Made in Scotland from... glass? Thurso artist puts Irn Bru in the window at Glasgow exhibition
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Thurso artist Ian Pearson’s works may be made from glass rather than girders, but that didn’t stop him incorporating Irn Bru into a new prize piece.
The glass artist is no stranger to winning awards over his 55-year career, but he says he was taken aback to learn that he had won the “Peoples Prize” for his work in a Glasgow exhibition.
The show was organised by the Scottish Glass Society and took place at the Trades Hall in Merchant City area of the city, with the theme of “National Icons”.
The theme was inspired by the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Forty-seven works of art by 23 glass artists took part with their own interpretation of the theme.
Ian, who reckons art should be fun, said: “I wanted to incorporate symbols that are instantly recognisable as being Scottish.”
He chose to blend his glass with cans of Irn Bru and Tunnock’s Teacakes whilst also creating a sculpture making use of the images of the Loch Ness Monster, in a piece called Circle of Life, Nessie Style.
Catherine Lowe, chairwoman of the Scottish Glass Society, said: “Ian’s entries were quirky and fun and the many visitors who came appreciated his work.”
Although the exhibition has now closed the glass art can still be viewed by visiting the exhibition on-line at https://scottishglasssociety.com/online-exhibition/national-icons
More of Ian’s work can be seen at the North Coast Visitor Centre in Thurso, where the gallery is currently showing an exhibition titled “Change”. The exhibition is free to visit and open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
