(by Dominic Fondé)
Copyright: National Glass Centre (UK)
At first mention, the idea of holding a major European glass exhibition and conference on an island in the middle of the Baltic Sea might seem less than realistic. But when certain historical and geographical facts about the Danish island of Bornholm become clear, the notion becomes less far-fetched.
Historically, Bornholm has held a strategic position in the Baltic – a crossing place between the southern Baltic States and the Scandinavian countries to the north and west. With plentiful supplies of sand and easy access to fuel and trading centres, the island has been an important centre for the glass industry and ceramics. Today, it is a major centre for the arts and crafts and boasts an outstanding kunstmuseum as well as a popular glass and ceramics school with a growing international reputation. Well-established names such as Baltic Sea Glass in Gudhjem and Pernille Bülow in Svaneke augment Bornholm’s reputation for studio glass. Read more »
Under the title, ‘ASPECTS of 20th Century Glass’ the BSMGP announced this conference already months in advance as a ’special event’ to its members and on its homepage. The two days of continuous events in the summer of 2008 were excellently organised by Adelle Corrin, in collaboration with the ‘Worshipful Company of Glaziers’. Full of information and worthwhile ‘talks’ in an exceedingly pleasant atmosphere and humorously enriched with ‘performances’ by one or other of the artists. The conference, organised mainly for members of BSMGP and the Glaziers Company, took place in the venerable Glaziers Hall adjacent to London Bridge. It began with a greeting and introduction by Caroline Benyon, board member of the BSMGP. Read more »