Durham Cathedral

Just delivered lots of glass to the New Cathedral Shop

Christmas Trees, Snowmen, Bowls, Pictures and Plates.  Its a fabulous venue, recently refurbished and well worth a visit.

Thank You

Durham Cathedral

Northern Echo

What a dish

An artist with a heart of glass is creating unique centrepieces for the home. Rachel meek reports.

Janet Rogers with one of the extreme glass platters

SOME artists will go to extreme lengths to sate their creative appetite: Janet Rogers is serving up her latest offering on a platter – 3ft long and made of sparkling glass.

Janet, who runs the Crushed Chilli gallery in South Street, Durham, has recognised that more people entertain at home nowadays and wanted to create a talking point. And when they are not impressing friends and neighbours, the platters can be wall-mounted as an artistic installation.

“I like big and chunky, I like art to have a presence,” says Janet. “The platters are the biggest things I have ever created for the home and as far as I know, I am the first to do this.”

Extreme platters can be made in any colour and any size to match interior decor. They are constructed using fibreboard which is cut into various shapes and sizes to create moulds for the glass.

One of Janet Rogers glass designs

Glass is placed on top of the fibreboard where it takes the form of the mould when heated. Each platter takes half a day for Janet to design and form before it is fired in the kiln for 24 hours.

“It is very rewarding when it comes out because it is such a big piece of glass. There’s also a sense of relief as you are never quite sure how it is going to turn out,” says Janet. “Once it is cleaned up and starts to shine and sparkle all the work seems worthwhile.”

Janet’s love of glass runs deep and continues a family tradition – her great grandmother worked for years at the Gateshead glass works, which were famous for producing cloud, pearline, and pressed glass.

“I have always loved glass and have grown up with it,” she recalls.

“But the real interest started when I needed a new stained glass panel for the front door. I decided to make it myself and have never looked back since.”

Some stunning glass panelling in Janet's gallery

Janet bought her first kiln in 2004 and started producing stunning creations which soon became noticed by glass lovers around the country.

“I couldn’t believe it when I received a phone call to ask if I could design a piece of glass for a Grand Designs house. I was over the moon,” she says.

The house, featured in the popular television series, was in Derbyshire and belonged to the artist Paul Fryers, who has worked with Damien Hurst and has an interest in electricity pylons, which he wanted featuring in the design. The glass creation was six feet long, featured vibrant colours and took a prominent position in the hallway.

“As an artist, Paul was very specific about what he wanted,” she says.

“When he said he loved it, I was delighted.”

Another unexpected call Janet received was from broadcaster and former politician Michael Portillo, who commissioned a damaskstyle piece of glass for one of the windows in his home. His London house was previously occupied by wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

“It is incredible to think that my work is hanging in such a historic home,” she says. “I was honoured to do that work. I actually installed it myself, which made it even more special.”

Specialising in abstract, contemporary stained and fused glass and the exquisite Pate de Verre, Janet has now completed many individually commissioned pieces. Her work is also in demand overseas and she is currently working on a project that will be shipped to the US.

Janet has also just completed her biggest challenge to date in replacing the glass dome in the council chambers atSpennymoor Town Hall. “As a local artist, I was delighted they asked me to do the work,”

she says. “It is a wonderful feeling knowing that my work is now part of the town hall and that it will be there for the next 100 years.”

The dome took four weeks to complete, with Janet replacing 16 stained glass windows. “I was also asked to replace the town hall clock face which was quite a challenge because it meant climbing up scaffolding to do the work.”

Janet is currently sharing her love of glass with the community, working with students in local schools, offering an insight into her art.

“I am going to be showing GCSE students at Durham School how to make a stained glass panel which they will submit as part of their exams,” she says.

She also stages master classes in her gallery covering the intricacies of stained and fused glass manufacturing.

As the commissions continue to flow, it is hard to predict what Janet’s next big project might be – but the one thing that is crystal clear is that it will definitely involve some form of glass.

Recycled Electrical Tower Insulator Bowls

Insulator Bowls

15cm - 43cm

All individual recycled Insulators from the de commissioning of North London

Electrical Tower.

Hand Forged Legs with Fused Glass Top

Bespoke hand forged steel legs with 45cm fused glass top

£320  SOLD

Fused Glass Workshop 13th October 2012

Fused Glass Workshop

Saturday 13th October 2012  £110 ppp

1 Day - 10am to 4pm  Maximum 4 Students

at the Crushed Chilli Gallery, South Street, Durham DH1 1QP

The workshop is limited to 4 which will allow plenty of time for tuition and space for a wide choice of glass and materials

To book email janet@crushedchilli.co.uk or
Telephone 0191 3750644

A full and enjoyable day, trying different techniques using Bullseye glass, such as frit, powder and stringers.  You finish this class with a choice of two of the following....slumped plate, four coasters or window wave.

The process you will be using is sifting, manipulating layers of glass and experimenting with colour and application stenciling.

Glass cutting experience is helpful, but not required.

All Materials and lunch is included, simply turn up wearing sturdy shoes (no open toes) and old clothes.

Something you will be proud of and have lots of fun doing.

Summer Preview 5th August 2pm - 5pm

Summer Preview

We're having a bit of a doo

Sunday 5th August

2pm till 5pm

Wine and Canapes

Tea and Cake

Lots of new work on show from new and original artists.

The solo wall will be featuring 

Bernie Wisniewski

Hand made leather work from 

Harriet Sanders

Tim Foxall wooden servers

Deryn Relph knitted textiles 

Janet Rogers Extreme Platters

to name but a few

Guaranteed a sunny day

we would love to see you and your friends...

Oxclose Primary School Glass Panel

Finished panel of fused glass tiles made by children from Oxclose Primary School.

A day at Oxclose Nursery School

What a day, 78 children...aged 3-4 years old and glass! "Its real glass!" said one little boy..

We had a fabulous day making glass tiles and badges.  The tiles will be exhibited in the main area of Oxclose Nursery School.  The children will be taking the glass badges home.  Everyone  had a great day and lots of help from enthusiastic staff.

Extreme Platters Unique Service Ware

A UNIQUE piece of glass is being served up to art-lovers

A Pioneering design for extreme platters, which double up as serving ware and works of art.

Three feet long and fashioned from beautiful glass, the bespoke creations can form the centrepiece of a table of goodies, and when not in use hang resplendent on the wall.

Nowadays so many people entertain at home and I wanted to create something that could be used practically in the home but also had the wow factor as a piece of art.

They can be a real talking point when friends are round.

I like big and chunky as I like them to have presence. This is the biggest thing I have ever made for the home and as far as I know I am the first to do this.

The extreme platters can be made in any colour to match interior décor. They are constructed using fibreboard cut into various shapes and sizes to create moulds for the glass making each platter totally individually, numbered and signed.

The extreme platters are available to buy from £150 and can be viewed in the Crushed Chilli gallery and glass studio.

Stained Glass Workshop 4th August 2012

Stained Glass Workshop 

Saturday 4th August 2012 £110 pp

1 day – 10am to 4pm  Maximum 4 students

The workshop is limited to 4 which will allows plenty of time for tuition and space for a wide choice of glass and materials

Crushed Chilli Gallery, South Street, Durham DH1 4QP  

To book email  Janet@crushedchilli.co.uk or 

Telephone 0191-375 0644

A full and enjoyable day making a stained glass panel from scratch with a choice of pre prepared cartoons. Cutting glass to a stained glass pattern, cutting and shaping lead came, soldering, cementing and polishing. You will complete a stained glass panel by the end of the class.

Glass cutting experience is helpful, but not required.

All materials are included, simply turn up wearing sturdy shoes (no open toes) and old clothes.

The panel you will make will be approximately 30x30cm

Fused Glass Workshop 28th July 2012

Fused Glass Workshop 

Saturday 28th July 2012 £110 pp

1 day – 10am to 4pm  Maximum 4 students

The workshop is limited to 4 which will allows plenty of time for tuition and space for a wide choice of glass and materials

Crushed Chilli Gallery, South Street, Durham DH1 4QP  

To book email  Janet@crushedchilli.co.uk or 

Telephone 0191-375 0644

A full and enjoyable day, trying different techniques using Bullseye glass, such as frit, powder and stringers.  You will finish this class with a slumped plate and four coasters.

The process you will be using is sifting, manipulating layers of glass and experimenting with colour and application stenciling.

Glass cutting experience is helpful, but not required.

All materials are included, simply turn up wearing sturdy shoes (no open toes) and old clothes

Something you will be proud of and have lots of fun doing.

Fused Glass Commission CAT

CRUSHED CHILLI GALLERY: Durham School Student Stained Glass Workshop

CRUSHED CHILLI GALLERY: Durham School Student Stained Glass Workshop: Just completed a full day with students from Durham School.  We made stained glass panels from start (cartoon) to finish.  Everyone had a gr...

Durham School Student Stained Glass Workshop

Just completed a full day with students from Durham School.  We made stained glass panels from start (cartoon) to finish.  Everyone had a great day although very busy! All panels were completed on the day to take home.  Must say all pupils were exceptionally polite and well behaved.  A credit to Durham School.

Fused Glass Workshop at Crushed Chilli in Durham

We had a fab day Saturday at the Gallery.  A full day workshop in fusing glass.  We used..frit, powder, stencil's, chalk, enamels, stringers, fusing paper, actually everything on the shelves!  Each made a plate and four coasters in various designs.  Work ready for collection on Wednesday.

Spennymoor Town Hall Art Event

This is where it's Art....exhibition this weekend at Spennymoor Town Hall. Fab time made loads of coasters and suncatchers.


They will be available for collection from the Gallery in the Town Hall from Tuesday onwards.

Another Stained Glass Workshop 7th July 2012

Halfords Bike Race. Durham

Starts tonight at 7pm!

David Hockney The Arrival of Spring

Recent commission

Fused Glass Workshops for June

A great day out or a fab gift for someone who has everything!

Crushed Chilli Gallery, Durham City

Biscuit Factory Summer Exhibition.  Pate de Verre and Crackle Glass

New work for the Biscuit Factory.  Pate de Verre and Crackle Glass.

Dedication of new font

16/04/2012

Yesterday morning (Sunday 15th April) a new font was dedicated during the morning Communion Service at St John's Church Neville's Cross by Revd Barnaby Huish. St John's was able to commission the font after being left a bequest for a work of art by Margaret Rodgers.

The font was designed and made in glass by Janet Rogers who is based in the Crushed Chilli Gallery, South Street, Durham.

Janet, who joined the congregation for the service of dedication, said, "I am so pleased to have been given the commission to design and manufacture this Font. It is unlike anything I have ever done before, the design incorporates the holy trinity three crosses and fishes; bright vibrant and colourful to express the bold style in which I work."

Photographs by Janet Rogers and Ruth Jagger

Vintage!

Handmade glass by Janet in a vintage drinks trolley.

Hand blown glass

Just delivered by Christine Keers. Beautiful hand blown glass, which is then sand blasted. So tactile!

Durham Cathderal

As you've never seen it before!
A new piece from Janet Rogers.

New!

New exhibits and new layout in the Gallery.

Accents

A range of jewellery available from Tuesday by Christine Warren, along with two other designs, Möbius and Leaf.

Baz the cat.

Bronze resin sculpture on display from Tuesday, with several of his friends. By Christine Baxter.

Blown glass

Various items on display from next Tuesday, by local artist, Christine Keers.

Hug!

Everyone needs one, or more.
By Helen Russell of Mercury Arts.

New work arriving everyday!

Mixed media paintings by Leanne Mullen