I have been working in glass for over twenty years and two elements I consistently investigate are the ability of glass to capture, focus and transmit light and the dynamic relationships between architectural space, form and colour. The foundation for the work comes directly from the tradition of object making that has its origins in crafts practice. Design is an important aspect of this dialogue as it serves as a backbone that underpins aspects of the working methodology. Design is an integral element of thinking through the process from beginning to end. Glass can be a pretty unforgiving medium and with casting, failure is a potential. I think that design helps the work to ‘succeed’ on different levels. The work must not only make it through the casting and cold working stages of studio production, the finished objects must stand on their own, and not rely upon the enticing nature of glass as a measure of achievement. I think that having an awareness of design has made me a more sensitive maker and though my use of it is abstracted, design has helped me bridge aspects of form, process, composition and technical resolution harmoniously.

Richard Whiteley is an artist who began working with glass, as an apprentice for a stained glass company, when he was sixteen. Over the years he has developed an internationally recognised practice focusing on cast glass and he currently works out of Queanbeyan, NSW. His work is exhibited internationally and is held in corporate and public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Powerhouse Museum, as well as significant private collections around the world. Richard is the Head of Glass Workshop at the School of Art, Australian National University --the same program from which he received his Bachelor of Visual Arts degree. He also has a Masters of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He maintains an active role within the wider crafts and design community: he is a past member of the Glass Art Society board and he served as president for Object, Australian Centre for Craft and Design from 2000 - 2002. Richard is invited regularly to teach and lecture by international organisations such as Pilchuck Glass School, USA; Corning Glass Studio, USA; the Glass Art Society and Northlands Creative Glass, Scotland.

>>>