A new interactive glass art facility opens in the Czech Republic

FILED UNDER: Education, Events, News

With the opening of the Glass Art Centre in Sazava, the Czech Republic has opened a new door of interaction and opportunity for glass artists and aspiring artists. It will also help promote glass art to the general public. “There is not any other place in the Czech Republic at the moment, which would offer the same interactive environment and conditions for visitors, artists, experts and students as our new Glass Art Centre in Sazava,” said Frantisek Janak, an Art Manager at the Glassworks Frantisek, a newly renovated, non-profit organization owned by the “Josef Viewegh´s Foundation Glassworks Frantisek.” It was previously an old glassworks, part of the Kavalier Company.

Thursday March 20, 2014 | by Andrew Page

International Flameworking Conference featuring Joyce Scott to get underway March 28

FILED UNDER: Education, Events, News

Joyce Scott and Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen will be the featured artists at the International Flameworking Conference, taking place from March 28th through 30th at Salem County Community College in Carney's Point, New Jersey. The 14th annual event is the leading annual gathering of flameworkers spanning the full range of torch work from artistic, scientific, and pipe making pursuits. Beadwork will take center stage in this year's big event as Scott's beaded sculptural forms and neckpieces take center stage, addressing political and social concerns with a frank engagment of issues of gener, race, and class.

Wednesday March 19, 2014 | by Andrew Page

Glass Secessionists to “gather” at the GAS conference on heels of American Craft interview

FILED UNDER: Events, News

The Glass Secessionist Facebook discussion group, in which artist Tim Tate moderates an online bulletin-board conversation about wide-ranging work in glass that in the eyes of followers draws a line where Studio Glass ends and a new type of work begins, is holding an in-person meeting during the 2014 Glass Art Society conference in Chicago. Taking place at 12 noon on Friday, March 21st, and billed as "the Gathering," the idea is to bring together in real life those who know each other mostly from the posting of photos of glass artwork, installations, and architecture and responding politely and usually positively. (Tate admonishes members to "keep it civil or have your post deleted" and keeps a tight rein on the exchange to prevent "cyber-bullying.") (Disclosure: Tim Tate published an essay laying out why he embarked on his Facebook enterprise in GLASS #133, and GLASS contributing editor William Warmus is one of the most frequent contributors to Glass Secessionism after Tate).

Thursday March 13, 2014 | by Andrew Page

At-Risk Youth Program summit at the Glass Art Society Conference

FILED UNDER: Education, Events, News

In the two decades since Hilltop Artists in Residence was formed in 1994, the unique power of hot glass to reach at-risk youth who may have been left behind by traditional education has been established. Programs using hot glass to teach life lessons have been cropping up around the U.S. separated by thousands of miles and limited communication. The distance between these programs is about to narrow considerably thanks to a summit taking place as part of the 2014 Glass Art Society conference. A special panel from 10:30 AM to 12 noon on Friday, March 21st, will offer instructors and program heads a chance to exchange best practices and share success stories. But the more important goal of this event (sponsored by the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation) is to build bridges that will continue into the future in hopes of advancing the field through shared knowledge and experience (Disclosure: GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet editor Andrew Page is also the director of the Robert Minkoff Foundation). To that end, a special Website at www.atriskglass.org seeks to be a hub for interorganization dialogue and cross-pollination into the future.

Tuesday March 11, 2014 | by Andrew Page

WheatonArts 2014 CGCA Fellowships announced

FILED UNDER: Fellowship, News

The Creative Glass Center of America at WheatonArts, a Millville, New Jersey, center for glass art, has announced the fellows for its 2014 program. Visiting CGCA fellows are given up to 3 months to develop and refine their work, with access to the glass shop, housing, and a stipend. There are three sessions, April 23rd to July 16th; August 27th to October 8th; and October 22nd to December 3rd.

Thursday January 30, 2014 | by Paulina Switniewska

OPENING: Jessica Calderwood’s glass-on-metal enameling on view in Boston

FILED UNDER: Announcements, Exhibition, News, Opening

Artist Jessica Calderwood, a sculptor involved primarily in metalwork, has spent the past decade develping a series of intricately enameled works. These glass-on-metal sculptures and pieces of jewelery will open as the exhibition "Floral Fictions: Recent Work by Jessica Calderwood," at the Society of Arts and Crafts (SAC) Exhibition Gallery in Boston on January 31, 2014.

Sunday January 19, 2014 | by Paulina Switniewska

OPENING: Color blooms at the Basch Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design

FILED UNDER: Exhibition, News

A piece by Dale Chihuly entitled The Blue Persian sold at a show in Tampa in 1993 and began Richard and Barbara Basch’s passion for collecting glass art pieces. They began with the work of American artists, and soon broadened their support of artists from all over the world. Since then, the Basches have amassed over 250 pieces for their collection, including 10 more works of art by Chihuly. The Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida now houses much of the Basches’ collection, most of which has been donated and is now owned by the school. Its most recent exhibition, “Che Colore!” which runs through March 7, 2014, features 33 works that have been created by blowing, casting, and other methods by celebrated artists such as Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, and Lucio Bubacco, among others.

Friday December 13, 2013 | by Andrew Page

In Memoriam: Kanik Chung (1968 - 2013)

FILED UNDER: In Memoriam, News

Kanik Chung, a glass designer and artist based in New York since 2000, died on December 4th, 2013, at the age of 45 from complications due to cancer.…

Tuesday December 3, 2013 | by Andrew Page

GALLERY: Scenes from the Jonathan Christie Memorial Event

FILED UNDER: Image Gallery, In Memoriam, News

Billed as "A Celebration of Jon's Life and Achievements," a memorial event took place at the Chihuly Boathouse on Sunday Oct 20th from 11 AM to 2 PM, where the Evelyn Room and Hot Shop were open to friends, family, and well-wishers honoring the memory of the late Jonathan Christie (1968 – 2013). Organized by Jonathan's father, David, the event also saw the launch of a 24-page book entitled Remembering Jon that includes a 9-minute DVD focusing on the evolution of Lyrical Light (2006). Weighing two tons, and made up of more than 300 individual glass horns, the large-scale public artwork is installed at a Jacksonville performing arts center and represents the pinacle of the late artist's output in terms of size and technical complexity. The video was edited down from the 60-minute documentary entitled "Glass Ceiling" that was produced by the local public television station in Florida.

Thursday November 21, 2013 | by Andrew Page

Barry Friedman announces plans to retire, will close Chelsea gallery by March 2014

FILED UNDER: Announcements, News

The show of photographs by Michael Eastman currently on view at Barry Friedman Ltd, a major Chelsea gallery that has long represented artists working in glass as well as other materials, will be the last exhibition for this important venue for art. After close to a half-century of art dealing, gallery principal Barry Friedman will be retiring, though he will remain a partner in the adjacent gallery Friedman Benda also located at 515 West 26th Street , which will continue on as a major venue for contemporary art. The art dealer announced the end of his 48-year run as an active dealer during The Salon: Art + Design fair last week.

Glass: The UrbanGlass Quarterly, a glossy art magazine published four times a year by UrbanGlass has provided a critical context to the most important artwork being done in the medium of glass for more than 40 years.