James Maskrey

Hot Glass Technician

MA Glass University of Sunderland

Gaffer

Project manager/ facilitator for artist projects

James started working with glass in 1990. He originally trained as an apprentice and subsequently worked for seven years at a hot glass studio in Dorset. He left to study a Three Dimensional Design BA (Hons) degree in Glass at The Surrey Institute of Art and Design graduating in June 2000. After graduation he was appointed as Artist in Residence at the Surrey Institute. In 2001 James joined the Glass and Ceramics department at the University of Sunderland. In 2002 he started his Master of Arts studies at the University. He graduated with an MA in Glass with distinction in 2004.

James continues to work for the University, fabricating work for visiting artists and supporting students, staff and associated University schemes. He has worked on projects with the National Glass Centre and the Bowes Museum and masterclasses at Northlands Creative Glass, Scotland, and Sars Poteries, France. He has exhibited widely in the UK, in the USA and at the International Glass Symposium in the Czech Republic.

James' research is largely practice based. He has been a glassmaker, specialising mainly in hot glass techniques, for over 20 years. He has developed a large repertoire of traditional approaches and coupled these by embracing the incorporation of new technologies where appropriate. His main research interests involve peculiar facts, which more recently have encompassed voyages of discovery, endeavour and exploration. The major outcomes of these subsequent artworks and research are exhibition based bodies of work.

James' group of linked exhibitions represent the development of research related artworks that celebrate voyages of discovery, endeavour and exploration. Using themes of diet and travel the works aim to provide a narrative and certain `Englishness' through a traditional craft approach that allows the viewer to interpret them through a combination of snippets of information and acquired knowledge.

These developing works have been shown both nationally and internationally through the following platforms: Trove (Perth Museum and Art Gallery), Breath Taking (Crafts Council travelling exhibition, various venues), The British Glass Biennale (Stourbridge), Glass 3 (Washington, USA), SOFA (New York, USA), Artomatic (Washington, USA), The International Glass Symposium (Czech Republic), Art London, Chase (The Royal College of Art, London), Recollect (London), Beautifully Crafted (installation at The Bowes Museum, Co. Durham), The National Glass Centre, The Houses of Parliament and the London Glassblowing Gallery.

Tel: +44(0)191 515 3699

james.maskrey@sunderland.ac.uk