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Contemporary Kiln Formed Glass: A World Survey

Brief Description

The book provides a survey of contemporary practices of kiln-forming glass as a new way of exploring the subject. It reviews kiln-forming as a global method of forming glass with particular emphasis on the range of creative innovations and their use within sculptural and decorative formats, applications and scales. The juxtaposition of finished works, drawings, models and studio shots, together with artists, allows presenting the practical and creative background to the artefacts.

Research Rationale

The book followed on from Cummings earlier publication Kiln-formed Glass (1997), which is in its fifth edition, with translations into Chinese and German, and an Australian edition. The current book provides a new perspective: in the 15 years since his first publication, the international studio glass movement has changed and developed dramatically, particularly in relation to the use of kiln-forming techniques, and this is reflected in his new world survey. This is the only publication that combines presentation of technical advances with a discussion of their impact on the formal and expressive qualities of contemporary practice. The book has recently been translated into Turkish. The publication resulted in invitations as a visiting professor to the University of Hawaii; as a guest speaker to the Australian Glass Association conference, 2013; and to further book publications.

Strategies Undertaken

The book provides an analysis of the current state of global kiln-forming practice guided by the intention to select works which represent the best of contemporary practice, and which also illustrate the advances in technique and process over the past fifteen years. The presentation and discussion of works by major makers world-wide, combines photographs, drawings and notes illustrating and discussing the procedures used in the manufacture of the works illustrated.