Dale Chihuly, "Wine Vessel", c. 1965, Racine Art Museum
In celebration of glass artist Therman Statom’s installation in RAM’s Windows on Fifth Street Gallery, the museum is showcasing highlights from its collection of contemporary artworks in glass. Open January 31 through June 6, 2010, "A Glass Act: First Rate Glass from RAM’s Collection" presents a variety of subject matter, ranging from still life compositions and depictions of the natural environment to figurative and abstract works. The show contains pieces that demonstrate a masterful combination of technical expertise and artistic vision, as practiced by internationally recognized glass artists.
Glass has been prized for centuries for its transparency and ability to ignite color when exposed to light. The media is popular with artists because of the many ways in which this adaptable material can be handled. It can be blown, cast, or assembled. Its surface can be etched, sandblasted or painted. While its origins date back to ancient Rome and the Middle East, the development of glass as a medium for contemporary artistic expression is far more recent.
The Studio Glass Movement started in the 1960s when glass was starting to be melted in small-scale studio kilns instead of large glass factories. This new method freed artists to work in single person studios or small university art departments where intense experimentation has taken place. The movement also benefited and grew from close working relationships and a free exchange of ideas and techniques that took place on an international and intergenerational basis.
By collecting artists in-depth throughout their careers, RAM is able to document how artists’ ideas germinate and develop over time. Works by three leaders in the field – Dale Chihuly, William Morris and Joel Philip Myers – demonstrate their artistic achievements from different decades in their careers. The exhibition features work by Harvey Littleton, a respected artist and teacher, displayed with pieces by a former student – Dale Chihuly. Chihuly’s pieces are also displayed alongside Morris, who started his career in Chihuly’s studio before becoming internationally known for his own work.
RAM presents a portion of the history of the Studio Glass Movement over the past 40 years. Early works by Chihuly, Morris and Myers reference functional forms traditionally executed in glass—vases, vessels and bowls. Later works created by a younger generation of artists follow two paths. Some artists, such as Michael Glancy and Conceta Mason, create traditional works. Others, such as William Carlson, Mark Peiser and Richard Ritter, fabricate more purely sculptural glass forms.
Believing that this is a historically significant time for artistic advancement, RAM has concentrated on contemporary achievements in glass to capture a clear picture of the Studio Glass Movement’s development. "A Glass Act" showcases several examples in RAM’s collection from early leaders in the field, as well as from today’s emerging talents.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
