The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site is known internationally as the Birthplace of Industry and was once the home to world-famous companies producing high-quality decorative products including Coalport China, Coalbrookdale ironwork and Maws tiles. Inspired by this rich heritage and following more than a decade of investment in the Ironbridge Gorge Museums by major funders including the European Regional Development Fund, Advantage West Midlands, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council, the creative industries are once again thriving in the Ironbridge Gorge.
A good example of this excitement and energy is a current exhibition by two of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s most successful creative tenants who have collaborated on a new venture, Glass and Stone, running until 31st May at the Footprint Gallery in the new Fusion Building at Jackfield Tile Museum. Open daily from 10am to 5pm, this free to enter display features contemporary works by glass artist Nikki Williams and stone sculptor Malcolm Sier.
Working with hot molten glass, Nikki can never take for granted that it will behave exactly as she would like. Her inspiration comes from both the material itself and the natural world but she is also greatly enthused by architecture, negative space, line and emotional responses. The majority of Malcolm’s work involves producing individually designed and commissioned pieces. Each has specific demands providing him with the opportunity to respond to a new situation and create something unique. He also develops his own independent pieces.
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