Exhibition information:
Silhouettes and sunsets; quirky cheeseboards; vibrantly coloured dishes, abstract depictions of stormy seas, stripy sailing boats. This year my focus is very much on the combination of glass fusing with other media and techniques. This has taken me in 2 directions: - experimenting with elements of the earth such as slate, metals, wood and natural textiles such as cottons and calico to create abstract pieces of functional and decorative art, and upcycling materials, primarily glass bottles, to reduce the exploitation of earth elements and enjoy the quirkiness involved in making something new from an existing object.
I approach my art in a spirit of discovery and experimentation, with light, colour and the natural world of gardens and meadows, rough seas, fire and sunsets at the heart of my inspiration. I love designing pieces which are both functional and aesthetically pleasing: discovering and developing new techniques involving chemical reactions as glasses and metals come into contact; combining vibrant blues and aquamarines, or fiery reds; and the shaping and moulding of glass pieces to add to their complexity and interest.
The ultimate pleasure is the knowledge that somewhere, someone will be enjoying the dynamic colours and shape of their piece as it catches the sunlight.
My exhibition for Oxfordshire Artweeks will be displayed within a beautiful garden near Summertown (where there will be coffee and cake!).
Anita Ruiz is a a glass artist with strong links to Oxford. She has been fusing and engraving glass for 10 years and is now enjoying combining glass with other media such as slate, wood and textiles to create highly original and unique pieces of art.