Olympics inspire creative interpretations of medals by U.K. glass artists

Malvinka Bitelli’s glass medallion commemorates Olympic gold medalists. image courtesy of contemporary glass society.

You may never get to share one of Usain Bolt’s six gold medals or even claim to be, literally, “the fastest man in the world.” You may not have been in the stands when McKayla Maroney vaulted higher (probably) than anyone ever, but there’s no need to wait until the 2016 Olympics to celebrate record-setting triumph. At Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge, the gold can be yours to have and to hold — or at least to view until September 15th. Eighty-three different artists have crafted interpretations of Olympic gold medals commemorating London’s Olympic games and Contemporary Glass Society‘s Glass Games 2012.

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The exhibition opened last Wednesday at Ruskin Glass Centre and ran concurrently with the International Festival of Glass. For three days, viewers were encouraged to purchase any of the 83 original works of art rendered by as many artists at prices ranging from £50 to £150. (The remaining works can still be inquired about by contacting Victoria Sholes via email.)

In addition, a few of these abstract gold medals are eligible to win a first prize of their own through the Awards portion of the exhibit. Sponsored by Contemporary Glass Society member Mark Holford and Alan J Poole of Dan Klein Associates, artists are vying for “Best Medallion in Show” and “The People’s Medallion” respectively. Each prize offers a reward of £250 for first place with two runners-up slated for £150. Voting for “The People’s Medallion” runs through the close of the exhibition on September 15, at which time the lucky new owners of each one of a kind piece can expect their shipment.

Just like the Olympics themselves, glass artists showing at this unique UK exhibit hail from around the world. Northern Ireland, Spain and Hong Kong are represented in this portion of CGS’s Glass Games. If making it to Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge is simply not on your agenda, the online gallery is viewable by clicking here.

—Katharine Morales