CHRIS BIRD-JONES

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Cast lead crystal
25cm x 12cm x 4cm

This is the first in a series of cast pieces focusing on one essence of life – water. The ideas explored comment on the changing attitude to, and acknowledgement of the effects of environmental change, and how everyone in their daily lives can be individually responsible for their actions and therefore cumulatively have a global effect.

From 2000 to 2008, I was a senior lecturer in glass at the University of Wolverhampton. I am now the director of the Masters Programme in the Welsh School of Architectural Glass, at Swansea Metropolitan University. I also exhibit internationally and produce site specific Architectural Glass to commission.

Research active collaboration is an important aspect of my work. A current collaborative architectural project is ‘Living Walls’ with architect Phil Roberts, Honorary Fellow, Centre for Research into the Built Environment, University of Wales, Cardiff. It explores the combination of architectural glass with the use of photovoltaic inclusions for sustainable, self-illuminating structural and decorative walls.

For many years the basis of my practice has been founded on the quality of light within a space or object. Work is often concerned with harnessing the magic of the moment, ‘a voyage of discovery’, a quest to express those moments of ‘intense consciousness’, enjoying the surprising subtleties of glass, forms and surfaces, coupled with light. I like to work in series over varying periods of time, sometimes returning again and again to the fascination for a particular focus or enchantment. Within this there are two distinct aspects to my work, the controlled reduced refinement, losing everything that is superfluous to the essence, and the opposite, trust to process resulting in intrinsically more spontaneous pieces. The resulting work is always conceptually driven.

Biography pdf

Chris Bird-Jones filler

Selected Biography

EDUCATION
1987: MA Glass, Royal College of Art, London.
1977: HND Glass, Swansea College of Art.

EMPLOYMENT
2008: Director of the Masters Programme, Welsh School of Architectural Glass, Swansea Metropolitan University
2000 - 2008: Lecturer in Glass, University of Wolverhampton.

AWARDS
2005: Creative Wales Award, Arts Council Wales.
2002: Wales Arts International Award to participate in Women’s International Glass Network Exhibition / Conference, Australia.

EXHIBITIONS
2008: Gathering Light, Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool, UK.
2007: Vasen 50 Kunstler. Glasmuseum Frauenau, Germany.
2007: Glasmuseum Rheinbach; Glasmuseum Gernheim, Germany.
2006: Spirit Journeys. Glass Artists’ Gallery, Sydney, Australia.

COMMISSIONS
2008: Tree of Knowledge, Entrance Glazing, Ysgol Dinas Bran Llangollen.
2007: Ysbyty Altwen, Dining Room Screen, Tremadoc.
2007: Caitlin and Aidan Memorial Window, Ysgol Faenol, Bodlwyddan.