Nick Turvey; Form Study; UK
April 19 – May 17, 2006
Kullo Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
In 2006/2007 the 70th anniversary of professional glass art in Estonia is celebrated.
70 years ago, in 1936/37, a workshop of glass, the predecessor of today’s department of glass of the Estonian Academy of Arts, was established at the then State Industrial Arts School in Tallinn.
Johanna Hitzler; Vase construction set; Germany
To celebrate this date the department of glass of the Estonian Academy of Arts has organized the international exhibition of glass students’ work “Discovery” and the conference “Meeting Point I – Tallinn”.
“One is always a traveler and a discoverer. One discovers new lands, new cultures, new materials, glass as a means of expression. One discovers also new ways to treat glass, to use glass. And always at the same time one discovers oneself”, the glass artist and associate professor Tiina Sarapu says in her initial concept for the exhibition.
The students of different countries, different schools and backgrounds have come together in this discovery. To the exhibition works on this all-embracing concept were expected. They could be works in fine or applied arts or design, the object of discovery being the author oneself, a new experience, a new technology ….
Many of the works are accompanied by a few sentences by the author to more widely open the concept of the work. The differences of schools are clearly perceivable, nevertheless the issues important for the young artists are of global essence. The same sorrows and sufferings, joys and hopes expressed in multiple means of expression. Designed tableware today often loves to preserve the human touch, thereby offering the individualities of its makers. Lots of experimental approaches, use of different materials aside with glass, works inspired by nature, form studies, human activities, global catastrophes, individual memories have found their place here – a display as manifold as the Discovery channels themselves.
 Stephanie Carlton-Smith; Singular Mass; UK |
 Kristiina Uslar; Exit; Estonia |
The exhibition takes place in the Kullo Gallery in Tallinn Old Town until May 17, 2006 – the works of nearly 80 students from 16 European universities will be on show. The countries represented are: Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Sweden and Estonia.
On April 20, 2006 a conference was held in the auditorium of the Estonian Art Museum KUMU to discuss the diverse approaches in glass art and design education and lay foundations to further co-operation. Presentations of different schools showed the wide range of possibilities glass as a means of expression offers. One of the key speakers was Denis Garcia, director of CERFAV: the European research and Training Glass Arts Centre.
 Pernille Knudsen; From Function to One of a Kind; Denmark |
 Mikael Jackson; Untitled; Sweden |
During the round-table discussion on Friday, April 21 at the Estonian Academy of Arts the participants agreed in the necessity of these meetings. It was concluded that the next school willing to organize the event will decide the concept and contents of the next meeting, as the most important issues of the moment may have changed. The students underlined the importance of first hand information and personal contacts, that would be important to make decisions on selecting a school for exchange programs. As a first step this meeting brought together over 70 guests and laid foundations for further contacts of mutual benefit.
The initiator of the extensive international event was Prof. Mare Saare. The conference and exhibition were curated by Mare Saare and Tiina Sarapu.
 Peter Bäz-Dölle; Lips; Germany |
 Christer Chytraeus; Hybrid; Sweden |