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Dr Kevin Petrie MA(RCA),
Research Lecturer in Ceramics and Glass,
The Institute for International Research in Glass,
University of Sunderland,
The National Glass Centre,
Liberty Way,
Sunderland,
UK.
Tel 0191 515 2126
Fax 0191 515 2103
e-mail kevin.petrie@sunderland.ac.uk
This paper will reflect on the value of practice based research in Art and Design both for the individual and the wider community. Case Studies from the field of Glass and Ceramics will be given; including Kevin Petrie's PhD and a range of research projects undertaken by the Institute for International Research in Glass (IIRG) at Sunderland University.
The paper commences with a discussion of Kevin Petrie's practice based PhD research, "Water-based Ceramic transfer printing - The Development and Creative use of a new on-glase screenprinting system". The research problem, methods, results, and evaluation of this project will be outlined. Examples of how the project was valuable both for Kevin's professional development and for the wider research field will be given. The later will cover the use of the new process by artists on an international scale and its potential as a decoration process for other substrates such as enamel.
The value of selected research projects undertaken by the Institute for International Research in Glass (IIRG), Sunderland University will then be outlined. This will cover a range of approaches to research in Glass, including the exploration of the use of the largest glass forming kiln in Europe, The benefits of liaison between artists and industry in Swedish Glass, and the use of Hot Glass in public art. The work of three PhD students in Ceramics and Glass at Sunderland University will also be outlined. Methods to disseminate the research activities of IIRG to a wider audience through a new and developing web site will be illustrated.
The presentation will conclude with an argument for the value of collaboration and co-operation in the development and funding of new practice based research. This will focus on the research project 'Paper Glass' developed by Christina Kirk MA(RCA), Head of Glass at Sunderland University, in collaboration with Kevin Petrie. The industrial collaboration involved in this project and the development of allied PhD research will be described.