Student fires winner with glass bow

From left, Kathryn Wightman, Nigel Jones, Katherine Robinson and Matt Doyle with Ms Robinson's work, Bow. Photo by Stuart Munro.

A BOW made of hundreds of glass circles is the winner of this year's Doyle Award.

The work, simply called Bow, was made by third-year Diploma in Glass Design and Production student, Katherine Robinson.

Matt Doyle, from Doyle & Associates, said his firm had been sponsoring the award for about 10 years. Its future is unsure, due to the uncertain future for the Wanganui Glass School.

The Doyle Award is an acquisition award, which means the firm buys the winning work and displays it prominently in its Taupo Quay office.

The Doyle Award is always given for a piece of glass.

"We're located near UCOL, and we love the atmosphere of having the students nearby.

The Doyle Award is a form of community service," Mr Doyle said.

The winning piece was usually chosen by staff from Doyle & Associates, he said.

Ms Robinson is set to graduate shortly and hopes to become a professional glass artist.

She said Bow was made using a variety of hot glass and kiln-formed techniques and was, she said, "the sort of thing you could only make at art school".

She first made a long tube of glass, then cut it into circles and shaped it using heat.

"It took about three weeks to make, but about two years to plan," Ms Robinson said.

She said she was delighted to have won the Doyle Award.

Wanganui Glass School tutor Nigel Jones said the award was extremely valuable and open to all graduating glass students.

"They get quite excited when the application forms arrive," Mr Jones said.