Tag Archives: Dr Ayako Tani

Save the National Glass Centre News and Updates July 2024

Hello everyone,

It has now officially been a year since the public meeting in June 2023 when we managed to pull together an A team of people to fight to save the National Glass Centre and all it embodies. I just want to take a moment to thank every single one of you for your ongoing hard work, hope and solidarity. I definitely would not have gotten this far without you all!

Tonight at the meeting we will look at the business plan, talk about Summer Streets, and update everyone about the letter writing campaign. 

Next in-person meeting:
Tuesday 2nd July 2024 6.30pm to 8pm 

At our new venue: 

Redby Community Centre, Fulwell Rd, Roker, Sunderland SR6 9QU

Save the National Glass Centre

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News
Summer Streets

Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July 

10am set up 7.30pm take down we will need some hands to help man the tent and raise awareness for the cause including getting lots of petitions signed!

https://www.summerstreetsfestival.com/

Vessels of Memory

Dive into the history of glass ships in bottles – the changing identity of a post-industrial northern city as told through the eyes of Japanese glass artist Ayako Tani, who is preserving the endangered art of sculpting the hand-crafted glass ships which once put Sunderland on the map.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020h9y

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Thursday June 20, 2024 | by Emma Park

SPECIAL REPORT: The Battle to Save the National Glass Centre

https://urbanglass.org/glass/detail/special-feature-saving-the-national-glass-centre

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We need you – Save the National Glass Centre

We have put a call out for more people to get involved with the campaign. If you really want to save the National Glass Centre we are going to need more commitment, and people to help. Please share with those who you think can help!

We need you – Save the National Glass Centre

If everyone could follow, like, and share the content it will have more impact.

These are our social media accounts:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095647892577   Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/savethenationalglasscentre/  Instagram

https://www.youtube.com/@SavetheNationalGlassCentre/videos   YouTube

https://twitter.com/SaveTheNGC  Twitter

See you at the next meeting!

All the best 

Jo 

Save the National Glass Centre Campaign

Vessels of Memory

A BBC radio documentary about glass ships in bottles. Dr Ayako Tani takes us through the decline of traditional glassmaking skills.

BBC Vessels of memory

Dive into the history of glass ships in bottles – the changing identity of a post-industrial northern city as told through the eyes of Japanese glass artist Ayako Tani, who is preserving the endangered art of sculpting the hand-crafted glass ships which once put Sunderland on the map.

Following industrial decline in the 1970s and the closure of the Pyrex factory, many of Sunderland’s newly redundant scientific glassblowers turned their talents to giftware, and from the ashes of a former glassblowing empire this new booming practice emerged. But today, scientific glassblowing is considered an endangered craft, and with Sunderland’s own National Glass Centre now facing imminent closure, the art of glass is once again under strain.

After arriving from Tokyo in 2006 to Sunderland, a city famous for its all-but-lost legacies of shipbuilding and glassblowing, Ayako discovered a passion for documenting the history of glass ships in bottles. Vessels of Memory follows Ayako’s journey of discovery, learning from Sunderland’s now mostly retired glassworkers and engineers who once pioneered these ornamental giftware ships sold worldwide. 

Ayako was inspired to research and recreate her own glass ships in bottles, and keep the memory of this once booming industry alive. Hear the deconstruction of a glass ship in bottle, as Ayako guides you through experiences that have shaped her journey exploring and learning this fragile, endangered heritage, alongside those who taught and inspired her.

Featuring the voices of Keith Clark, Catherine Forsyth, Zoë Garner, Keith Hartley, Jo Howell, Brian Jones, James Maskrey, Joseph Percy, Christine Sinclair, Ayako Tani, Andy Thompson, and Norman Veitch.

Producer: Jay Sykes
A Sister Sounds production for BBC Radio 4