As part of their half-term programme, Mallard Days tutor and earth scientist Hannah Wynn presented a rocks and minerals handling session at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
Hannah’s session gave members of the public the opportunity to get “up close and personal” with a range of rock and mineral specimens, both from close to home, and all around the world.
It’s amazing just how wide the variety of minerals is, and how their properties vary – even within those formed in similar conditions and in similar places in the world.
Also on show were some samples of volcanic rocks from both Iceland and the Canary Islands which Hannah had collected herself during geological expeditions.
Keep watching on the Mallard Days website for more details of our programme of outreach events over the Summer.
If you would like to have any (or all!) of the Mallard Days team at your event, please don’t hesitate to contact us at admin@mallard-days.com.
Author: Richard Hornby
Mallard Days tutor Vicky publishes her first novel
Mallard Days tutor Vicky Bending has published her first novel.
Before the Sun Fades is the tale of a traveller who stumbles across a magically concealed valley, venturing in only to find herself trapped inside… with only nine days to lift the curse or escape the valley before her light runs out.
The paperback version can be bought from Amazon or other locations listed on Vicky’s website at https://distantrealms.wordpress.com/buy-books/.
For more details on the book, head to Vicky’s website.
BRILLIANT win – in the media
Following Richard and Alison’s BRILLIANT win, we received some coverage in the North East media.
Find links to the articles below:
Durham County Council website
The Northern Echo
Living North
Evening Chronicle
Durham Advertiser (right, click for a larger image)
Durham Times
If you’ve seen any other articles about our win, please let us know!
You can find Alison’s website and blog at www.entropyglassart.com – keep checking both of our websites for updates.
Update – 19 June 2015: Sunderland University Alumni magazine
Richard and Alison win “BRILLIANT” commission for Lumiere
Richard and Alison’s “BRILLIANT” commission is one of four artworks which have been commissioned by Artichoke for the Lumiere light festival 2015.
“BRILLIANT” is a competition where anyone based in, or originally from the North East of England can apply with an idea for a light work at Lumiere Durham. A record number of applications (102) were received, and four winners were selected.
All the installations will be on show at the Lumiere fesitval in Durham, which this year takes place between 12th – 15th November 2015.
Richard Hornby and Alison Lowery
Richard and Alison met at t’ai chi classes and discovered they both had a mutual interest in science. Richard runs an Educational Consultancy business and is an enthusiastic amateur astronomer. Alison is a retired doctor who went on to study photography, video and digital imaging and glass at the University of Sunderland and runs a jewellery business from her home studio. Both have deep family roots in Durham and its mining heritage going back several generations.
Their winning idea is a work that explores the magic of refraction and the constituent parts of light that make up the rainbow, and is inspired by the UNESCO International Year of Light 2015.
The other winners are:
Louise McKenzie, a Newcastle based artist currently studying at BALTIC and Northumbria University. Her winning idea draws on her recent research into the invisible world of cyanobacteria, and promises to reveal its unearthly beauty in a work that will appeal to scientists and non-scientists alike.
Victoria MacLeod, a retired teacher from Sunderland who plans to turn a well known hobby into an eye catching light installation.
Robyn Wright, born and raised in Darlington and currently studying at Cleveland College of Art and Design. Robyn will re-invent a popular mode of transport using light, which fits perfectly with our brief to delight and surprise audiences.