Jeweller Suilven Plazalska is holding her first solo exhibition, Breathe, at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

In her work she combines silver and gold with various man-made material such as latex balloons and plastic straws.  She wants people to look at these materials - objects they might normally consider worthless - in a new light. 

“Air and space are constant themes, and I am also influenced by natural rhythms such as the heartbeat and breathing” says Suilven who works from a WASPS studio in Glasgow. 

“I enjoy using plastics alongside more traditional materials, as I’m hoping to persuade people to re-evaluate the worth we often place on more everyday materials.”

Suilven graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2001 and has exhibited at One Year On – New Designers in London, the Collins Gallery, and last year was selected to exhibit at Chelsea Crafts Fair in London for the first time.  She has completed residencies at Glasgow School of Art and St Thomas’ Primary School in Wishaw.

She will also be exhibiting at the City Art Gallery in Leeds and Bristol’s Architecture Centre throughout April and May.

The exhibition, Breathe, is on at The Lighthouse, Mitchell Street, Glasgow from 24 March until 8 May 2005.  Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 5pm (opening 11am on Tuesday) and on Sunday from 12 noon until 5pm. Entrance to all the exhibitions in the building cost £3 for adults, £1.50 for students and £1.50 for children. 

See more of her work at www.suilvenplazalska.com