Blog
Georgia: Meet The Maker November
Hi all of you!
I’m Georgia and I’m the apprentice here at Making Space. Currently studying my AIM Awards Level 2 Community Arts Administration and Principles of the Creative and Cultural Sector, with 4 months into my role as the Visual Arts Project Assistant.
After studying at Havant Sixth Form College achieving A Levels in Graphics and Fine Art, I wanted to stay within the creative industry, however I wasn’t quite ready for the leap to University. That’s where this apprenticeship fits in! Thriving me with work experience in the field I love and preparing me to further my future within the arts.
Now that you know a little about me! Let’s tell you something much more interesting about one of our ex tenants and associate makers, Kate O’Connell.
For my first post, I’m going to be giving you a little taster of our ‘Meet The Maker’ section in which I write for our monthly newsletter. If you aren’t already signed up to our newsletter, then you should be! The button is on our home page.
Kate specialises in working with fused glass from her own purpose built studio within the grounds of her home in Romsey.
As well as teaching the 5 week fused glass courses for us, Kate is extremely busy here, there and everywhere! She is a trained ceramicist who has evolved into a glass artist. Kate tells us that she ‘loves the idea of shrinking the gaps between media in terms of appearance and function.’ For example, experimenting with ways to make glass look like metal, brick and stone. Also, she recently ‘started a series of sketchbooks that have fused glass covers with all funky designs.’ Collaborating with a bookbinder in order to explore and discover new techniques.
Kate graduated from Portsmouth University with a BA (Hons) in 3D design in 2008. From then she’s had one of our lovely studio’s in order to create and play and then moving forward to now teaching and working out of her own purpose built studio, with enough space for 4 students.
She’s running taster sessions for beginners and an open workshop for experienced participants who want to do their own projects but have advice on hand!
In addition to teaching, Kate also is doing lots of crafts fairs between now and Christmas! As always with being a creative! A full list of these can be found on her website.
Main site: kateoconnell.co.uk