Silica Gallery (previously known as The Glass Room Gallery) was initially established in the re-emerging old main street of Oamaru called Harbour Street, in the area now known as the Victorian Precinct. The work presented here is by Jill Bayley, Nikki OBrien and Robyn Douglas, all Oamaru residents. We each approach our media (glass, ceramic and paint, among other things) in our own way, resu
lting in a broad range of work that complements each other's pieces well. Jill’s work arose from years of teaching and experimentation. Her glass palette was inspired by visits to Coventry Cathedral in England with its generous use of black in the new cathedral, and the beautiful iron glass paint developed and used from medieval times. A little of the work uses commercial colours but generally Jill makes her own glass paint from scratch using medieval recipes. Quotes, remembered shapes and the land inspire much of her work, and her life long love of portraiture finds a new home in glass. Jill has been exploring fused and slumped pieces along with woven glass hangings and ceramic basques. See her Victorian inspired male and female torsos for examples of these. Nikki's work comes from a life long love of all things hand-worked. Encouraged from an early age to explore arts and crafts, she has slowly settled into an area of long term focus - lamp worked glass, specifically bead making. This work complements her skills in costume jewellery making, allowing greater control of the finished pieces since the glass work is now her own. Preferring to produce one of a kind pieces, Nikki is still happy to discuss commissioned pieces, and to work with customers to come up with customised items. The glass she uses includes Italian soft glass, German, Chinese and American made specialty glasses, and even a smattering of recycled glass, all worked and shaped in her own home based studio. All glass work has been fully annealed, cleaned and inspected before being made up into jewellery items for you pleasure. Information about Robyn's work to be added soon
