Latest news from Jerpoint Glass
New Exhibition to Showcase Latest Irish Glass DesignReflections of the Southeast - An exhibition of patchwork
Jerpoint Glass Studio Celebrates its Thirtieth Birthday
President Mary McAleese presents Jerpoint with Design Award
Harry Potter Toasts with Jerpoint Glass
Jerpoint Mail List
New Exhibition to Showcase Latest Irish Glass Design
Iconic Irish glassmaker, Jerpoint Glass Studio, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an exhibition which, for the first time, showcases Irish glass design from established and exciting new glass artists.
Jerpoint Glass has handpicked 20 glassmakers and glass artists from across Ireland, north and south, for the exhibition titled ‘Visions in Glass – Celebrating 30 Years of Jerpoint Glass’. Exhibitors include stained glass artist, Peadar Lamb; architectural glass artist, Michelle O’ Donnell who will adorn the exterior of Jerpoint Glass with her unique flower petal designs; and Róisín de Buitléar’s blown sculptures and outdoor installations.
Showing a wide variety of glass mediums, the exhibition will feature architectural glass, stained glass, wall hangings and large-scale glass installation pieces. Glassblowing demonstrations will also run throughout the exhibition.
Founded by master glassblower Keith Leadbetter in 1979, Jerpoint Glass has today achieved international acclaim. As in demand for its functional tableware as for its bespoke designs, Jerpoint Glass has featured on Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix and a number of high-profile RTE shows, including Saturday Night with Miriam.
A real family affair, Keith’s wife Kathleen, a self-taught artist, will be exhibiting her unique fused glass wall pieces. Keith’s daughter and artist Roisin Leadbetter will unveil her evocative piece of images of a baby’s nine months development in the womb etched on glass. Roisin’s brother, Rory, will present glassblowing demonstrations and their sister, Sally, organised the exhibition.
“As a family we wanted to mark our 30th anniversary with a special exhibition, a showcase of Irish glass design at its very best. The event is personally very exciting for us, recognising the creativity of Irish glass artists while celebrating this special anniversary with our peers”, says Sally Leadbetter of Jerpoint Glass Studio.
‘Visions in Glass – Celebrating 30 Years of Jerpoint Glass’ was officially launched by filmmaker and author, David Shaw-Smith, who produced RTE’s acclaimed ‘Hands’ series on traditional crafts.
Coinciding with Kilkenny Arts Week 2009, ‘Visions in Glass – Celebrating 30 Years of Jerpoint Glass’ is a free exhibition running from August 1st to September 6th at Jerpoint Glass Studio’s Glass Attic Gallery, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny. Visions In Glass is kindly sponsored by FloGas.
Reflections of the Southeast
An exhibition of patchwork quilts, craft and glass.
11th April ~ 9th May @ Glass Attic Gallery, Jerpoint Glass Studio
Taking inspiration from the beautiful colours of the Southeast of Ireland Jerpoint Glass, and the Irish Patchwork Society will present a unique exhibition celebrating craftsmanship entitled "Reflections of the Southeast".
Jerpoint's signature colours, seascape, berry, sky, heather and honey have drawn inspiration from the beautiful surroundings of the countryside in the Southeast of Ireland. The Irish Patchwork Society (IPS) and Jerpoint Glass have handpicked some of the finest patchwork artists from the Southeast area to design and create a piece inspired by the colour palette of Jerpoint Glass.
The Irish Patchwork Society was founded in 1981 and has over 500 members. The Society's main aim is to promote the art and practice of patchwork and it has elevated the craft beyond just the practical to an expression of artistry. The patchwork artisans who live and work in the Southeast have created bespoke quilted wall hangings that feature their interpretation of the sunny Southeast.
Much like a piece of handmade glass, a patchwork quilt tells a story, it has a history and a personality of its own. Each handmade piece is created with great care and attention to detail; this craftsmanship can be seen in the quality of each piece of glass or each stitch on a piece of patchwork.
We hope that you will visit the galley at Jerpoint Glass and see those stories for yourself.
Jerpoint Glass Studio Celebrates its Thirtieth Birthday
In 1979, when Keith and Kathleen Leadbetter had the idea to convert the Dutch barn adjacent to their farmhouse into a glassblowing studio, their ambition was simply to create beautiful and functional handmade glassware for everyday use. Thirty years on that ambition remains the same.
Keith and Kathleen were inspired to start Jerpoint Glass Studio, after Keith was involved with setting up the hot glass department in the National College for Art and Design. Keith received his formal training in Orresfors Glass Factory in Sweden and travelled extensively throughout Europe visiting glassblowing studios in the late sixties. Kathleen is a self-taught artist with a natural flair for aesthetics and design. Their skill and passion for glass has now been passed onto their children who are all actively involved in the business.
We would like to thank our customers for your support over the last thirty years.
President Mary McAleese presents Jerpoint with Design Award
Jerpoint Glass was awarded with two prestigious Showcase Ireland Awards, this year at the countries premier craft trade fair in the RDS, Dublin.
Two of the coveted prizes were awarded to Jerpoint Glass Studio, Best New Product in the Tabletop Category for the new Scalloped Bowl and the Essence of Ireland Collection for the Jerpoint Arc Sculpture.
The Showcase Awards were presented by President Mary McAleese at a special ceremony in the RDS on Monday, January 19th. Commenting on the event the President said, "The range of exhibits, the sheer excellence of our award winners even in these tough times, lifts our hearts and make us proud".
This year Jerpoint celebrate thirty years in business making glassware by hand from their studio in Kilkenny. "We are delighted that that our designs and skills are recognized with these awards and that we are still considered contemporary, even after thirty years in business" said Sally Leadbetter from Jerpoint Glass.
Please check out our products page to view our award winning Arc Sculpture and Scallop Bowl.
Harry Potter Toasts with Jerpoint Glassware
Jerpoint Glass made its big screen debut in the blockbuster Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
In the movie we see actors Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Julie Walters, Garry Oldman and Mark Williams raise a toast to Harry Potter with the specially commissioned Jerpoint Trumpet Wineglass whilst on Christmas Break at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, the secret headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.
“We were thrilled to discover that one of our handmade glasses was going to appear on the latest Harry Potter Movie, epically as we are huge Harry Potter fans! Jerpoint has an inherent antique quality that fitted perfectly into the style of the movie”
To view press cuttings about the Jerpoint wineglass as seen on “Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix” click here.
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