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Andrew Sanders & David Wallace

Biography

Andrew and David met at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke on Trent in 1974. Having previously studied ceramics, Andrew at Rotherham College of Art and David at Hartlepool College of Art, they were studying for an honours degree in Multi Disciplinary Design. This course allowed them to explore a variety of media including textiles, photography, graphics, jewellery, glass and ceramics. After experimenting in the glass department they soon found a common interest in working with hot glass and blown glass in particular. Under the guidance of James Roddis and David Reekie, Course Tutors and Stan Gill, Master-glassmaker, they started to develop a close working relationship.

After graduating and with the assistance of the Crafts Council, they established their workshop in Shropshire. Following several difficult years Andrew and David relocated to West Yorkshire. Their new workshop was part of a redundant warehouse in a Victorian woollen mill, which provided workspace for a variety of designer craftspeople.During this period they not only supplied a growing number of craft shops and galleries, but also received commissions from the York Archaeological Trust and the B.B.C. to reproduce Viking, early English and Egyptian glassware.

Andrew became excited by glass at an early age; "I first saw glassmakers at work when I visited Caithness Glass on a school trip in the late 1960`s and was fascinated and not a little scared by the hot glass being thrown about in such a carefree manner. Some years later after seeing an exhibition of studio glass in Lincoln by James Roddis, John Cook and Keith Cummings I realised that glass could be used as a creative medium and decided to study glass design myself. I owe such a lot to my tutor Stan Gill who patiently showed me all I needed to know as far as glassmaking techniques were concerned. I find endless inspiration in studying pieces of glass from history, the 18th Century English glasshouses in particular, when the qualities of lead glass was creating new and exciting design possibilities. It is these qualities that I try to capture in my work."

Accordingly to David, "My first visit to the glass workshop was a revelation. After seeing James Roddis control a blob of molten glass and transform it into a beautiful object I was hooked, and this shaped my approach to glassmaking. I am concerned with form and the use of colour solely to enhance the objects. I emphasise the spontaneous qualities of the molten glass, whether it be an obvious external feature or a more hidden element within the glass itself. I capture the moment in time when the glass turns from a liquid form to a solid mass."

Andrew Sanders & David Wallace

New Ashgate Gallery
Waggon Yard, Farnham GU9 7PS

gallery@newashgate.org.uk

Telephone: 01252 713208
Charity: 274326
Company: 1324906
VAT registration: 413979331

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