As part of the International Festival of Glass 2008. Stourbridge. UK.

TEMPEST

International Invitational Glass Bead Exhibition

Glasshouse Coffee Shop

Ruskin Glass Centre

Wollaston Road

Amblecote

Stourbridge

DY8 4HF

United Kingdom

AUGUST 21ST TO SEPTEMBER 28TH 2008

www.tempestglassbeadexhibition.org

www.ifg.org.uk

This exciting exhibition was conceived as a showcase for the miniature art form of glass beads to run along side the Biennale of British Glass 2008.

Several major internationally renowned glass sculptors were challenged to try their hands at this tiny scale at work along with well known and up and coming glass bead artists who will be presenting their interpretations of Shakespeare's play in the form of one sculptural glass bead each. The small scale of these beautiful little objects belies their complexity and the skill required to produce them but also makes them very approachable and some will be on open display so that their tactile qualities can also be appreciated. They are after all meant to be worn or carried around on the person.

'Tempest' Exhibition aims to draw attention to this delightful form of work and some of the artists who dedicate themselves to it, blurring the boundaries between large and small scale work and challenging preconceived ideas about glass beads by treating them as the highly sculptural works that they can be.

The exhibition will run for six weeks and'Tempest' will be situated in the sociable Glasshouse Coffee Shop at Ruskin Glass Centre with free entry.

Some extra beads by exhibiting artists will be on sale in the Festival office during the International Festival of Glass.