Craft Show Artists 2010

Marina Borker — Philadelphia, PA   |   marinaborker.com

I use the copper foil method of stained glass construction to make window hangings and decorative objects that play with geometry and optical illusion. Where often stained glass work focuses primarily on the color and composition of the glass it is made from, I turn my attention to the leading that holds the glass together and use it as a medium for drawing. Although my subject matter is often geometric in form, all designs are first composed by hand, so that the final pieces are somewhat quirky, having a fluid and irregular appearance. In my pieces, I am interested in making visual and formal connections across media, and I often create imagery that is inspired by other crafts - like bits of woven rugs, rattan window blinds, or blocks of stone.

Devin Burgess — Penland, NC   |   dbglassworks.com

Form, line, texture and light are the foundation for the design of these sculptural and functional pieces. This work is gathered out of the furnace and blown, using multiple layers of transparent and opaque glass. Once annealed, the sculptural forms are carved on a lathe with stone wheels to add a detail of texture and line quality on the surface, like drafting with charcoal on a page. This drafting carves away an opaque layer of glass to allow the transparent glass beneath to become visible, enhancing the element of volume.

Stephan Cox — River Falls, WI     

Blown, then hand carved glass; 100% designed and made by the artist. I try, using the sometimes cumbersome processes of glass making, to create the objects I see in my head.

Alexander Fekete — Coudersport, PA     

I am fascinated by the ability of Glass to contain light and reverse plasticity. Resulting optical transparency, translucency and glow, needless to say bottomless variety of forms expressive potential arising from its fluidity leave nothing to be desired. What may have seen as counterintuitive in the early days of my exploits, thick walls and asymetric shapes gained credence through obsessive pursuit of the form. This solemn focus has been so self-absorbing as to leave, color in particular, past the horizons of interest. Objects resulting from this line of exploration are abstract, delineated by simple, almost graphic representation of space and volumes, visually balanced and elegant. Resulting minimalism is rooted in deliberate elimination of un-realized possibilities. The exploitation of negative space and precarious placement of pebbles contribute to the sense of visual tension.

Sean P. Gilvey — Philadelphia, PA   |   hudsonbeachglasspa.com

Hudson Beach Glass is a collection of functional and sculptural objects that are cast in hand carved metal and graphite molds. The glass employed is a special formula that enables the artist to use techniques such as centrifugal casting to create these forms. At this time we make 13 colors offering a jewel or sandblasted finish. These forms range from minimalist to graphic realism.

Drew Hine — Pittsburgh, PA   |   vesselstudio.net

The artist's passion for glass began when, as a ceramics major, he found himself in a glassblowing class. From the start, form and color have been focal points of his work. The artist enjoys exploring the simplicity and perfection of the vessel, striving to create tall, beautiful forms. His most recent work incorporates bright, vivid color, yet maintains the sleek, modern shapes that are his signature. Over the past eight years, he has experimented with numerous techniques, but incalmo intrigues him the most. Upon first using this technique, he discovered the potential to not only combine two colors, but to combine two separate forms into a completely new one. Today the artist uses this technique to create forms that have never been seen in glass.

Ian Kessler-Gowell — Burnsville, NC   |   ianckg.com

I was drawn to working with hot glass due to its energy and the engaging nature of the process. The EnergyXchange residency provides me with an environmentally friendly glass studio, as well as having access to facilities within a supportive community to develop my work. I find object making to be a very abstract form of story telling, the building blocks of a cultural identity. Whether it the richness of ancient objects worn with use or the crispness of modern design, it is how they capture a sense of time and place that speaks without words. Some major influences on my work are the lighting designs of Poul Heningson, the ground murrini pieces by Carlos Scarpa, as well as the designs of Tapio Wirkkala. I am attracted to ancient pottery, specifically Inca, Greek, Roman and Chinese forms. Painters such as Rothko and Albers have affected my use of color, as well as observing nature.

Michael J. Mikula — Cleveland, OH   |   mikulaglass.com

Inspired by architectural form and detail, I use graphite molds (designed & made by me), to cast or press imagery & structure into blown glass to make sculpture and related vessels. Each vessel and segment in sculpture is individually cast, blown, cut & polished. The natural smoothness of the blown interior surface contrasts w/ the deeply textured cast exterior, creating views into the thickness of the glass: A play on positive/negative. Architectural panels (as shown) can be scaled up for site-specific installations. The metal structures are custom fabricated to my specifications and under my supervision. I complete the final assembly of glass and metal. All works are one of a kind.

Dan Mirer — Corning, NY   |   danmirer.com

I incorporate innovative and traditional glassmaking techniques to realize my designs. Many of the pieces require extensive processing. Each piece bears the signature bottle and goblet mark.

Nancy Nicholson — Brooklyn, NY   |   nancy-nicholson.com

I look for both beauty and humor within the urban landscape. Beginning with my photographs, I render the images into a working drawing on paper. I use traditional materials such as blown glass, lead cane and copper foil, and apply techniques of sandblasting, vitreous paints and enamels to add details. Stained glass is often viewed narrowly, as a religious or decorative art form, or merely relegated to the realm of craft. I challenge these notions by using glass as a means to create work that communicates on multiple levels, encompassing formal, conceptual, and narrative elements.

Kenny Pieper — Burnsville, NC   |   pieperglass.com

My work is a celebration of traditional techniques, opulent colors and classical forms.

Henry Richardson — New York, NY   |   henryrichardson.com

While the sound of breaking glass calls to mind the image of destruction, Richardson uses fractured glass as an element of creation. Wielding traditional sculpture tools in combination with recent technological innovations in bonding glass, Richardson creates sculptures that are recognizable in form but whose materials create an unexpected tension with the viewer. Because the chiseled glass both refracts and reflects light, the sculpture's radiance and mood are constantly changing in response to the surrounding light. Each work, at times, has a crystalline or ice-like quality, imparting a sense of both timelessness and impermanence. Richardson sees this contradiction as a reflection of our own human condition. Richardson is a former board member of the International Sculpture Center, a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and a board member of the Needmor Fund.

Erica L. Rosenfeld — Brooklyn, NY   |   ericarosenfelddesigns.com

My work tells stories about the fabric of people's lives and the rituals created to bring comfort to our lives. I am fascinated by the things, both spiritual and physical, that people cling to in order to find and define "identity." How do we choose what we see? How does this affect what we remember? As families and communities, we create shared folklore to memorialize people, places and events. As individuals, we create personal mythologies to help us contextualize our past and imagine our future. Intertwining these themes, my work similarly enmeshes artistic disciplines in a memory-based, magical realism scaffolded by nostalgia. I use glass, found materials, beads and food to create sculpture and jewelry, which remain my primary mode of expression. I began beading at the age of five, from which I realized a consistent impulse to create cohesive, sometimes incongruous, mosaics from smaller components.

Charles Savoie — Ripon, WI   |   savoieglass.com

My work is made of cast bronze and blown glass. I strive to make unique pieces that reflect on my life experience.

Michael Schunke — West Grove, PA   |   nineironstudios.com

I'm inspired by the tradition and beauty of Italian glass. The intimacy of working and shaping molten glass into simple but elegant pieces gives me great satisfaction. I strive for a combination of function, contemporary colors and clean lines in every piece.