Writing in Glass

Watch live glass making demonstrations, have a walk round the exhibitions and write in a ‘floating’ pod.

We will observe the glassmaking process, watching expert glass demonstrations such as flameworking, glass blowing and lathe techniques. We’ll have a walk through the exhibitions on display and have a stroll by Sunderland’s former shipyard. We’ll do lots of talking and even do some writing in the Glass Centre’s pod, a unique ‘floating’ event space overlooking the Wear.

We’ll talk about the glass-making process. And we might not have the language or the specific syntax to talk about the techniques or operations being used, but that’s the point. We might not even talk; we might just gesture in imitation of a glass blower, or point, or draw. What happens when words stop? And how do we use language, textually and visually to describe a man blowing on a stick? How does our writing reflect, refract and obscure the world around us? And finally, how do we work transparency and/or opacity into our writing?

You might have no idea about glass, be an inveterate watcher of Blown Away, or just appreciate a good Pyrex casserole. But by the end of the workshop you’ll walk away having seen a live glass blowing demonstration! And maybe a better understanding of your relationship to glass, whether it’s a love it or leave it situ. You’ll maybe draw some parallels in your own writing to the glass-making process. You might even get to hear about an exciting, upcoming Squad glass project…