NGR 44 Front Cover

Latest News

Breaking Boundaries: Gayle Matthias and Jason McAnuff Shine in ‘New Glass Review 44’

Arts University Plymouth celebrates the achievements of Gayle Matthias and Jason McAnuff, featured in New Glass Review 44 for their innovative glass art.
<p><a href="https://info.cmog.org/publication/new-glass-review-44" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘New Glass Review 44’</a> showcases the 100 most innovative projects in glass from over 2,000 submissions worldwide. This year, Senior Lecturer and internationally renowned glass artist <strong>Gayle Matthias</strong>, alongside alumnus <strong>Jason McAnuff</strong>, received recognition for their remarkable contributions to contemporary glassmaking.</p>
Far left Jason and Gayle at the Glass Virus event in Berlin

Far left - Jason McAnuff and Gayle Matthias at the The Glass Virus: On the Hybrid II event in Berlin, Germany

<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gayle.matthias/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gayle Matthias</a>, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undefined/ba-hons-craft-material-practices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a> at Arts University Plymouth, was featured for her collaborative piece <em>Clean-Up-Workers XIII (Deluxe Series)</em>. This work, crafted from blown and mirrored glass, bronze, and found objects, critiques environmental pollution. The piece symbolises human lungs polluted by harmful substances, emphasizing the fragility of our environment and the effects of industrial processes such as glassblowing.<br /></p>
Clean-up-workers-XIII-Deluxe-Series-1-Gayle-Matthias

'Clean up workers XIII Deluxe Series 1' by Gayle Matthias

New Glass Review is a prestigious annual review of international glass. I enter this competition every year and this is the fifth time that my work has been selected. I’m proud to say that this year my work is featured alongside that of one of our talented graduates, Jason McAnuff.
Gayle Matthias
<p><strong>Alpesh Kantilal Patel</strong>, one of the curators of ‘New Glass Review 44’, selected Gayle's work for inclusion in the journal.</p>
At first glance… ‘Clean-Up-Workers XIII (Deluxe Series)’ resembles a vacuum cleaner consisting of blown and mirrored glass and a medley of found objects—even car parts. However, it is meant to be a stand-in for a human lung, replete with the harmful substances of our increasingly polluted air.
Alpesh Kantilal Patel
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jasonmcanuffglass/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jason McAnuff</a>, who graduated in 2021 with a degree in <strong>BA (Hons) Ceramics &amp; Glass</strong> (now <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undefined/ba-hons-craft-material-practices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</strong></a>), was selected for his work ‘Inner Sanctuary’. Combining blown glass and polyurethane foam, the piece explores the idea of a mental space where individuals can regroup, rebuild confidence, and take risks, even when those risks expose vulnerabilities.<br /></p>
The inspiration for this piece came from thinking about the idea of having an inner sanctuary, a place to regroup, reinvigorate, and use as a confidence-building launchpad into taking more risks. Even if those risks open up new vulnerabilities or expose fragile areas.
Jason McAnuff
Jason-Mcanuff-glass-workshop-arts-uni-plym

Jason McAnuff working at Arts University Plymouth in 2021

<p>Jason continues to contribute to the glassmaking community as a glassblower at the <strong>National Glass Centre</strong> in Sunderland, sharing his passion through public demonstrations and workshops. His work exemplifies how Arts University Plymouth equips students to excel in creative industries by blending traditional craft techniques with innovative practices like CAD and digital design. His work was also recently selected for the British Glass Biennial that formed part of the International Glass Festival, West Midlands UK.</p>
Jason Mcanuff 1

Jason McAnuff working with hot glass at Arts University Plymouth

<p dir="ltr">Gayle and Jason’s ongoing collaboration extends beyond their artistic practices. In May 2024, they joined over 1,000 glass enthusiasts in Berlin, Germany, for the <strong>2024 GAS Conference</strong>, which introduced new programming such as the Midday Interactive Programming and the Green Pavilion.</p> <p dir="ltr">As part of the conference, Gayle and Jason co-facilitated <strong>The Glass Virus: On the Hybrid II</strong>, an education panel exploring the concept of hybrid creative practices. This think tank emphasized the evolving roles of educators and artists, fostering collaboration through workshops and panel-led discussions. The Glass Virus was founded by Jens Pfeiffer at the Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam.</p> <p dir="ltr">Participants engaged in activities focused on rethinking education, including exploring the impact of generative AI on creative practice. Jason presented examples from his own use of AI tools, highlighting how they can drive innovation and expand creative possibilities. Gayle and Jason’s involvement demonstrated how hybrid methodologies can reshape both artistic practices and educational strategies, ensuring a dynamic future for glass art. <br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Our<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undefined/ba-hons-craft-material-practices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> <strong>BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</strong></a> fosters innovation by combining traditional techniques like kiln-formed glass and ceramics with cutting-edge methods such as digital fabrication.</p> <p dir="ltr">Students gain hands-on experience through industry-standard workshops, live briefs, and collaborations with organizations like <strong>The Box</strong>, <strong>MAKE Southwest</strong>, and <strong>New Designers</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Why Choose Arts University Plymouth?</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Explore diverse material practices, including hot glassmaking, woodworking, and smart materials.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Access state-of-the-art facilities like the <strong>Fab Lab</strong> for laser cutting, CNC milling, and 3D printing.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Learn from industry leaders and internationally recognised academics like Gayle Matthias.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Join a global community of makers through events like the <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/research/supported-projects/making-futures">Making Futures conference</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/looking-back-on-melting-pot-hot-glass-gathering">Melting Pot symposium</a></strong>.</p></li></ul> <p dir="ltr">This transformative program equips graduates like Jason McAnuff to thrive in the rapidly changing craft and design industries, making them sought-after contributors on both local and international stages.<br /></p>
Left Jason Mcanuff Right Colin Wilkes Crafts 2019 grad 1

Left Jason Mcanuff, 2019 grad, Right Colin Wilkes, crafts technician

<p dir="ltr">Whether you’re inspired by Gayle Matthias’s visionary collaborations or Jason McAnuff’s explorations of materiality and narrative, Arts University Plymouth offers a creative environment where talent flourishes. Discover how the <strong>BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</strong> course can help you forge a path to success.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undefined/ba-hons-craft-material-practices">Find out more about BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a><br /></p>