Fujairah-based artist Haley Haddow displays her unique artwork in the resort's Tea and Dates lobby caf
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates: Visitors to Le Meridien Al Aqah during the festive season and New Year will be able to view and buy unique fused glass creations by Fujairah resident Haley Haddow, who trained in the complex art of fused glass in England and runs her own fused glass company in Fujairah.
Haley's exhibition, which opened this week and will run until 13 January, includes functional glass pieces such as bowls, platters and vases; as well as decorative hanging wall panels. Each art work began as a simple sheet of glass and was transformed using cutting, layers, fusing, grinding and finally polishing techniques. Using a special oven called a kiln, the layers are melted together at up to 1700 degrees fahrenheit, becoming one piece.
"The glass exhibition is part of the resort's focus on art and cultural activities. It also provided an ideal opportunity to support the local community, as Haley has created a successful studio and business in Fujairah," said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Meridien Al Aqah.
The process of melting and molding the glass means that each piece is different and some of the pieces may include bubbles within the glass, created by the high temperatures.
For Haley, the exhibition is a chance to share her passion for fused glass with the public. The pieces have been attractively displayed through the lobby, including a few tactile pieces to encourage people to experience the look and feel of the work.
"I started with a beginner's course in Fused Glass and I never thought my interest would take me this far - now I plan to do more advanced courses internationally. I appreciate the support from the staff at Le Meridien Al Aqah in holding my second exhibition, as it's an ideal chance to showcase the art of fused glass and to increase awareness about this stylized art form," Haley said.
The exhibition is being held in the Tea and Dates lobby caf, and the opening hours are from 10:00am to 10:00pm daily.
For more information, please call +971 9 244 9000 or visit lemeridien.com/fujairah
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About Le Meridien
Le Meridien brand, currently represented by approximately 120 properties in 52 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in November 2005. With close to 70 percent of its properties located in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, Le Meridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood's primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Meridien-branded hotels within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W, Le Meridien and the recently announced
AloftSM and ElementSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/pressclub
Press Release 2008
