Tennessee’s Appalachian Center for Craft has opened an exhibit of works by glass artist Allegra Marquart titled “If Only…”, from Jan 15 – April 2, 2020.
The wonderful, whimsical, inventive new works combine cast glass and thread drawings, each piece tells a unique “If Only…”) story and invites the viewer in to a fantasy world. The works on exhibit are part of a series called “If Only…..”. Some are from old fables and some are from stories Allegra has written herself. The center will be having a reception for the artist on Thursday April 2, 2020.
Allegra Marquart; “The Cat Who Wanted To Be A Woman”, 24×40″, Cast, cut painted glass shapes wall mounted through machine stitched background of multiple colored threads.
Said Allegra about her unique cast glass-and-thread installation works:
“I kept imagining the glass animals that peopled my stories moving across wider swathes of wall space; going about their people-like business in a light-hearted way. By kiln forming larger shapes and cutting away the excess glass each figure could become free floating thanks to the discovery of a wall mounting system that was pretty much invisible and allowed compositional flexibility and some depth. The figures could now appear to float a little off the wall.
Texture and color were advanced by developing background panels made of loosely woven thread and appliqué. The sewn panels added to the narrative and also gave a contrasting fragility to the glass shapes that hovered above it. Now it was possible to make larger pieces without the complication of weight.
Allegra Marquart “If Only I Had Red Wings”; 2019, Cast, cut and painted glass shapes mounted above panel of sewn thread and appliqué, 22″x30″
All technical steps would mean nothing to me if at the end I could not communicate a sense of thoughtful joy that feeds off absurd and fascinating situations swirling around us everyday. That’s what fables, songs and stories are about. They address the human condition with humor, invention and exaggeration.
Interpreting a fable through glass means that the very medium holds metaphors relating to the conditions of life. The stuff can take so many forms. It holds light, it breaks, it’s strong, it’s delicate, it’s entrancing, expressive, it’s not easy to make it the way I want it to be.”
The Appalachian Center for Craft is a campus of Tennessee Tech University’s School of Art, Craft & Design (1 hour from Nashville, TN). The Center for Craft promotes excellence in American craft by teaching tradition and innovation in technique, concept and design, providing access to the highest quality craft education, professional artists, and career opportunities.
Jan 15 – April 2, 2020
Allegra Marquart, “If Only”
Reception: April 2, 2020 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Appalachian Center for Craft
1560 Craft Center Dr.
Smithville, TN. 37166