Glass: Interpretations on A Vision
Amy M. Schaefer and Merrily Orsini
When first discovered
in the Middle Ages, glass was considered such a mystery that its creators were
often called magicians. Today, contemporary glass artists continue this magical
tradition with bold and beautiful works of art. The ways to manipulate glass
are limitless, and a closer examination of the methods that some glass artists
use is a fascinating and interpretive journey.
Jon Kuhn
A sculpture by Jon Kuhn begins with some of the purest glass fabricated anywhere
on the planet. Kuhn attaches plates of this clear, optical lead-fluoride glass
to thin pieces of Bullseye colored glass. The two glass elements are carefully
glued together, then machine-ground to a thin plane. This glass plate is cut
into thin strips and shuffled into new layers, repeating the process, until the
result is a grouping of brilliant colors. Once satisfied with the groupings,
colors and clarity, Kuhn embeds these tiny glass plates into layers of optical
lead-fluoride glass. Often having 5,000 to 6,000 components, the end result is
a flawlessly designed sculpture that gracefully holds the core materials.
Although Kuhn’s work may seem rooted in mathematics, geometric shapes and
careful planning, it is the end result that captures the eye of the observer.
The inspiration behind his pieces often reflects upon the human search for meaning.
Perhaps Kuhn himself expresses it best, “My work is not about physical beauty
in and of itself, but the manifestation of the inner spirit.”
Rick Beck
Known for his large-scale glass sculptures depicting industrial, everyday objects
such as screws and bolts, Beck’s pieces begin their evolution with sketches
and take shape in the form of a clay positive (model). A mold of the form is
taken and placed into a kiln where it is filled with molten glass, fired and
annealed. The rough form is then carved and fabricated with other castings to
achieve the finished piece. Using a fragile material like glass to depict indestructible
objects, allows Beck to create an interesting juxtaposition in his work.
“My work in glass is a synthesis of human and mechanical form, with an emphasis
on formal aspects. I am interested in playing the volumes of mass against the
rhythm of the lines described by the threads of the screws and the flutes of
the bits. I enjoy the interplay of the visual (visceral) versus the verbal (descriptive/technical).
” – Rick Beck
Milissa Montini
Milissa Montini has long been exploring light, form and color in glass, resulting
in pieces reflecting nature’s patterns. In recent years, her works have
expanded to include abstract designs ranging from the movement of currents of
the sea to multifaceted fields of vegetation. Montini’s artistic eye has
allowed her to find success with flameworked murrini. Cut to fit together and
kiln fused, the resulting plate is ground thin to reveal the intricate patterns
and slumped into shape.
“I find the designs I choose timeless, reminiscent of an ancient lure. Specific
subject matter is selected from personal encounters that have shaped my work
and my life.” – Milissa Montini
Richard Ritter
Drawn to the spontaneous qualities of hot glass and the “dance” of
creating glass sculptures, Richard Ritter explores the translucent nature of
glass by utilizing multiple layers of murrini, lattacino and crystal to create
visual expressions of nature. Ritter starts from raw glass, mixing and melting
it to make crystal and opal colors, creating images such as flowers and leaves.
These elements are combined within a glass matrix or on the surface of the glass,
resulting in gossamer lace blankets of opal glass floating beneath petals and
other pearls of nature.
“The elements of crystal and opal glasses, the murrini imagery, the latticino
and cane combine as a kind of vocabulary in my work. I hope that when people
look at my pieces, they may scan the surface and what lies beneath. The meaning
comes about from the eye and mind of the viewer.” – Richard Ritter
Paul Stankard
Looking at a Stankard paperweight you may be fooled into believing that he has
preserved a living flower in glass, when in fact he has created one entirely
from spun filaments. Highly sophisticated and an elegant tribute to nature’s
beauty, Stankard’s art encapsulates mosaic cane words or murini. These arrangements
of flowers and insects are flameworked using a gas oxygen torch, and then enclosed
in two separate pieces of colored crystal glass, allowing for great detail and
delicacy.
“I am interested in integrating mysticism, informed by botany, into my work,
giving the glass an organic credibility. Through the work, I explore the cycles
of nature with wildflowers as a personal metaphor.” – Paul Stankard
Different Interpretations,
Unparalleled Beauty
Although the methods used in glass work are vast and diverse, each artisan’s
unique approach allows for the beauty of the end result. The magic in light’s
refraction through glass creates a magnificent display of color as a spectacular
feasts for the eyes. Selected works of Jon Kuhn, Rick Beck and Paul Stankard
will be on display with various galleries at SOFA NEW YORK 2003, May 28 – June
1, 2003.
