Sarah's work wins awards
Sarah McEvoy, who specialises in the innovative art of glass fusing, won three top prizes at the RDS National Crafts Exhibition with her work.
AWARD winning artist Sarah McEvoy celebrated scooping three top prizes at the RDS National Crafts Exhibition. Sarah (22) from Mount pleasant specialises in unique glass designs and recently graduated from the National College of Art and Design Dublin with a Joint Honors Degree in History of Art & Design and Craft Design. 'Students from NACD exhibit their work at the end of the course, so I was delighted to take part. But I really never expected to win anything' said Sarah.
The former Marist student was awarded the RDS Craft Awards Graduate Prize, the Glass Society of Ireland Award and the National Craft Awards First Prize in the Glass Category.
She explained that her exhibition was a series of 'fused glass wall hangings' a new technique which she had developed when working with glass artists in the US.
'In 2009 I took part in an international student exchange programme, travelling to the Southern Illinois University where I was lucky to take part in a glass painting masterclass with specialist Cappy Thompson.'
It was in Illinois that Sarah honed her skills in the innovative art of glass fusing, a technique that caught the eye of the judges at the RDS Craft awards.
'I know that using glass in this way is very new in Ireland, as I haven't really seen it done elsewhere but in the States.'
Sarah, who also won the 2010 Craft Council of Ireland's 'Future Makers' Award for Residency and Training has set up her own workshop in North Louth.
'I completed 11 pieces in total for the exhibition and was delighted that some of them were bought by the Office of Public Works.'
She added that her unusual techniques vary from other glass designs which are normally clear cut and see through
'At the moment I'm working for myself and really enjoying being my own boss, and trying out new approaches to glass design.'
- To view examples of Sarah's work check out her website www.sarahmcevoyglass.com