Blog — Human Milk
Irish Glass Biennale 28th April - 20th August 2023
“Underpinning much of the work on display is purposeful and meaningful engagement with the materiality of glass. Its transparency, ductility and fragility, combined with its seemingly contradictory qualities of strength, solidity and hardness, form a context for experimentation and a rich seam of exploration for many of the makers represented. The Northern Ireland-based artist, Helen Hancock, is one such maker. She explores what happens when glass is infused with breastmilk, umbilical cords, milk teeth or ashes, telling us that milk teeth create an extraordinary bloom of gold colour when saturated into glass, while breast-milk creates a web-like...
World Breastfeeding Week 2022
I am truly honoured to be in a position to not only support women on their breastfeeding journey but I can also create something very special and unique to commemorate their very personal breastfeeding time too.
This year for World Breastfeeding Week and to also celebrate Breastival NÍ extending to Derry I have requested some of the many families who have had Breastmilk in Glass made to send me some pictures of their glass.
Thank You to all of you who sent these stunning pictures
Enjoy!
Glass Breasts on Tour
As I am sure many of you know by now I am an Advanced Breastfeeding Counsellor as well as a Glass Artist.
I am also a qualified Doula, Infant Massage Instructor, Baby and Toddler Yoga instructor.
But, lets stay focused on the Breastfeeding Counsellor area.
What this entails is that since 2012 I began training in the area of lactation learning.
I began by training in Peer Support.
Shortly followed by training in the next level of support which is Breastfeeding Counsellor. I trained with Cuidiu (an Irish based charity formerly known as The Irish Childbirth Trust)
Qualifying in 2016...
Nipples to Naples
What a rush!
In mid June 2022 I travelled to Naples to view my large breastmilk infused glass breasts exhibited at The Creative Spark Hub.
The exhibition titled “Nudo di Donna”
An exhibition showcasing many international artists working with the female form.
The exhibition runs from June 14th - August 30th 2022.
Stop Shaming Breastmilk Keepsakes
With the newest (not new to many of us) phenomenon to sweep the world being Breastmilk Keepsakes. I’ve observed many sneers, snide remarks, faces of disgust and eye rolls.
I have also witnessed absolute joy, tears and so much healing from this work.
So lets discuss what this work represents.
Most creatives who make breastmilk keepsakes are doing so from a place of passion around lactation. The work of course is profitable but it also so rewarding in that we offer something we fully relate to as being so special and also challenging.
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