Susan Kinley

Innisidgen Vitrine Collection

My glass wall panels, papercut works and installations are overlays of places, ideas and experiences, fused together in unexpected ways. Each work tells a visual story of memories, visits to particular wild places and changes across days, months, and centuries. The Tregeseal and Innisidgen series of kilnformed glass wall mounted roundels and ovals have evolved from visits to Bronze Age sites in the west of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Water jet cut piercings trace the growth patterns of lichens on rocks in coastal landscapes exposed to erosion and change. Fragments of imagery are layered with glass powders, mapping elements of a lost world, a microcosm of an ancient place.

Fused hand rolled Bullseye glass, waterjet cut, kilnfired with layered images and glass powders.

THE PANDEMIC EFFECT

Initially, lockdown meant that some materials were quite hard to obtain, so I started working on a smaller scale incorporating fragments of glass left from previous pieces. This has led to a period of exploration and following ideas without the pressure and financial commitment of a large scale commission or project. Working in the studio also meant a continuity of 'normality' in uncertain times, as I am used to working alone and being self-motivated.

There have been a lot of zoom sessions - online training about social media, marketing etc.., meetings with Design Nation, and also enjoyable evening talks from the Contemporary Glass Society. Exhibitions have certainly been affected, with those scheduled for this year, such as the Pyramid Gallery in York, now moved to next year.

Open Studios has been virtual and by appointment only. I have found Artist's Support Pledge [Matthew Burrows] to be very useful for selling smaller pieces of work online.

I have found it important to keep a balance between making and online activities, physical and virtual. I think working during Covid has created a need to focus on important short term goals in life and work, whilst keeping hopeful for changes next year.