Crafthouse celebrates Scotland's craft culture
Crafthouse is a new exhibition at The Briggait in Glasgow, featuring work from ten Scotland-based designers and makers
Glasgow-based glass artist Cressa McLaren is the curator of Crafthouse, an exhibition celebrating contemporary craft for the home. From her studio at The Briggait, McLaren produces a range of distinctive designs including tableware, lighting and a collection of work entitled Glass Meadows. After years of exhibiting in galleries, solo shows and open studios, she decided to showcase her work alongside other Scottish designers in a domestic inspired setting that allows audiences to connect with individual pieces in an accessible format.
Presented in collaboration with Wasps, in two gallery showrooms, Crafthouse hosts a variety of work from decorative glassware to pottery, textiles, lighting and furniture from nine other makers based across Scotland. Each piece is bespoke and handmade and focuses on contemporary craft. In addition to McLaren’s works in glass, inspired by a lifelong passion for flowers, are vibrant and colourful pieces by furniture-makers Richard Owen, Gvido Bolsevics, Stuart Campbell and No Comply; lighting by Stephen Finch; hand-thrown vessels and planters by ceramicists Ceri White and Andy Priestman, homewares by textile designer Chantal Balmer and decorative and functional tufted works by Laura Derby of Rugaura.
Cressa McLaren says: “I have a real passion, love and appreciation for high-end craft. This exhibition will highlight and celebrate craft-makers from across Scotland. With Crafthouse I want to focus on contemporary makers and provide a platform to showcase the wide variety and high quality of current craft production. By presenting the works together I hope to raise awareness of this talent and create a vision of how contemporary craft can look in an interior setting.”
All of the work is for sale and many pieces can be viewed online at Wasps, including a table made from a salvaged elm tree by Gvido Bolsevics; a unique hand-tufted wool pile runner that has been carved to enhance its surface texture by Laura Derby; a selection of objects by No Comply crafted from broken, disused skateboards; and heirloom quality throws handwoven by Warped Textiles.
Find Crafthouse at The Briggait until 18 Oct, Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm. For more information, visit waspsstudios.org.uk