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A number of venues around the country are hosting exhibitions this year in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement (including one at the Asheville Art Museum). The current exhibition at Asheville, NC’s Blue Spiral 1 gallery is a little different however…
Stepping outside the gallery’s standard focus on southern artists, this national invitational centers on Glass Secessionism – on view through July 28, 2012.
Often incorporating other media, work by Glass Secessionists is predominantly narrative or conceptual. Noted in the group’s description, “The intent of the (Glass Secessionism) group is to underscore and define the twenty-first century Sculptural Glass Movement and to illustrate the differences and strengths compared to late twentieth century technique-driven glass. While the twentieth century glass artists’ contributions have been spectacular and groundbreaking, this group focuses on the aesthetic of the twenty-first century.”
Artists have done fantastic and innovative things with glass over the past 50 years, while its potential as a sculptural medium continues to grow as we see object makers crossing over from their primary discipline and articulating ideas through a variety of media. Bringing background and technical knowledge of particular materials, artists approach new mediums with fresh perspective, often discovering exciting ways to handle or combine media. Glass is no stranger to this phenomenon. For example, Tim Tate incorporates video elements in some of his works. Most of Christina Bothwell’s sculptures marry glass with ceramics…along with a host of other materials. Susan Taylor Glasgow assembles iconic images of domesticity through sewing together glass elements. These artists represent a number of makers who are redefining the field.
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| Artwork by Michael Janis, Ken Carder and Christina Bothwell in the front window of the gallery. |
The story may be poignant or provocative; the imagery haunting or humorous, but whether they lean toward edgy or whimsical, a growing number of glass artists have something compelling to say. Many share the sentiment that the medium offers more than dazzling effects, desiring objects that transcend materiality and stir something within us.
Glass Secessionism includes work by Rick Beck, Robert Bender, Christina Bothwell, Thor & Jennifer Bueno, Ken Carder, Susan Taylor Glasgow, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Mark Peiser, Marc Petrovic, Sally Rogers, and Tim Tate. The exhibition opened June 7 and will continue through July 27 in the Showcase Gallery on Blue Spiral 1’s main level and extends through the month of August upstairs.
Posted in "glass secessionism", blue spiral gallery, christina bothwell, jennifer bueno, ken carder, marc petrovic, mark peiser, rick beck, robert bender, sally rogers, sean hennessey, susan taylor glasgow, thor bueno
>North Carolina’s Asheville was named one of AmericanStyle magazine’s “Top 25 Arts Destinations” . This week, another of its top galleries – this time Blue Spiral 1 – opens a show that looks to honor the 50th Anniversary of the American Studio Glass Movement.
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| WGS is well represented in the list of artists! |
Blue Spiral has curated the show with an eye to the future of glass with “compelling sculpture [that] speaks to conceptual and narrative directions the medium takes in the 21st Century”.
Artists include a number from the Washington Glass School extended family – Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Michael Janis, Marc Petrovic, Christina Bothwell and Susan Taylor Glasgow.
With Erwin Timmers’ work showing at nearby Bender Gallery – its like a Washington Glass School summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
“Glass Secessionism“
June 7 – July 26, 2012
Opening Reception, June 7, 5-8 pm
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery
38 Biltmore Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
Posted in "glass secessionism", 21st century sculpture, american studio glass, blue ridge mountain, blue spiral gallery, christina bothwell, marc petrovic, michael janis, sean hennessey, susan taylor glasgow, Tim Tate
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Christina Bothwell “Clockwork”
The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA is offering an exciting new dynamic duo – everybody’s favorite ceramic/glass artist Christina Bothwell and our own Professor Pangloss (Panglass?) Tim Tate. The five day workshop runs from May 30 thru June 3.
Tim Tate “Dreams of Flying”
from the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio website:
Take advantage of a rare opportunity to learn from two working studio artists that have much to share. Discover the techniques and influences behind the works of Christina Bothwell and Tim Tate, both former winners of the Virginia A. Groot Foundation Award for Sculpture. Bothwell’s work often combines clay and lost wax casting in a figural narrative, while Tate’s art focuses heavily on mixed-media electronics and lost wax casting. Demos will include lost wax casting, open face molds, and casting voids in artwork. Students, whether beginners or experienced glass artists, will have time to work in the Studio, but will benefit most from the group discussions of each student’s work and how to advance to another level in expressing their creativity in glass.
Click HERE to jump to the Chrysler Museum’s site for more info about their workshops.
Posted in christina bothwell, chrysler museum, Tim Tate
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Love is in the air
I ♥ Glass
In time for Valentines, the Feb/March 2012 issue of American Craft magazine (published by the American Craft Council) features Washington Glass School Director Michael Janis answering the romantic question: “Who’s Your Platonic Craft Crush”. The new issue also has some great articles about Harvey Littleton and the Studio Glass Movement, and an article about ceramic sculptor Cristina Córdova.
For some reason tho, Michael is made to be yellow. Very yellow. I am (overly) Curious Yellow.
Michael Janis looking either very jaundiced or he’s Bart Simpson’s twin, Hugo.
And just who is Michael Craft Crushing on? Its no secret that it is glass & ceramic artist Christina Bothwell.
The American Craft Council is the voice for craft in America, celebrating the remarkable achievement of the many gifted artists working in the media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and other materials. Programs through which the Council supports the field include the bimonthly magazine American Craft. Click HERE to jump to the Craft Council website.
Posted in american craft council, american craft magazine, christina bothwell, contemporary craft, glass and ceramic, voices
