A Feast of Creativity at Johnshaven Gallery
JOHNSHAVEN Gallery is gearing up for a re-launch.
Owned by Ranjit Barry, the annual temporary gallery has undergone extensive renovation for North East Open Studios (NEOS) from September 10-18 and includes a new pairing with artist Bern Ross.
Ranjit Barry makes jewellery, mainly with fused glass, inspired by both the village of Johnshaven and the amazing materials available to her. The glass pieces are complemented with Swarovski crystals, Czech glass and many unusual semi-precious gemstone beads. She finishes the pieces using Sterling Silver beads and clasps.
“It all started for me with a weekend course on stained glass,” says Ranjit. “We used the Tiffany technique. That was over nine years ago, and it progressed into making small glass window-hangings. From this I became fascinated by the glass fusing methods and taught myself, with the help of the internet and a few helpful books.” Two years later she invested in a small kiln and has been making jewellery since then. “I rapidly learnt that this allowed much greater creativity without the huge expense of purchasing a larger kiln.”
In addition to the unique fused glass creations she will be exhibiting a range of jewellery created by using semi-precious gemstone beads with Sterling Silver, Swarovski crystal and Czech glass beads. “I can also create jewellery to complement specific outfits,” she says. “Some of my creations have even been sent as far afield as Mexico.”
Bern Ross has been an artist, writer and maker for forty years and uses whatever materials are at hand to create the ideas she needs to express. In recent years, since living in Stonehaven, she’s dedicated time to drawing and painting with oils, acrylics and soft pastels and sells her work widely.
Bern’s pictures vary in subject and variety. Her studio has been described as, ‘A veritable bustle of wonderful colour,’ and the walls flaunt everything from minimalist abstract, through bold expressionist to calm and tranquil seascapes. She’ll be exhibiting an even wider selection of her work at Johnshaven Gallery. “As well as painting on canvases I work with fabric, modifying and making things on commission – the challenge is all. I will have some unique bags and other unusual goodies for sale. Also I create textile pictures with found objects: semi-abstract wall-hangings and knitted works of art, the likes of which you’ve never seen before.”
Selling alongside all this fantastic jewellery and artwork will be the handmade cards and modernistic images from Leiana Henderson and some of the books written by Bern Ross. Johnshaven Gallery will be open daily from 11am to 4pm, September 10th to 18th. It is at 12 Main Street, Johnshaven: just a stone’s throw from the village shop.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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