BY MCGUIRE GLASS
Much of the Earth’s natural landscape has been formed over millions of years by the movement of melting glaciers, carving out our valleys and mountains.
Peter McGuire has developed a method of glass casting that responds to these natural formations by melting glass over botanic matter. Each piece is unique and can also be treated to reflect a silver, bronze or satin finish.
Much of the Earth’s natural landscape has been formed over millions of years by the movement of melting glaciers, carving out our valleys and mountains.
Peter McGuire has developed a method of glass casting that responds to these natural formations by melting glass over botanic matter. Each piece is unique and can also be treated to reflect a silver, bronze or satin finish.
The process of applying heat and anticipation of gravitational forces is key to understanding the nature of glass making. Peter uses this to create a series of glass panels which go through a process that resembles a mini ice age with glacial movement in the kiln.
Gravity
Gravity can bring you down but there are advantages.
Without it there would be no opposing force to pull against; it is the results of these positive forces that often produce the vital achievements.
Heat
Glass, like many other earthly materials, moves better when heated.
The human body will move more freely when warmed up. The food we cook with reacts according to the heat and the time exposed to it.
In contrast; the reduction of heat will halt the progress and announce the end of the transformation. A period of time to allow things to settle down improves the flavour and stabilises the structure.
The process of applying heat and anticipation of gravitational forces is key to understanding the nature of glass making.
Gravity
The glass begins cold and heats up until the consistency is that of honey, 800°C. Gravity pulls the glass into the grooves and valleys, picking up the texture of the surface below, burning every bit of organic matter away.
Heat
When Peter is happy with the transformation, he suddenly drops the temperature to freeze the glass at this moment, the freezing temperature being 550°C. The material is then given plenty time to recover from the excitement, soaking in a long gentler heat.
Next day, when the glass has returned to a temperature that can be handled, the results are examined and all things going well, a panel that is similar to a frozen crust of ice is removed from the surface which has gathered a record of visual information from the texture where it travelled
These panels are treated to gain reflective qualities, silver and bronze, or left clear to draw in colour and movement from the backgrounds of the situations where that they are put into: windows, walls, screens or furniture.
The glass surface gathers a record of visual information from the texture where it travelled.
The work ultimately involves bringing light into dark structures such as buildings.
The Result
We must live within a building to shelter us,, but the provision of light directly through windows or reflected from walls is as important as the foundation or roof.
Without light, we would neither see nor grow and it is in this area Peter has spent most of his visual art practice exploring and developing the results to stimulate the visual senses by celebrating the constant movement and dynamics of light and life.
About
Peter McGuire
Born 1971, Peter McGuire studied architecture in Dublin’s Bolton St DIT before moving to the National College of Art and Design to study all forms of glass making. With a degree in design( B.Des) in 1994, Peter traveled to Italy to work in a sculpture studio. Returning to Ireland, he honed his skills while working for Irish Stained Glass and then in 1997 set up McGuire Glass to design and produce stained glass and kiln formed glass.
Peter uses different techniques to achieve appropriate effects; from traditional stained glass to kiln cast panels for architectural and sculptural pieces. Most work is made to commission and involves detailed discussion with the client where ideas are first explored and then conceptual drawings are presented to develop each project. The result is a unique piece of artwork made to the clients exact specifications.
About
Peter McGuire
Born 1971, Peter McGuire studied architecture in Dublin’s Bolton St DIT before moving to the National College of Art and Design to study all forms of glass making. With a degree in design( B.Des) in 1994, Peter traveled to Italy to work in a sculpture studio. Returning to Ireland, he honed his skills while working for Irish Stained Glass and then in 1997 set up McGuire Glass to design and produce stained glass and kiln formed glass.
Peter uses different techniques to achieve appropriate effects; from traditional stained glass to kiln cast panels for architectural and sculptural pieces. Most work is made to commission and involves detailed discussion with the client where ideas are first explored and then conceptual drawings are presented to develop each project. The result is a unique piece of artwork made to the clients exact specifications.
