Svetlana contacted me from New York. She was preparing for an exhibition at Artereal in Sydney and chose to get the glass element made in Australia. Svetlana casts with ice and uses photography to capture her sculptures. I can see why glass was an option.
Fabricated at the Canberra Glassworks all communication was via email and Zoom.
Process photos below.
We tried 2 different methods and three versions before we got it right! The first try was slumping and the second and third were draped. Svetlana sent us the rubber mold of her pregnant belly with a supporting structure in 3 parts.
Clockwise L-R (above)
The slightly battered box from New York
Inside was a rubber mold and supporting structure
I made a few waxes to create a positive form to work with
Peter Nilsson and I made an investment mold over the wax
Levelling the cleaned mold in the kiln
The wax after I persuaded it to come out with a heat gun and elbow grease
Clockwise L-R (above)
Glass sticker details
Glass laid over the mold
First slump was not enough
Third slump
Second slump
Levelling up
Clockwise L-R (above)
Making a positive out of the mold material inside the rubber.
The set mould popped out of the silicon mold
Glass set up over the positive form ready for draping
After the firing - the glass has draped over the mold
Various stages
Clockwise L-R (above)
The third attempt draped over the second positive mold.
Third piece of glass set up over the second positive
Peter and silicon glue
The third glass piece de molded
A photo from the exhibition
The final piece is cut, polished, drilled and glued.
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