Nancy Callan during a demo at non-profit Glass Axis in Columbus, Ohio.
GLASS: What are you working on?
Nancy Callan: I’m working on a few different series right now, the most recent being blown glass sculptures I call “Clam Clouds” or just “Clouds.” These are technically very challenging for me to make. They’ve got several layers of cane work and various twists to the pattern. For me, they’re quite light and airy in feeling. At first, they felt like a hybrid of a cloud and clam, but now they’re going more in the direction of a cloud. I’m really excited about this new work because there are so many patterns, colors, and shapes to be explored in the form. As a glassblower, I find it’s important to work in series. As I continue to make a form, I learn how to best realize it. For me, it just gets better and better with repetition as I’m able to fine tune it and perfect the patterns and transitions.
GLASS: What artwork have you seen recently that inspired you?
Nancy: I just watched the movie Valentino: The Last Emperor. He was a truly an inspiring man who always worked at the highest level of his craft. I’m very interested in fashion; I love to look at the patterns, colors, fabrics, and models. The way a design moves on a form is intriguing to me. Textiles and glass have a lot of shared visual territory. I’m also inspired by nature—it’s Fall now here in Seattle and I’m enjoying looking at the different colors meshing together, colors that I typically wouldn’t think about putting together, you see how they look in nature. I like to try and replicate some of this in my work. I’m also a big fan of comic books and bold graphic logos. I grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons, Bugs Bunny, the Superfriends. I am also inspired by the paintings of my partner Julia Ricketts. We share a studio and I am always getting color ideas from her paintings, we have an ongoing dialogue on colors and designs.
Nancy Callan, Mojave Cloud, 2009. Glass, blown and etched. H 12, W 17 1/2, D 5 1/2 in.
GLASS: Where is it possible to see your work on exhibit?
Nancy: You can see my work in a number of galleries around the country. I’m fortunate to be represented by some of the best galleries
nationally, and I appreciate their interest in my work. I’m represented by: Holsten, Hawk, Schantz, Traver, Blue Rain, Davis and Cline, Dane, and Pismo galleries.