This week, the 3D cohort of our National Saturday Club visited the Natural History Museum. We were kindly hosted by the amazing Miranda Lowe CBE, Principal Curator of Crustacea and Cnidaria Collections. Miranda guided us to the wonderful Treasures Gallery at the Museum and gave us a talk on the amazing Blaschka works in her care.
We learnt about the history of these special objects, how they were made, and the work Miranda does at the museum to care for them. Our NSC 3D members took photos and sketched from the Blaschka pieces and will use these as references as they work with our wonderful glass department to create 3D glass sculptures.
Our 2D members, taught by Graduate Diploma Arts: Carving: Woodcarving & Gilding student Henry Brown and student assistants Mississippi Renvoize (BA (Hons) Carving: Woodcarving & Gilding) and Joshua Von Uexkall (MA Fine Art) began working on their Verre églomisé artworks.
Verre églomisé is a decorative technique of gilding 24 carat gold to the back of a glass surface and then etching on the gilded side to create a design. The members began with demonstrations from Henry, who showed methods of degreasing the glass and using gelatine to adhere the gold to the glass surface.
Next week, our 2D members will be able to etch into the gold to create animal designs.
Do you know a 13-16 year old who would be interested in joining our National Saturday Club?
3 x spaces have become available in our 2D Heritage Craft Skills & Making Club.
Over the year, our 2D members will be enjoying:
Medieval Illumination Self Portraiture
Gilding (Verre Eglomise)
Book Binding
Marbling
Print Making
2D glasswork
Trips to trade workshops
Guest workshops from QEST scholars
Applications can be made via the National Saturday Club website or email Hope, our Widening Participation Assistant, at h.turnbull@cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk.