Max Jacquard

In October I created a new patchwork for the ‘In and Out’ exhibition organized jointly by Brewery Arts in Cirencester and The Quenington Sculpture Trust in the grounds of the Old Rectory in Quenington, Gloucestershire. Lucy Able Smith exhibits sculpture in her wonderful garden every other year in the Fresh Air exhibition. This year she wanted to have a show purely devoted to glass. It was a great success with over 1500 visitors over the four weeks of October .I had many compliments for my Patchwork Blanket which hung amongst the Fruit trees.

The patchwork was constructed purely from recycled bottles, this time using the natural curvature of the bottle to create a the rippling effect of hanging fabric. I also etched some fabric textures onto the bottles prior to cutting them up so the effect is a soft diffusion of the  light in a rich collage of patterns. The form is a reference to the patchwork coverlets lovingly made for children’s beds by Grandmothers or Aunties. Putting the piece together involved well over 1,500 stitches and lots of hard work but this seemed to me appropriate to the subject. It has something to do with giving a new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded. The project made a welcome change from using expensive glass and investment materials combined with the consumption of electricity that goes with my usual kiln formed work. There will be more patchworks of different sizes in future exhibitions.

The Patchwork can be seen as part of the Flow exhibition organized by Liquid Glass

at The Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome from the 15th Nov to 24th Dec, go to www.blackswan.org.uk for further info