Touch of glass for society offices

Jul 5 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

THESE stunning new pieces of glasswork have just been installed at the recently opened offices of the Newcastle Building Society.

Glass artists Jessamy Kelly and Joanne Mitchell were commissioned by the society to bring artistic touches to the Cobalt Business Park building.

Their business Juo captured parts of the beach at Whitley Bay, before returning to their studio at Sunderland’s National Glass Centre to hand-craft the finished wall mounted panels.

The pieces are being displayed in an area occupied by Newcastle Strategic Solutions Teams, which processes savings accounts for the UK brand Icesave on behalf of Icelandic bank Landsbanki.

A range of work has been commissioned by the society, in conjunction with the Sponsors Club for Arts & Business, to a selection of North East artists who are working on pieces for different parts of the Cobalt building.

Jessamy Kelly said: “The designs come directly from nature inspired by the play of light and shadow on a coastal landscape, subtly seen through the interplay of light and dark shadows.”

Jessamy and business partner Joanne launched Juo in early 2006, after winning the University of Sunderland’s Blueprint Business Planning Award.

Together they offer a varied selection of high-quality fused art glass products; including giftware, wall panels and sculpture for corporate and domestic interiors as well as presentation pieces and awards.