President His Grace the Duke of Grafton KG DL Hon FRIBA FSA Chairman Caroline Benyon 21 Priory Road Hampton Middlesex TW12 2NS chairman@bsmgp.org.uk Hon. Secretary and Newsletter Editor Chris Wyard PO Box 15 Minehead TA24 8ZX secretary@bsmgp.org.uk Hon. Journal Editor Sandra Coley c/o Registered Office journaled@bsmgp.org.uk Hon. Librarian Geoffrey Lane c/o Registered Office librarian@bsmgp.org.uk AGBI Steward: Jane Campbell CHAIRPERSONS OF WORKING PARTIES: Conservation: Stephen Clare Constitution: John Watson Events: Sue Ashworth Finance and General: Tim Alston MBE St ai ne d G la s s Newsletter of the British Society of Master Glass Painters Issue 39 Sept 2007 FROM THE CHAIRMAN T he sad and sudden death of John Hayward necessitated the cancellation of his talk at the Art Workers Guild but I am pleased to announce that a lecture devoted to John will be given by Caroline Swash and a few of his friends in November. John completed many commissions in his lifetime, not all in stained glass, hence `the many things' he wanted to talk about; it will be an informative celebration of his life and work. A Memorial Service for John Hayward will be held in Sherborne Abbey on 14 September at 4 pm. The summer exhibition for 2008 is being organized and it involves a number of members working tremendously hard and I would like to remind you that it is important to register with Debbie Lowe your intent to exhibit. You will then receive all the relevant information in particular the date for delivering your panel. The catalogue can be compiled only once we have all the information, so please note the instructions and complete the forms and return them in time. 2008 is certainly going to be a busy year as the Society is also organizing a 2-day conference on `Aspects of 20th Century Glass' to be held at the end of July in Glaziers Hall, Southwark, with speakers from Europe, USA and Britain. Detailed information will be included in the next issue of the Newsletter and on the Web. Our next event is the London City Walk re-run on Tuesday 18 September, to be followed on 19 October by the autumn lecture to be given by Sarah Brown on `The judge, the traitor, his wife and her lover: the medieval glass of Tewkesbury Abbey'. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult! I look seeing you there. Caroline Benyon AU T U M N E V E N T S BSMGP members' exhibition 2008: 40 cm2 Following the tremendous success of our last exhibition `30cm2' in 2004 we shall be following the same formula but this time with larger panels. Again we shall be exhibiting at the Cochrane Gallery in London and all members are invited to submit panels. Fellows and Associates will have automatic entry whilst panels by Ordinary members will be selected. If you are interested in taking part, you may like to view the catalogue from the 2004 exhibition on the society website; www.bsmgp.org.uk then go to Events then Exhibition. About 60 members took part on that occasion and many made sales or new client contacts ­ it really is an excellent and inexpensive way of showing your work in a London gallery for more than 4 months! Whilst full details will be available in the autumn, for those keen to get started early, the site size of the frames will be 40 cm and the absolute maximum thickness of work, 75 mm. In order to allow time for advance publicity, panels must be delivered to London in early March (date t.b.c.). It would be helpful if you could register your interest ASAP with Deb Lowe, 554 Burnley Rd, Knotts Grove, Todmorden, Lancs OL14 8JF; email: info@deblowe-glass.co.uk Lecture 19 October: Sarah Brown `The judge, the traitor, his wife and her lover: the medieval glass of Tewkesbury Abbey' Registered Office: 6 Queen Square London WC1N 3AR Registered in England and Wales 173764 Website: www.bsmgp.org.uk Price including buffet supper: £14.50 (members) /£18 (nonmembers) /£9.50 (student members)/£11 (student non-members). Details/booking: Helen Robinson, 9 Ox Lane, Harpenden, Herts AL5 4HH; tel: 01582 764834; email: lectures@bsmgp.org.uk; or download online at www.bsmgp.org.uk. ~ 1~ Extra lecture: Friday 16 November 'Fifty years of glass - among other things' A celebration of the life and work of John Hayward FMGP presented by Caroline Swash with other friends and colleagues s members will know, John Hayward sadly died shortly before his planned lecture to the Society in June. Partly through his own words written for that occasion his work will be remembered: `Although this talk is mainly about my fifty years with glass, the record would be incomplete without some reference to the "other things" made in other media. Together with several architects sympathetic to the ideas of the "Liturgical Movement" and a small group of craftsmen I spent a good deal of my time between the 1960s and 1980s designing and making the contents of whole interiors. Glass was one important element among others. Art was the handmaid of Liturgy. Opportunities for making comprehensive schemes of glass are now rare and commissions tend to be for single windows in churches most commonly already filled with random 19th century glass. This has led to a tendency to regard churches as galleries for the display of autonomous art works (often accompanied by what Nigel Melhuish called "Delphic utterances"!) Stained glass is major when it acts in concert. It is the whole interior that is the work of art.' AWG, 6.30 for 7 pm; price including buffet supper: £14.50 (members)/£18 (non-members)/£9.50 (student members)/£11 (student non-members). Details and booking: Helen Robinson, 9 Ox Lane, Harpenden, Herts AL5 4HH; tel: 01582 764834; email: lectures@bsmgp.org.uk. John Hayward: detail from Sherborne Abbey, side panel A Obituary notice BSMGP Council is sad to inform members of the recent death of Mike Bayliss after a lengthy illness. Many members know Mike and his wife Jane as familiar figures at our annual Conferences, and other events, and we will remember with particular fondness and gratitude his role in the Aberdeen Conference, which he and Jane were instumental in organizing. CONFERENCE: ASPECTS OF 20TH CENTURY STAINED GLASS This will be held on 31 July to 1 August 2008; details and registration information will appear in the next Newsletter. REVIEWS Walks and talks `A beautiful day out in the Garden of England' - Kent churches with Keith Hill fter the wettest summer on record it seems hard to remember that glorious day in April when we basked in the Kent sunshine, sipped an icy lager in the shade of wisteria and later enjoyed a cream tea surrounded by tulips and birdsong ... why do I always remember the food first? On this occasion, however, the windows we saw were equally memorable, indeed extraordinary to see so many of outstanding quality within such a small area, perhaps no more than a 10-mile radius. We started at Tudeley, rightly famed for its unique collection of Chagall glass. Whether this is your cup of tea or not (there's that food again!), few can deny the mystical quality that its shimmering blue gives to such a modest country church. Next stop was Penshurst, a day out in its own right with the magnificent Penshurst Place to explore. Alas, we had to confine ourselves to the church with some fine 17th century heraldic glass and windows by Holiday, Willement and, for me the highlight, Lawrence Lee: a masterly composition of figures and heraldic devices. On then to Chiddingstone, a charming village with an equally charming pub for lunch. Another lovely church, glass by Veronica Whall, Kempe, Clayton & Bell and Hardman plus a delightful millennium panel by Nicola Kantorowitz. Finally, an unexpected treat: Edenbridge with glass by Morris & Co, C E Moore, Bryans and, the most recently added, a glorious new window by Caroline and Tony Benyon, its jewel colours glowing in the sun. Huge thanks to Judy and Keith Hill for organizing the day and thanks to Kent for showing us its Darling Buds of ... well, April actually, as by May it was raining again! Helen Robinson A Kent walk, Penshurst: detail of Lawrence Lee window C o n t r i b ut i o n s f o r t h e n ext n ew sl et t er to C hris Wya rd by 10 N ovembe r ~ 2~ London City walk with Caroline Swash (below) John Hayward 1961: St Mary le Bow detail of Mary window; (bottom) Christopher Webb detail: St Lawrence Church next to the Guildhall T he City walk went ahead on the due date, 17 July, with the scheduled itinerary but sadly without John Hayward to lead us. John had planned a talk with Tony Tucker, a member and speaker for `The Friends of the City Churches' and it was agreed the BSMGP would join forces on the day, as this would facilitate entry into some of the buildings. Caroline Swash had very kindly agreed to stand in and lead the day in place of John, and with the sun shining benevolently we started at St Lawrence Church adjacent the Guildhall. Tony Tucker introduced himself and spoke briefly about the history of the building which was Wren designed and rebuilt after its near destruction during the Blitz in 1940. The baton was handed to Caroline who gave a good account of Webb and his style of work, in context with his contemporaries and influences. Each windows contains very finely painted figures with clear glass surround letting in plenty of light, the style well suits the Wren style reconstruction. As we were leaving the church we saw a delightfully drawn window commemorating the builders and craftsmen who reconstructed the church after the war (photo below right). Along its base was a row of quarries, depicting small cameo paintings of a number of the city churches. Our collective interest was aroused and we walked the short distance to St Mary le Bow. There we saw a powerful set of windows (1961) by John Hayward, his first major commission, and `the work of a young, enthusiastic man' he once told me. I find I am astonished at John's boldness in his use of the material and paint and his intuitive understanding of the way light works through glass and lead, creating surprisingly mature works for an artist of his age (he was then 32 years old). The windows are heavily painted and leaded, jewel like, particularly the window of Mary on the left side of the Chancel (photo right); she holds miniature `Mary le Bow' Church, painted on pink glass, and the surround to the figure is a tour de force of architectural detail showing the steeples of historic London. Often you can't tell where paint ends and lead begins. It is a lot to take in. The face of Mary has a look of tender care as she cradles the church and watches over the City. In the West wall are two huge heraldic windows and two roundels, again intensely leaded and painted. John also designed much of the interior furnishing of the church, including the great organ case. There is more of his work to be seen in the Crypt but that was not on the day's schedule. We next went to St Vedas, to see three east-facing windows by Brian Thomas, a celebration of his `Baroque' experience, which underlies much of his work. Caroline Swash had known Brian personally and so was able to fill us in with humorous anecdotes on his character. The glass is colourful and the painting is rich, textural and strongly contrasting with little mid-tone, and exciting in its freedom. Peter Archer once commented that he loved painting for Brian (presumably at Whitefriars) as Brian would encourage him to loosen up to get into his more dramatic painterly style ... a refreshing change, I'm sure, from the prevailing post-Victorian manner of tightly controlled painting. Then on to St Michael Paternoster Royal, to see windows by John Hayward again. Installed in 1968 several years after Mary Le Bow, they have an immediate impact and are stunning and powerful works. Colour and light blazes out and the lead and painted lines are full of energy and movement. Devices such as strong vertical and diagonal lines mark John's work and help to create these effects. The theme of the three windows is about Good and Evil: a Madonna and serpent-stabbing Christ-child, St Michael defeating the Archangel, Adam and Eve with a fearful snake. In the south wall here is a window commemorating Dick Whittington. The design shows Whittington against a backdrop of green glass, alluding to his countryside roots, and above him is an area rectangular pieces of busily painted architectural imagery, mostly in white tinted glass but with lots of stain, evoking the dense buildings of the City of London. These windows are full of exuberance, fiery energy, and convey some feeling of the artist's personal joy in the act of creating, and his love of the medium. Finally we arrived at St Mary Aldermary where we looked at works designed by Martin Travers but executed and finished by Lawrence Lee when Travers died. There are many interesting things going on in the windows and Travers was quite prolific and had considerable influence on developing trends. John Hayward cited Travers as someone who had influenced his own work. To conclude the event, Friends of City Churches had organized refreshments, a light lunch was served with wine and coffee, and there was time to mingle and discuss things we'd seen that day. Caroline and Tony offered their books on London Glass and City churches respectively, at discount prices. Our thanks go to Tony who initially conceived and planned the event with John Hayward, and also to Caroline who came in to rescue the day, and share her extensive knowledge of London glass with us. Andrew Taylor ~3~ 2 0 0 7 DEGREE SHOWS Group photo: Left to right: John Edwards (Former lecturer), Denise Hayes., Colwyn Morris (Former lecturer), Lucy Hofton,Claire Walters, Tim Lewis (Former lecturer) Panels by Denise Hayes (above); Trudy Barnes (below) Swansea Show 2007 'The Degree Show of stained glass at Swansea has in recent years been transfered from its traditional home at the School of Art to the new Maritime Quarters. The venue offers the student an attractive if limited display area with the advantage of exposure to a wider public via the stream of visitors in the museum foyer. Showcasing this year were Nicole Kallstrom, Lucy Hofton, Denise Hayes, Claire Walters, Trudy Barnes, Ray Collins and Lisa Burkle. Of high technical merit was the work of American student Trudy Barnes while Claire Walters' long blue leaded and painted panel exhibited effectively the intrinsic qualities of the medium of stained glass. Lucy Hofton's `Orange Square' panel, combining white acid etching, enamels and applique, was well crafted while three panels by Denise Hayes caught the eye. However, the relationship between the stylized tree forms and the blue enamel of these works lacked cohesion. An interesting experiment was Nicole Kallstrom's `Child in Blue' panel which reproduced the effect of a charcoal sketch by airbrush, but the drawing aspect of this work left much to be desired. Tim Lewis Central Saint Martins Show 2007 T `Orange Square' panel by Lucy Hofton here was considerable concern last year over the state of architectural art glass at the UK colleges. This concern related to the standing of the art within the colleges themselves, with the loss of courses; the constant reduction of teaching hours and the restrictions on the content of those courses that remained; and the sudden drop in the standard of work submitted for the 2005 Stevens Competition. This matters because it concerns the future of the craft itself, and the future of glass as a desirable creative medium. Without the right blend of creativity and techniques, architectural art glass (which includes stained glass) could become merely a craft fair sideshow or a restoration and repair service. A future for all of us in the craft, the education courses, the BSMGP and all the related suppliers and services, relies on the common knowledge that there are plenty of artists and designers around of a high standard; and that there is fresh new, rigorous and innovative work being created not only by established practitioners, but also by the young students who are the future. Without people of a high standard and motivation, there is no future for any of us, or the craft, or the art. As long as clients have access to professional, creative people offering a great variety of quality work, there will continue to be commissions. There must be a lively variety of style, vision, technique and approach available for the developers, architects and designers who are anyway always on the lookout for new ideas to enhance their projects. The money from these ~ 4~ commissions funds everything. If potential clients see only tired reproductions, impenetrable concepts or technical ineptitude, they will go elsewhere, commission a tapestry instead, and stay away. It was therefore a great pleasure, and a not unexpected relief, to see the Central Saint Martins Glass and Architecture show, at the end of the 1-year postgraduate course. There was every indication of a return to proper standards from all the work presented for the Stevens Competition, and this prediction was justified by the high standard of work on show at Central's Cochrane Gallery. Successful architectural art glass requires so much more than a creative idea. The idea has to be communicated to a client, who may turn out to be a series of committees rather than one kindly vicar; and the artwork may also have to form part of the envelope of a sophisticated building system. The students at Central had really got to grips with all of this, a remarkable achievement in a 1-year part-time course. Their work showed imagination and the extraordinary variety of what is possible in glass, yet managed to convey the ideas clearly. Their worked displayed a good understanding of glass, visually and technically, and was most importantly geared toward being made. These were ideas that were meant to be executed, to be put in a building, to be commissioned ­ something a great deal harder to do than unusable concept pieces, superficially fun though those might be to create. With this brief overview of the show I wanted to get across the realities ­ exciting and challenging realities, not the tedious type ­ that we face. I wanted to relate these realities to the work produced by the students, as students who actually wish to design glass for an architectural context, as opposed to students having a year off at playschool. I don't really want to single anyone out by name, as they all produced work of merit, and found the beginnings of an individual language that they now have every chance to turn into real work. But there was a real feeling this year that they wanted to actually get their work out there, to sell their ideas, and communicate outwards to the world. The attempt to look to the client, to want to be seen, was shown by the clear graphic design at the show. The beginnings of attempts to be proactive, and go out and propose commissions to potential clients, was commendable. This is great stuff, and I am sure we will be hearing more of them as we compete with them in the future. And the more good work that is produced, the more opportunities it will create, for all of us. Harry Cardross CONFERENCES AGG 2007 Conference, Providence, R. I., USA tudents, novices, practitioners, designers, glass painters, consultants, and all ten of the AGG's Senior Advisory Board (including Crosby Willet, Jack Cushen, Jean-Jacques Duval, Charles Z. Lawrence Rowan LeCompte, Dick Millard, Sylvia Nicolas, Nick Parrendo, Robert Pinart, and Patrick Reyntiens) , representing 566 years in stained glass art, met in New England from July 25 to 29, 2007 for a splendid succession of events, interspersed with shared meals and local tours of glass art installations. Unlike `trade shows' featuring introductory training sessions and product sales, this unique gathering of over 110 glass art folks was more of an intense retreat, saturated with moderated panels, roundtable discussions, slide presentations, informational sessions on studio safety, cash flow analysis, lighting problems/ solutions, acid etching, and stonework traceries, an abundance of personal interaction, book sales and signings, as well as a lively auction to benefit the AGG Scholarship and Education Fund. Attendees traveled from all across the US as well as from the UK and Europe. Feedback indicates that positive response to this, the AGG's second annual conference, is overwhelming. One person, making the trip from Paris, said, it was `truly astounding to meet face to face and heart to heart with such present, brilliant, and sincere people'. To learn more about the AGG, visit their website: www.americanglassguild.org. S EXHIBITIONS ntil 28 September the Cochrane Gallery in Southampton Row, London is showing the exhibition 'Dark illumine', in which Kathy Shaw AMGP and Tim Cunliffe revisit Milton's `Paradise Lost' (details: www.cochranetheatre.co.uk). Meanwhile at St Pancras Crypt in Euston, for 1 week only from 27 September to 3 October, six graduates from the London Institute will be showcasing their work in the exhibition `Silica quod carbon'. The venue is an atmospheric Grade 1 listed building and the exhibition is accompanied by a special event for associates, collectors and curators on the evening of 27 September. Details from Sarah McCarthy (sarah@glassandlight.co.uk; 07793 814738). In Scotland, the Scottish Glass Society's 28th annual exhibition in Glasgow's Lillie Gallery runs until 26 September, and features over 35 selected Scottish glass artists. (For details tel: 0141 578 8847; email: Hildegarde.Berwick@eastdunbarton.gov.uk.) Further afield, at Morovska Galerie, Brno in the Czech Republic, the exhibition, 'Czech and Slovak glass in exile', which has been mounted in association with the University of Sunderland and the British Institute, includes the work of Jaroslav Mykisa and Angela Thwaites. It runs until the 6th of January (details: morovska-gallerie.cz). U AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS Worshipful Company of Glaziers For details of the Stevens Competition 2008, look on the website in October: www.worshipfulglaziers.com. Pearson's Prize 2007 See www.pearsonsprize.com for details. Entry deadline: 21 September. LETTERS Bombay Sapphire Prize 2008 See www.bombaysapphireprize.com for details of this annual international £20 000 award. Entry deadline: 31 October. RE MARGARET CHILTON Further to the article in the latest Journal (Scotland Issue Vol. XXX), the following addition can be made: 1927: Christ Church, South Nutfield, Surrey; 2-light, Chancel Robert Eberhard south. RE RUBBING STICKS FOR ARTISTS As stained glass conservators we constantly require rubbing sticks to enable us to take two rubbings of each ecclesiastical window that we are restoring, with the cessation of production at Calder Colours rubbing wax supplies have run dry. I have now sourced the last remaining supply in the UK. Contact: White Winds Brass Rubbing, Grianllyn Farm, Chapel street, Mochdre, Colwyn Bay, Conwy LL28 5BB; tel 01492 544141. They sell in any quantity black rubbing sticks of excellent quality. Cliff Durant Warm Glass Prize 2008 See www.warmglassprize.com for details. Entry deadline: 31 December. Queen Elizabeth Scholarships These scholarships range from £2000 to £15 000 to fund a period of study. For details see www.qest.org.uk. Completed application forms for Spring 2008 must be received by 11 January 2008. Creative Glass Center 2008 Fellowships The Creative Glass Center of America at WheatonArts is offering 12 Fellowships for 2008; for details see their website. ~5~ M I N U T E S O F T H E A N N UA L G E N E R A L M E E T I N G O F T H E B R I T I S H S O C I E T Y O F M A S T E R G L A S S PA I N T E R S , 16 J U N E 2 0 0 7 resent: Mike Davis, Paul San Casciani, Keith New, Paul Lucky, Douglas Hogg, Adelle Corrin, Sue Ashworth, Mel Howse, Derek Hunt, Tony Benyon, Deborah Lowe, John Lawson, Geoffrey Robinson and Andrew Taylor. Apologies for absence had been received from: Chris Wyard, Caroline Swash, Beverley Shore Bennett, Kuni Kajiwara, Helen Robinson, Alfred Fisher and Jane Campbell, Shona McInnes. The minutes of the previous AGM, which had been circulated to all members, were accepted and there were no matters arising. The Chairman then read out the Chairman's report, the AGBI report and the Secretary's report. The meeting began with a few moments silence for John Hayward, Fellow of the Society who died at the end of May. P On behalf of the Society I would like to thank Council and other members who have worked hard behind the scenes and helped with events in order that we can have such a varied programme throughout the year. A special thank you must go to Chris Wyard, Hon. Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the work she does throughout the year and for the great distances she travels on our behalf. I read this out on behalf of Jane Campbell: AGBI STEWARD'S REPORT I am delighted to say that the new website was activated at the start of the year and I no longer have to keep saying that it is `about to go live'. The additional feature to the site is the Forum enabling members to post queries and answers with images, which I have always felt essential for such a visual society as ours. Members were each issued with a password for access to the Forum and I do hope that as time passes we will find it quite natural to use these facilities. The separate website headings include Events, Adverts, General Discussions and Conservation and it also greatly helps the Society that subscriptions and other purchases can now be paid by credit/debit card via PayPal on the web or by standing order through your Bank. Sue Ashworth organized another year of excellent events and lectures which began with three different speakers talking about the life and times of Alan Younger. It was an informative and amusing evening greatly enjoyed by his family. It was also the year of the biennial Christmas Event and due to Jane Campbell's hard work we raised over a £1000 for the Artists' General Benevolent Institution. The entertaining pre-dinner talk by Peter Gibson combined with David Martin's champagne cocktails put us all in the Christmas spirit. Jane has served her 3-year term of office as AGBI Steward on behalf of the Society and I would like to thank her for her hard work raising so much money for such a good cause. The spring lecture on `Contemporary stained glass artists and how to write a book about them' was delivered by Kate Baden Fuller and it was greatly appreciated by a packed audience. We were all looking forward to the final lecture of our year due to have been delivered by John Hayward, a renowned stained glass artist and highly respected Fellow of the Society, who sadly died, suddenly, at the end of May; our condolences go to his wife and daughter. John has recently been more involved with the Society, attending the Exeter conference, contributing to the Journal, and acting as a guide on various walks in Dorset and the City of London. Members who have attended lectures for many years at the Art Workers Guild will have all appreciated the efficiency of John Kopecky serving so diligently from behind the bar. John has decided to retire and enjoy the lectures in full without having to disappear before the end to man the bar. We thank him for his hard work and wish him well. Andrew Taylor organized a year of walks starting with Joe Nuttgens last year at his studio at Piggots Hill where his father, Edward, worked for many years and this was followed on a sunny April morning this year for a Kent walk with Keith Hill as guide, starting with the Chagall glass at Tudeley and including Lawrence Lee's window at Penshurst and much more. Both well attended walks and talks were greatly appreciated by those who attended. John Hayward was, of course, due to act as our guide in the City of London in July. The summer weekend conference took place in Manchester with Penny Hegbin-Barnes, Dr David O'Connor, Neil Moat and Wendy and Barrie Armstrong who guided us through medieval, 19th C glass and Arts and Crafts glass, it was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and the facilities were excellent. The fireworks, wedding, sofas and armchairs in the bar were the very antithesis of the dark remembered hills of Malvern. The Hon. Journal Editor, Sandra Coley, provided another excellent themed Journal this year on Scottish stained glass and I would like to thank the Worshipful Company of Glaziers for the grant they awarded us again towards the publication of this volume. Michael Peover, our Hon. Librarian, has decided to retire this year. He contributed to the great success of the Soane issue of the Journal and lectured to us at the Art Workers on the stained glass held at the Sir John Soane Museum and he has been responsible for expanding the library the over recent years and for negotiating its move to the Society of Antiquaries, adjacent to the Royal Academy. I hope I do not tempt fate by saying how grateful we are the library is now prestigiously and safely housed and I would like to thank Michael for the work he has done of behalf of us all. I am pleased to announce that, by a unanimous vote by the Hon. Fellows and Fellows, Michael has been elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Society. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT On behalf of The Artists' General Benevolent Institution and the BSMGP I wish to thank everyone who has contributed in some way to the raising of the BSMGP's AGBI Donation April 2006­April 2007 of £1973.56. This year it was achieved through the BSMGP's AGBI Christmas Dinner and Christmas Raffle, Christmas card sales, donations given with your annual subscriptions (thank you for the gift aid forms returned which have been sent to Head Office), and private donations. It was an amazing response from members, students, colleagues, associates, families and friends. A special thank you also goes to the donors of the prizes for the AGBI Christmas Raffle to make it such a success ­ which were itemized in the BSMGP Newsletter March issue. Many thanks, Jane Campbell, AGBI Steward 06/07. SECRETARY'S REPORT Membership: 38 new members have joined so far in 2007, which compares with a total of 30 in the same period last year ­ i.e. significantly up despite an increase in subscriptions this year. This brings the current membership total on the database register, as of 11 June 2007, to 549 (507 + 42 libraries), of which 468 (431 + 37) are paid up, and 81 (76 + 5) have not yet paid for 2007. A further 99 (98 + 1 library) members have not paid for 2006 or 2007 and have now been moved to the lapsed members list, giving a total of 648 (605 + 43 libraries) on the register. This is not noticeably different from the pattern at the same point last year (total paidup members in mid June 06 was 469). Analysing all the database records, we found that we have the following numbers of people in the different membership categories: 27 Fellows (1 lapsed); 51 Associates (4 lapsed); 4 Craft Associates; 6 Hon. Fellows; 517 Ordinary members (93 lapsed). (Ordinary members include 39 Ordinary overseas members, and 25 joint members.) There are also currently 36 Student members, 97 Senior members in all categories (including senior ord. members, senior Fellows and senior Associates), and 43 Institutional members (1 lapsed). A breakdown of members' interests and areas of specialization reveals that we have: 345 professional stained glass designers /makers; 26 conservators / restorers (not included in above category); 46 historians; 23 church recorders / DAC advisors; 23 other specialist categories (architects, sellers, photographers etc.); 51 amateur craft workers; 18 with a general interest; and 73 who prefer not to declare their interest. The geographical locations of members are: 502 in England, 34 in Scotland, 28 in Wales, 8 in Northern Ireland, and 3 in the Channel Isles. Overseas members include 26 throughout Europe, 33 in the USA and Canada, 9 in Australia and NZ, and finally 5 in Asia. Income: Membership income for 2007 is, to date: 10 877.52 banked + 1506.50 received from standing orders (40 + 1350.50 received online through Paypal (34); added to a further income of 179 Euros and approximately 275 Dollars, this gives a total subscription income of approximately £14 000 so far this year. (This is slightly up on 2006 as at this point last year the membership income stood at about £13 300.) Other income received by the Secretary in 2007 includes: £105 in fees for Newsletter flyers; £347 in cheques sent for Journal sales, plus a further £337 received online ­ a total of £789. Website: The new website went live between last Christmas and the New Year; the online statistics for the year to date reveal a consistent pattern of usage for the first 6 months of its operation. This is a rough summary of the activity: Each month there are between 2 and 21/2 thousand visitors, each of whom views 5 to 6 pages; this is a total of between 111/2 and 161/2 thousand pages viewed monthly. Between 65 and 75% of these are new visits to the site. Seventy to 75% of people find the site through a search engine such as Google, from typing in `stained glass' or the society's name as keywords. About another 20% find us through links from other sites, and the rest enter the site by typing in the web address. When they enter the site, people visit the different areas in the following proportions (the exact figures vary from month to month): ­ A clear majority (35­50%) are looking up artists (portfolios). ­ Another 10­15% of people are looking for details of membership. ­ 6­14% of people are seeking information on various types of events. ­ The Resources section, including the Forum and the Suppliers' Directory, is visited by another 5­15% of people. ­ Other sections (publications, library, education) were visited by 3­6% each. ~6~ There are now a total of 483 members registered on the Members' online forum. A fifth section was added to this section of the society website in May ­ a Conservation section, which is being overseen by Steve Clare. A short article on how to use the Forum and online facilities was included in the June Newsletter, for the benefit of anyone who might be unsure how to go about this. Looking at the figures on the level of use of new membership and payment facilities to date reveals that there have been: ­ 15 standing orders set up for 2007, and about the same number for 2008; ­ 31 memberships paid online (16 new + 15 renewals); ­ a total of 17 publications sold online; ­ a net total of £2919.22 has been taken through Paypal so far, the majority in subscriptions (approx. £1350), plus another £343 in sales of publications, £892 in other Journal transactions, and £333 for events. LIBRARY NOTES ay I introduce myself as the BSMGP's new Hon. Librarian? I took over in June from Dr Michael Peover, who has given the Society his devoted attention over the past ten years, and will be a hard act to follow. Michael's achievements included seeing our books safely into the care of the Society of Antiquaries of London at Burlington House from their former home with the National Monuments Record, after the NMR took its London material away to Swindon. Since the Antiquaries allow us access to their own magnificent collection and the splendid library in which it is housed, and have incorporated our books into their own online catalogue, it would be hard to think of a better place to keep them. We enjoy the further advantage of knowing that the Antiquaries will themselves be on the lookout for books of broad historical interest that we should otherwise have needed to purchase ourselves, so that we can concentrate on acquiring books of particular concern to society members, such as those on contemporary glass. Two recent acquisitions in this category are Glass and Print by Kevin Petrie, in A & C Black's Glass Handbook series, exploring methods in which contemporary printing techniques can be applied to glass; and Contemporary Stained Glass Artists: a Selection of Artists Worldwide, a lavishly illustrated volume compiled by Kate Baden Fuller. M ANNUAL ACCOUNTS The accounts for the year ending 31 December 2006 were distributed at the meeting (copies available on request from the Secretary). The Chairman then asked the meeting for approval to sign the accounts, and the meeting approved the accounts as submitted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS General Council recommended for approval by the AGM the re-appointment of the following Officers and Council members, who were due to retire at the AGM: Sue Ashworth as Chairman of the Events Committee, and Council members: Adelle Corrin, Derek Hunt, Helen Robinson and Andrew Taylor. They were willing to serve a further term and were re-elected unopposed. General Council further recommended the appointment of Geoffrey Lane as Hon. Librarian, (proposed C. Benyon, seconded Tony Benyon). Caroline Benyon proposed and Mike Davis seconded the appointment of John Kopecky as a Council member. The meeting approved both appointments. This concluded the official business of the AGM. Geoffrey Lane, Hon Librarian (librarian@bsmgp.org.uk; tel: 01869-349052) REQUESTS WINDOW AT FOR INFORMATION LANGDON COURT I am writing a book on the history of Langdon Court, a saxon Manor house in south Devon. In the house is a stained glass window (right) whose date is not known for sure but possibly 1800s.The style is later than the subject, which is a picture of a man and woman in Elizabethan costume. The man has been variously thought to be Drake, Raleigh or Courtenay but the whole could be just an imaginary piece, a trade sample, an apprentice piece or a copy of a painting. The building behind is not known. The whole has been very well made with attention to detail. The bags might be hawking purses but while the lady's is a drawstring the man's appears rather more unusual. Any thoughts anyone may have about the window would be much appreciated and recognised in the book. Contact: Robin Blythe-Lord, Camelot, Amacre Drive, Hooe Plymouth PL9 9RJ; tel: 01752 403321; website: www.ateliers.demon.co.uk. TEXAS WINDOW I inherited this stained glass window (below) from my grandparents; it was purchased from an antiques dealer in Dallas in the 1960s, who had bought it in London just after World War 2 and kept it crated in his warehouse. He told us it had been in a prestigious boys boarding school near St Paul's that was destroyed during the Blitz. The window features panels from each English county and colony from all over the empire representing the home areas of boys attending the school. Only the top third of the window survived the Luftwaffe attack, a portion roughly 11 ft tall x 8 ft wide with an additional single panel that survived for Wales. If it helps to date the window, Barbados is spelled as 'Barbadoes' on one panel; another is from a colony called Maritius which the British took over in 1810. Could anyone help identify or date it? Contact: Wolfe Wilder, 99 Rolling Hills Drive West, Conroe, Texas 77304; tel: 936-856-2764. INFORMATION ON TOM FAIRS Charles Lewsen wishes to trace stained glass by his late brother-in-law, Tom Fairs, whose CV mentions work at St Hugh's Church, Hare Street, Buntingford, Cambs [in fact Herts); Ancrum Church, Roxburghshire; Convent of the Sacred Heart, Buntingford; Our Lady of the Wayside Church, Shirley, Birmingham; the Commonwealth Institute, London; and Hotel President, Holborn; also 'Arts Council Travelling Exhibitions', 'Holburn College of Law, Languages and Commerce, London' and 'Officers Club, Bahrain'. If anyone knows of other buildings to which Tom contributed, or has any pictures (those in the Arts Council catalogues are in black and white only) or any other material, documentary or visual on Tom's work in glass, Mr Lewsen would be happy to pay for any photos. Contact: charles.lewsen@btinternet.com. WINDOW AT ELY The SGM staff are trying to identify the panel left, which has been tentatively attributed to E Liddall Armitage. If anyone recognizes it please contact the Curator Susan Mathews (tel: 01353 660347; website: www.stainedglassmuseum.com). ~ 7~ EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS D I A R Y D AT E S COURSES CAMBRIDGE, CHILFORD HALL VINEYARD 30 September Cambridge Glass Fair, showcasing the work of Dartington designer Frank Thrower. 10.30 am-4 pm. Admission : £5. Details: www.cambridgeglassfair.com. CAMBRIDGE 27­28 October Kempe Centenary Weekend organized by the Victorian Society . Further information on the website: www.victoriansociety.org.uk. CORNWALL, EDEN PROJECT 28­30 Sept `Looking into glass', CGG-sponsored conference. Book by 20 Sept. Details: www.edenproject.com/www.cgs.org.uk. CORNWALL, LAURELIN GALLERY 28 Sept­12 Oct `Beyond blown glass' exhibition of leading UK glass engravers. Details tel: 01566 880122; email: info@pottermorganglass.com; website: www.pottermorganglass.com CORNWALL, PLUMBLINE GALLERY, ST IVES Until 29 Sept Mixed exhibition, Mon­Sat 10.30 am­5.30 pm. Details tel: 01736 797771; website: www.plumblinegallery.com. CORNWALL, SALT GALLERY, HAYLE Until 13 November Exhibition by Gayle Matthias and Diana Hobson. Details tel: 01736 753356; email: thesaltgallery.com. DEVON, DELAMORE GALLERY 29 Sept­31 Oct `Peter Layton and friends ­ celebrating 30 years of London Glassblowing', 10 am­5.30 pm daily. Delamore Gallery, Cornwood, Ivybridge, PL21 9QT; tel: 01752 837711; email: admin@delamore.com. DEVON, DEVON GUILD OF CRAFTSMEN GALLERY 22 Sept­4 Nov `Side by side', international exhibition of contemporary glass. 1 am-5.30 pm daily. 15 Oct Talk by Colin Reid, 6.30 pm, cost £6. Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF; tel: 01626 832223; email: rachel.mackie@crafts.org.uk; website: www.crafts.org.uk EDINBURGH, CITY ART CENTRE Until 23 September `Hand, Heart and Soul', exhibition on The Arts and Crafts movement in Scotland. For further information contact: David Patterson, Curator of Fine Art, on 0131 529 3575 or email Miranda Appleby, Exhibition Coordinator on cac.enquiries@edinburgh.gov.uk. ELY, STAINED GLASS MUSEUM Until 30 October 'Faces reappearing', exhibition by Mark Angus. Entrance to Cathedral £3.50 adults, £2.50 children/students & concessions. Exhibitions free but joint admission ticket to museum with the Cathedral is £8/6.50. Open Mon­Fri 10.30 am­5 pm, Sat 10.30­5.30, Sun 12 noon­6 pm. Details tel: 01353 660347; email: admin@stainedglassmuseum.com; website: www.stainedglassmuseum.com. GLASGOW, LILLIE ART GALLERY Until 26 Sept Scottish Glass Society 28th annual exhibition, featuring over 35 selected Scottish glass artists. Station Road, Milngavie, G62 8BZ: tel: 0141 578 8847; email: Hildegarde.Berwick@eastdunbarton.gov.uk; website: www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk. GLOS, PREMA ARTS CENTRE Until 20 Oct Contemporary glasswork by Fiaz Elson.Prema Arts Centre, Uley; tel: 01453 860703; email: info@prema.demon.co.uk; website: www.prema.demon.co.uk. HARLOW, PARNDON MILL GALLERY Until 11 Nov `Glashaus II', glassworks by South East glass artists. Details: www.parndonmill.co.uk. LONDON 19­23 September `Liquid Projects at Designersblock 2007', exhibition using recycled glass. Details: rory@designersblock.org.uk /info@mattdurran.com. LONDON, AWG 17­19 November Victorian Society Bodley Study Weekend. Further information on the Victorian Society website: www.victoriansociety.org.uk/events. LONDON, COCHRANE GALLERY Until 28 Sept 'Dark illumine', exhibition by Kathy Shaw and Tim Cunliffe. Southampton Row, Holborn WC1B 4AP; tel: 0207; website: www.cochranetheatre.co.uk. LONDON, ST PANCRAS CRYPT 28 Sept­3 Oct 'Silica quod carbon', exhibition by 6 graduates from the London Institute. Details: Sarah McCarthy tel: 07793 814738; email sarah@glassandlight.co.uk. LONDON, V & A 1 November­17 February 2008 An exhibition of the rare surviving drawings by Bodley, Garner and their office, and related works by Morris, Kempe, Comper and other associates of Bodley. Details: www.vam.ac.uk. MANCHESTER, CITY ART GALLERY 27­28 October 2-day seminar on European 20th C glass. Details: www.glassassociation.org.uk or e-mail pay@glassassociation.org.uk. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 22 September Kempe and Bodley in Nottinghamshire: Centenary Tour (iii). Tickets £25 from CCT. Details: www.visitchurches.org.uk, email: events@tcct.org.uk; tel: 020 7213 0680. CZECH REPUBLIC, MOROVSKA GALLERY BRNO Until 6 Jan `Glass in exile' exhibition. Details on website: www.morovska-gallerie.cz. DENMARK, GLASMUSEET EBELTOFT Until 28 Nov `Young glass 2007', international exhibition of 64 young glassmakers. Details: Website : www.glasmuseet.dk. SWITZERLAND, ROMONT MUSEUM Until 18 November "Chagall: le vitrail' Details tel: (+41) 26 652 1095; email: info@vitromusee.ch; website: wwwvitromusee.ch Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in the Newsletter, but the BSMGP cannot accept any liability for loss or damage of any kind that may arise from any errors. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors, and are not necessarily endorsed by the BSMGP. CAITHNESS, NORTHLANDS CREATIVE GLASS International masterclasses and conference. Details: Lorna Macmillan tel: 01593 721229; email: info@northlandsglass.com; website: www.northlandsglass.com. CORNWALL, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FALMOUTH 19­21 Sept Pate de verre workshop with Gayle Matthias. 24­27 Sept 4-day masterclass in fusing, casting and pate de verre with Jan Hein van Stiphout The Design Centre, Tremough Campus, Penryn TR10 9E; tel: 01326 370756; email: vic.brotherhood@falmouth.ac.uk; website: www.falmouth.ac.uk DEVON, PLYMOUTH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN 22­25 Oct `Looking into a world of flameworked and sandcast glass', workshop. Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AT; tel: 01752 203460; email: smacgillivray@pcad.ac.uk; website: www.pcad.ac.uk ELY, STAINED GLASS MUSEUM 20 October, 17 November 1-day glass painting workshops with Pippa Blackwell; £70/day 24 November 1-day glass fusing workshop with Christine MacCormick £70 Also 1-day glazing/leading, 3-day painting workshops; dates t.b.a. Details tel: 01353 660347; email: admin@stainedglassmuseum.com; website: www.stainedglassmuseum.com. KENT/SUSSSEX Stained glass beginners' courses with Stoney Parsons. The Glass Studio, Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9JS; tel: 01892 750099; email: stoney@stoneyparsons.co.uk; website: www.stoneyparsons.co.uk. LONDON, RICHMOND SCHOOL OF ART From 12 Sept Autumn weekly courses: beginners, intermediate, gilding, kiln forming, pate de verre, sandblasting, screen printing and enamelling, core casting. Enrol online at: www.racc.ac.uk, or tel: 02088915907 or email: jera.may@racc.ac.uk. LONDON, MORLEY COLLEGE WATERLOO Beginner, intermediate and advanced glass engraving courses. Details: tel: 020 7450 1889; website: www.morleycollege.ac.uk. MANCHESTER, MANCHESTER STAINED GLASS Beginners and continuation classes in stained glass and fusing. Details: Lorna Tittle, tel: 0161 232 1238; email: classes@manchesterstainedglass.co.uk; website: www.manchesterstainedglass.co.uk. OXFORD Short courses in traditional leadwork/copper foiling, painting with Paul San Casciani FMGP. Details tel/fax: 01865 727529; email: paulsancasciani@hotmail.com. STROUD, COLIN REID STUDIOS 31 Oct­4 Nov Kilncast glass workshop with Colin Reid. New Mills, Slad Rd, Stroud, Glos GL5 1RN; tel: 07935 762068; email: kilncastingcourse@yahoo.co.uk; website: www.colinreidglass.co.uk SUNDERLAND, NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE Stained glass courses ­ beginners and certificate ­ in glass engraving, hot glass, kilnforming, lampwork, jewellery. Details: NGC, Sunderland SR6 0GL; tel: 0191 515 5555; email: info@nationalglasscentre.com. SUSSEX, WEST DEAN COLLEGE Leading, engraving, mosaics, glass painting: 28­30 Sept Creating shadows and colour with polish for drill engravers with Tracey Sheppard 30 Sept­4 Oct Glass fusing workshop ­ painting with light with Julia Webster 5­7 Oct Getting started with mosaics with Jo Letchford 12­15 Oct, 7­9 Dec Intricate surfaces ­ creating colour and texture with kilnformed glass with Alex Robinson 19­21 Oct Stained glass for beginners ­ a contemporary approach with Mel Howse AMGP 25­28 Oct Mosaics with glass with Jo Letchford and Stoney Parsons 11­15 Nov Making decorative glass bowls and dishes with Julia Webster 30 Nov­2 Dec Glass engraving for beginners with Tracey Sheppard 14­17 Dec Colour, line and light ­ an introduction to stained glass with Helen Robinson AMGP For information/bookings tel: 01243 811301; email: short.courses@westdean.org.uk. WILTSHIRE, LIQUID GLASS CENTRE 17­21 Sept Fluid frontiers: multi-technique glass course. Stowford Manor Farm, Wingfirl BA14 9LH; tel: 01225 768888; email: info@liquidglasscentre.com; website: www.liquidglasscentre.com. END NOTES POSITION WANTED Position in UK stained glass studio sought by Piotr Kowalczyk, who has several years' experience working as an apprentice / craftsman in stained glass studios in Poland. Contact address: Conrad Road 74, Witham CM8 2QL, Essex, UK; tel: 07928313174; email: ppkowal@tlen.pl. STUDIO CLOSING SALE Ginger Ferrell is closing her studio. Items for sale include a kiln, fume extractor, glass. Contact: 07956 310 616; email: Ginger_too@msn.com. CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS Presentation proposals are invited for the Glass Art Society 39th Annual Conference, Corning, NY, 11 to 14 June 2009. Download and fill out the presentation proposal form found on the website at: http://www.glassart.org/corning_2009.html, submission deadline: 1 December 2007. CALL FOR PRESENTATION OF ABSTRACTS TO GLASS SCIENCE IN ART AND CONSERVATION 2008 GLASSAC 2008 will take place 5 to 7 March at Valencia University, Spain. Coinciding with it will be a glass exhibition by Carlos Muñoz de Pablos:, one of the best contemporary Spanish glass masters. More details can be found on the website www.uv.es/glassac. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 October. ~8~