Charlott Rodgers Glass
Biography
Charlott Rodgers is a glass and ceramic artist based in Glasgow. She was born in Stuttgart, Germany and moved to Glasgow in 1998 to study classical singing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RSC) and went on to complete her BA Musical Studies at the RSC. She subsequently trained as an Iyengar Yoga teacher and has been teaching since 2004. She completed a HNC in Applied Arts in 2010 at the City of Glasgow College followed by a HND in Silversmithing 2010-2012, a HND in Glass 2013-2015 and a HND in Applied Arts in 2019; all awarded by the City of Glasgow College. In 2021 she completed her MFA IN Glass at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. She is currently a full-time member of the Glasgow Ceramic Studios based at the WASP Studios in Glasgow and is hoping to continue her academic studies into Foam Glass with a PhD at Edinburgh College of Art starting in September 2022.
Artist's Statement
During my MFA studies I have developed and challenged my understanding of glass making and personal aesthetics. I have developed a range of processes that combine foam glass with different glass techniques such as hot glass casting, glass blowing and Pate de Verre, as well as combining it with slip cast and hand build ceramic bodies. Foam glass is a porous material, which is made when a foaming agent such as calcium carbonate is added in small quantities to a powdered glass and slowly fired to create a foaming action, aerating the glass.
My approach to glass has two distinct qualities; it is quite scientific, as making foam glass requires detailed and precise knowledge and repeatable material outcomes. The other side is dissident and transgressive, challenging traditional perceptions of beauty and glass as a shiny, transparent material.
The subversive streak within me emerges when making, especially when I am faced with a situation where things shouldn’t work. But why not combine materials that seem to be at odds, to find out what will happen when they do get combined?
Having a background in Applied Arts has provided for this open-minded approach to making and materials. My studio practice is rooted in Craft and analogue hand skills, affording me a strong foundation from which to challenge and orientate my craft practice. I take inspiration from inner processes and use glass making as an expression for personal experiences.
Dropouts
Plasma
Dalmally Station
Cast Rings
Honeycomb
Houses
Broken
Bowls
An Uneasy Truce
This project was conceived with the strong desire to make my inner processes and thinking patterns visible through the artistic means of foam glass in combination with other glass and ceramic techniques.
It is based on the inner conflicts I experience both as an artist, as a mother and as a human being. They reflect struggles experienced and portrait the inner voice that wants me to believe that I am not ever good enough.
This body of work is divided into two parts.
The sculptural ellipsoid pieces which sit together as a group, made up of different material combinations and techniques placed opposite two foam glass wall mounted panels.
The sculptural pieces manifest each an aspect of this uneasy state of mind, the wall panels are a gateway beyond this struggle promising possible transcend out of this mental prison.
The intense Cobalt Blue colour was chosen as it represents calm and radiates something hypnotic. I wanted the viewer to be sucked into the installation and experience a slowing of time. It stands in stark contrast with the volatility of the foam glass and is used as a counter point to the material tensions in the work.
An Uneasy Truce is found in the spaces in between, a precarious balance has been struck both on a material level as in real life.
Large Foam-Glass Ellipse
Ploughden and Thompson glass, cobalt oxide blue, 2021
400 x 260 x 320 mm
Small Foam-Glass Ellipse
Ploughden and Thompson glass, cobalt oxide blue, 2021
220 x 150 x 210 mm
Faceted Bone China Ellipse with Foam-Glass
Bone china, Ploughden and Thompson glass, cobalt oxide blue, 2021
210 x 130 x 210 mm
Pâte de Verre and Hot Glass Cast Ellipse
Gaffer glass, Glasma furnace glass, 2021
400 x 260 x 80 mm
Foam-Glass Geode
Ploughden and Thompson glass, Glasma furnace glass, cobalt oxide blue, 2021
270 x 170 x 110 mm
Charlott Rodgers
Personal
b.1975, Stuttgart, GermanyLives and works in Glasgow
As a practice-based studio artist I investigate the creative applications of glass and ceramics, exploring and combining conflicting and incompatible materials with the somewhat volatile nature of foam glass within my artistic studio practice. Trained and skilled in traditional making methods and techniques my chosen approach to materials is dissident and unconventional, actively breaking the rules of restrictive traditional glass and ceramic fabrication techniques. As a material activist, I want to challenge perceptions of beauty, craft and methods of making, actively drawing on the disciplinary context of Sloppy Craft and Craftivism.
Education
Presently PhD researcher at Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK 2022 6-month Ceramic Internship at Glasgow Ceramic Studio, WASP Studios, Glasgow, UK2021 MFA Glass, Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
2019 HND Applied Arts, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2015 HND Art Glass/Art Glass Production, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2012 HND Silversmithing/Jewellery Design, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2010 HNC Applied Arts, Glasgow Metropolitan College, Glasgow, UK
2004 PGCE Music, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK
2001 BA Musical Studies, RCS, Glasgow, UK
Masterclasses
2023 Artist Collective @WASP Perth, Supernormal Domestic Exhibition, Perth, UK2019 Karen Arkester, 2-day masterclass in Pate de Verre, ECA, Edinburgh, UK
2019 Wayne Strattman, 4-day masterclass in Plasma Glass, International Festival of Glass, Stourbridge, UK
2015 Amanda Simmons, Invitation by Panel, 7-day masterclass, Northlands Creative Glass, UK
2015 Lindsay Taylor, Scholarship, 5-day masterclass, West Dean College, UK
2011 Kathy Murphy, Scholarship, 3 ½ day class, West Dean College, UK
Exhibitions
2023 Collect Art Fair, London UK2022 London Glassblowing, Il Vetro II Exhibition, London, UK
2022 Scottish Glass Society/Contemporary Glass Society, Wisper's from the Past Exhibition, UK
2022 British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, UK
2022 MFA Glass Degree Show, ECA, Edinburgh, UK
2021 Trebbs Gallery, Petrie Dish Exhibition, Group Exhibition, London, UK
2021 Glass Art Society, Juried Exhibition, GAS 2021 Student Exhibition, Online Platform
2020 MFA presentation, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK
2020 Glass Art Society, Juried Exhibition, GAS 2020 Student Exhibition, Online Platform
2019 Glass Nexus Forum, Emerging Glass Artists Exhibition (Second Prize), Northlands Creative, Lybster, UK
2019 International Festival of Glass, Plasmaglass explorations, Wayne Strattman Masterclass, Stour Bridge, UK
2019 Diploma Show, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2019 Manifesto, Group Exhibition, Applied Arts Cohort, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2015 Parade Artists, WASP Studios, Hanson Street, Glasgow, UK
2015 Alternative Giving Show, The Barony Centre, West Kilbride, UK
2015 Handfest, Reutlingen, Germany
2015 Scottish Glass Society, Inside Out, Edinburgh, UK
2015 Diploma Show, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2015 Craftex Exhibition (Merit Award), Trades House, Glasgow, UK
2015 ‘Wish You Were Here’, International Festival of Glass, Stourbridge, UK
2014 Craftex Exhibition (Merit Award), Trades House, Glasgow, UK
2014 End of Year Show, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2012 Craftex Exhibition, Trades House, Glasgow, UK
2012 Diploma Show, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2011 End of Year Show, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2010 Diploma Show, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
Awards, Grants, Funding and Collaborations
2023 COMPASS Program, Craft Scotland2023 Making History Residency, Stirling Castle, HEIS & Craft Scotland
2022 Edinburgh Doctoral Stipend for PhD studies, University of Edinburgh
2022 Alexander-Tutsek-Stiftung Stipend emerging glass artists, Germany
2021 Resilience Program, Mentoring Program, Applied Arts Scotland, Craft Scotland, Heritage England
2021 iAtellier, Crafting Europe Program, Craft Council
2021 Glass Live Sound, Griet Beyart, participating collaboration with sound and video work, Glass Meets the Future Film Festival, Northlands Creative, Lybster, UK
2020 Ruby and Will George Fund, Study Grant, UK
2020 Pilchuck School of Glass, Partnership Stipend (deferred to 2022), North Carolina, USA
2016 Centre Pompadour, Residency (fully funded), Ercourt, France
2015 Starter For Six, Start-up Funding, Cultural Enterprise, Scottish Government, Scotland
2015 Talent Incubator, Crafttown Scotland, West Kilbride, Scotland, UK
2015 Hamilton Taylor Travel Award, Scottish Glass Society
2015 Best Body of Student Work, Scottish Glass Society
2015 Best piece in Show, City of Glasgow College, End of Year Exhibition, Glasgow, UK
2015 Merit Award, Trades House, Glasgow, UK
2015 West Dean College Grant, West Dean College, UK
2014 Merit Award, Trades House, Glasgow, UK
2012 Best Student in Year group, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2011 West Dean College Grant, West Dean College, UK
2011 Best Student in Year Group, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2010 Prize Winner, Dyers and Bonnet Makers Guild, Glasgow, UK
Teaching and Public Engagement
2023 Visiting Artist, Forth Valley College, Stirling, teaching BA Hons Contemporary Art Practice Students2023 Booth Talk, Craft Scotland @ Collect Art Fair, London
2021 Panellist Petcha Kutcha, Glass Art Society
2020 Panellist, Sustainability in Making, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
2019 Guest Lecturer for Applied Arts Cohort, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow, UK
Professional Bodies
Glass Art Society Student RepresentativeScottish Glass Society
Contemporary Glass Society
Glass Art Society Student
Applied Arts Scotland
Charlott Rodgers - Glass
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Charlott Rodgers - Journeys in Glass