Of Sand & Ash – The Story of Irish Glassmaking

Ava Hayes

Of Sand & Ash – The Story of Irish Glassmaking

Design & Crafts Council Ireland is delighted to announce the opening of the next exhibition at the National Design and Craft Gallery, in partnership with the Glass Society of Ireland (GSoI) and entitled ‘Of Sand & Ash’.

Of Sand & Ash is an immersive exhibition which will tell the story of Irish glass with chapters dedicated to a variety of glass-making disciplines practiced by members of the GSol. ‘Of Sand & Ash’ invites visitors to step inside the world of the glassmaker to understand the knowledge, patience and expertise embedded in each piece and to witness not just what has been made, but how and why it came to be. Those visiting the exhibition will encounter finished artworks alongside the tools, materials, sketches and studio practices that underpin them.

Of Sand & Ash is an exhibition featuring over 65 GSol members across the National Design & Craft Gallery’s two spaces. The exhibition will represent a coming together of tradition, innovation and national talent, showcasing the relevance of glass making in contemporary Ireland.

The exhibition tells a story as old as fire itself: the moment sand meets heat it transforms into something luminous, fragile and enduring. Born from these elemental origins, glass has been shaped by human hands for thousands of years using tools and techniques that have changed little over time. Today this ancient material continues to evolve, responding to present day contexts and constraints. With new creative possibilities being written through the work of contemporary Irish glass artists both here, on the island of Ireland and abroad..

This exhibition leads that narrative forward, through Irish makers who have worked this material with skill, patience and innovation and who are dedicated to its preservation and viability.