Dead Pools

2025

Kiln formed cast glass, copper tube, brass & steel wire

H450 x W760 x D10mm

Dead Pools explore issues related to the containment of water, and our attempts to assert control over fresh water bodies for human purposes. Kiln formed cast glass is used to consider damming, the redirecting or altering the natural flow of water. A disruption of a natural resource which leads to impacts on the environment and ecosystems.

The merging of glasses into black rings reference water quality, or polluted still water from lack of flow and the build up of sediment. Also, when observing a reservoir terrain with low water levels during drought, the land boundaries present markings, or perimeter rings, similar to dirty water marks contained in a bathtub when drained.

My approach to make this work was to think like water, or think like liquid glass, to control any leaks in the kiln but not knowing where the glass would flow. Working with more sustainable methods; the glass is fired quickly, melting into shallow casts for a short annealing time, and loosely containing the glass melt using interchangeable refractory walls that can be re-used and re-fired to make future works.

Showing now RAMP GALLERY - Critical Mass, a group exhibition placing environmental challenges at its centre.