THE GRANGE WORKSHOP
The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities provides vital services supporting people with learning disabilities to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
At The Grange they believe everyone is different but everyone has potential and our support workers have seen people learn to cook, improve their communication, get a work placement, paid work or even move into independent living in the community.
MY COMMISSION
I orchestrated the creation of a series of glass artworks, now adorning a sensory garden at The Grange in Bookham. At the heart of this garden stands a tree adorned with individual fused glass leaves. These unique pieces were crafted by the clients at The Grange in a series of on-site fused glass workshops.
The garden's second element showcases distinctive stained glass panels, each housing glass pictures crafted by the clients during workshops at The Grange. Taking these glass artworks, I led the process of incorporating them into waterproof structures seamlessly integrated into the sensory garden.
To ensure a smooth execution, I initially conducted a workshop at my studio, equipping tutors with the knowledge of stained and fused glass. These trained tutors then provided support during glass workshop days held at The Grange.
Following this training phase, I spent three full days at The Grange, setting up a fused glass workshop for the clients. Armed with all the necessary glass and equipment, the workshops welcomed all members of The Grange, each creating a unique small glass picture. Guided by me and the trained tutors, the workshops addressed the diverse needs of the residents, ensuring the creation of distinctive artworks. I then took the crafted items to fuse them in my kiln at the studio.
The resulting glass creations now serve as both sun catchers, enhancing the beauty of the tree in the garden, and integral components of the stained-glass panels that contribute to the overall charm of the sensory garden.
