Eye on the Prize

Above: Crocodile Tears by Carmen Lozar

We awarded a few prizes for the One World One Heart participants this week and that was FUN! Its always feels good to share our work and also make friends. Thank you again to everyone who has come by to join us and see what were all about!

Heres another prize that everyone can start working towards...if you're into glass. Its the Bombay Sapphire Prize. The Bombay Sapphire Foundation (yes, were talking about delicious gin!) was established in 2001 to recognize, encourage and award the very best in contemproary design and, in particular, glass design.

Above: Agnus Dei by Judith Schaechter

Above: artist unknown

Above: Furniture Life by Gitta Gschwendtner

Above: Dairy House by Charlotte Skene Catling

This competition is open to designers, artists and architects. It tours around for the year, and then they start the competition all over again. Entering competitions is a really good way for emerging artists to get their names out there. If you think you don't have what it takes, why not? Using their guidelines, you can push yourself to think in another way than you usually do. Even if you decide not to enter, you can use it as a practice run on your own. When I run out of ideas, or need to think outside the box, I always open up an Art Magazine and head to the back where they list the monthly call for artists or competitions. They always have a new theme like "from water to land" or "the great purple idea". These random themes and ideas can lead to something new in your own work.

Above: One Liners by Tavs Jorgensen

Even if you dont use glass in your artwork, you can still certainly enjoy what everyone has brought to the competition. I love when I can discover new artists that seem to crawl out of the woodwork when things like this come around.

Above: Aladdin by Stuart Haygarth

Heres a snippet from the Foundation website:
The members of the Foundation include leading international designers and some of the world’s most respected figures from the glass and design industry.

Bombay Sapphire began its association with the world of design in the 1990s when internationally acclaimed designers first created their versions of the ultimate martini cocktail glass inspired by Bombay Sapphire.

To support and reward excellence in glass design, the Bombay Sapphire Foundation launched an international glass design award - the Bombay Sapphire Prize – in 2002.

Above: Capacity by Annie Cattrell

Glass is an exciting and versatile material that, in many shapes and forms, surrounds us every day. As the biggest international glass award, the Bombay Sapphire Prize celebrates the achievements of international artists, designers and architects who work with this challenging material to create stunning results.

Above: Lace by Joanna Manousis

The award recognises innovation and excellence in the use of glass with the winner receiving £20,000 and the best newcomer receiving £5,000.
The inspiring work of the finalists in the Bombay Sapphire Prize are toured each year to exhibitions, galleries and museums worldwide to highlight the importance of glass in contemporary living.

Have YOU entered any competitions?

Did it make you stretch your imagination, or was it right up your alley?

Was there a prize?

Tell us about it!