Gemmail : the Art of light |
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Gemmail by Carzou Fille de Carthage 1976 |
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Gemmail A new form of expression which brings together electric light and coloured glass of varying thickness ( sometimes up to five centimetres thick ), fragments of which are laid on top of each other in order to obtain a wide variety of colours, hues, and movements.
History This technique was invented by the artist Jean CROTTI in 1935, when he wanted to light up a decorative panel, made up of fragments of glass. He consulted a researcher of physics, Christian Malherbe-Navarre, who was familiar with techniques related to light and electricity. It took until 1950 for the technique to be perfected. Technique The gemmist is guided by the maître d'oeuvre who directs the proceedings from the top of a ladder.The artist works on large sheets of glass which are placed on tressels.They are illuminated from underneath. Then, the different coloured fragments of glass, of varying degrees of thickness are laid on top of each other depending on the colours and tones the artist wants to obtain. They are temporarily stuck together using transparent glue.
The gemmaux are all UNIQUE pieces of work, and each has a certificate of authenticity which is signed and numbered. Braque la lampe sur la table ( lamp on table ), le port de la Ciotat ( Ciotat Harbour ), Aquarium sur une caisse l'Estaque ( Aquarium on Estaque box ) 58 x 60 cm 1957 : Creation of an annual International gemmail prize, awarded to the " painter of light ". 1963 : Setting up of a Museum of Gemmail in Tours 7 rue du Mûrier 37000 Tours 1969 : Bienniale of Sacred art in Lourdes and the setting up of a Museum of Sacred Art
Others award-winning works 1957 : Danielle DHUMEZ Le port de lumière ( Port of light ) - 1967 : Yves BRAYER Le héron cendré ( grey heron ) - 1968 : Pierre AMBROGIANI - 1970 : TOFFOLI Intimité mexicaine ( Mexican intimity ) -1971 : AÏZPIRI La Dame de Cour - 1972 : André MARCHAND - 1973 : Michel CIRY - 1975 : JANSEM -1976 : Jean CARZOU Fille de Carthage ( Girl from Carthage ) - 1978 : Jean COMMERE L'enfant sauvage ( wild child ) - 1979 : CHAPELAIN-MIDY - 1980: Jacques VOYET Le marin ( the mariner ) - 1981: Pierre HENRY Le pain et le vin ( bread and wine ) - 1986 : BRICKA Maternité 1988 : René MARGOTTON. le vase grec 1991 : PIER LE COLAS Regina Pacis - 1993: MURYAMA Le printemps de Loire ( Loire springtime ) - 1994 : Michel CIRY Adieu de Jésus à Marie (Jesus bids Mary good-bye) - 1996 : Michel HENRY Le jardin de France (The garden of France - 1998 : Jean DAPRAI Effets de serres ( Greenhouse effect ) - 1999 : Guy GAMBIER : Que ta volonté soit faite (Thy will be done) |
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Article from Le Gemmail, Art de la Lumière. Expression du XX° siècle. Catalogue 21 x 29,5 cm, undated, 24 pages, pages not numbered |
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Les Gemmaux de France March to June 1956 |
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