Transparent Glass Studio
The Stourbridge Glassmakers The Ruskin Glass Centre
The Stourbridge Glassmakers The Ruskin Glass Centre Transparent Glass Studio
All photographs and interviews by Sarah McDowall
Paul Floyd
Architectural glassmaker
“My name is Paul Floyd and I have been at the Ruskin centre since 2003” “My practice is architectural based so I do everything from architectural stain glass, new windows, doors, public art work, restoration repair work as well as more contemporary stain glass and fusing kiln work.” “I came to visit Stourbridge several times before I came here and I liked the concept behind working on a historical site as well as the glass house college on one side of the site.”
“The projects are very varied that I work on, I have worked on some amazing projects and glass making for these projects have been very experimental.” “It’s a very specialised technique so there isn’t people on every street corner who do this but there is people that I know that work with similar techniques.”
“It’s the way you work as an artist or a designer that makes you unique to the kind of work that you produce. I think that’s what is great about the Ruskin centre, we are all unique, we are all artists, craftsmen, artisians or designers.”
“All my work is commissioned now, I hardly ever make work to sell as one offs. It’s always commissioned bespoke pieces for customers and clients, it varies from from small domestic to large public art pieces.” “When people think that Stourbridge has lost its glass trade, it has lost a lot but we’re still here and we’re still working. People can come and see unique pieces being madet’s great to still keep the glass making alive in Stourbridge.”
Stourbridge is a town, located in the West Midlands and is known to be the glass quarter of England. Glassmaking in Stourbridge can be dated as far back as 1612, the glass is still classed as some of the world’s finest and has been used many times as gifts for royalty. The Ruskin Glass Centre is a distinct space that encompasses an array of glassmakers who are all very successful. They all have their own techniques and although it might not look like the materials they use are glass, they all have one thing in common they all are glassmakers The Stourbridge Glassmakers. Thank you to Paul Floyd for his time and patience. www.ruskinglasscentre.co.uk
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