the latter 19th century to the rise of Studio Glass in the 20th century. Author Jill Turnbull will lecture on the ups-and-downs of the Scottish glass industry. Brian Blench, co-author of a book released as a part of the year-long celebration (pictured above), will deliver a lecture on Helen Munro Turner, an important figure in 20th century Scottish glass who created the Department of Glass Design at Edinburgh College of Art in 1950. Other speakers will address diverse topics in Scottish glass, from the state of the contemporary glass industry to questions of form and design.
Conference organizers also hope to include a variety of demonstrations, workshops, and a selling exhibition, though at this time nothing has been confirmed on the official website.
—Lee Gaizak Brooks
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Registration forms and other details can be found on the event’s official Website.