OPENING: An exhibition in Venice seeks to marry traditional skills with contemporary art

With a reception on Friday, May 8th, and continuing through November 22nd, an exhibition in Venice called “In Glass We Trust” brings together works by virtuosos of lampworking and blowing at the Balbi Art Glass gallery. The collective goal of this presentation of work by seven artists is to show glass at a higher level of abstraction, as well as to provide an open-ended context for displaying exceptional craftsmanship. With the aim of reaffirming innovation in an age-old Italian practice, the show presents itself as an opportunity for established artists to demonstrate their personal imaginations.

Ranging freely from modern forms of myths to installation pieces, the work in the exhibit incorporates different traditional techniques for a contemporary display. Progetto a quattro mani (2015) by Simone Crestani & Bruno Pedrosa is a sleek, conceptual structure referencing the myth of Daphne and Apollo. With one branch jutting out of an otherwise stable, even cylindrical structure, the shape evokes Daphne’s outstretched arms transformed into a tree, reminiscent of Bernini’s high renaissance marble rendition. On the other hand, The shadow of the old wood (2014), also by Simone Crestani, involves over 30 pieces of hollow tube-like pieces to be hung from above, under lights. With a sprig of branches jutting out on each piece, the light reflects sprawled out shadows, resulting in elaborate patterns on the floor as part of the installation.