January 2015 Newsletter - Glass Alliance of Northern California

A GLANCE AT GLASS January 2015 The Glass Alliance of Northern California is a non-­‐profit organization whose mission is to further the development and appreciation of art made from glass. www.GLANCinfo.org Message from the Co-Presidents
Save the Date – GLANC Goes to
Seattle, August 20-23, 2015
So much is possible in the digital age! We just
completed an online competition for a new GLANC
logo through the website 99designs.com. Graphic
designers from around the world submitted
proposals. We had over 200 submissions and
design tweaks from 39 designers! It is fun to see
how designers interpret our organization’s mission
and we are amazed at the unbelievably quick
response to our suggestions. The Board of
Directors chose the winning design through a
series of polls and you can see that our new logo is
hot!
Save August 20-23, 2015 for a glorious time in
Seattle! Seattle is a hotbed of glass artist activity,
and the most requested place to visit by last year's
trip participants. And it's a perfect time of year to be
there. Besides artists, museums and galleries, and
the Olympic Sculpture Garden, we are already
confirmed for Chihuly's Boathouse and his famed
Ballard Studio, places it's difficult to get into and
virtually impossible as an individual. This is a trip
you will not want to miss!
Happy New Year! Best wishes for a prosperous
and happy 2015.
Susan Longini and Demetra Theofanous
Welcome New GLANC Members!
Welcome new GLANC members Ruth Grimes,
Polly Bradbury, Jeremy Scidmore and Carrie
Iverson.
GLANC Newsletter Staff:
Editor: Susan Longini
Formatting: Lisa Stambaugh
Contributors to this Issue:
Susan Longini, Jim Della, Demetra Theofanous,
Elio Renderas, Lisa Stambaugh
Plexiglass Labels for Art
During our Santa Fe tour, we visited Jerry
Silverstein’s wonderful collection. We particularly
appreciated the fact that small, clear, plexiglass
labels with the artists’ names accompanied all the
artwork. We asked Jerry where he got these terrific
labels. Here’s his response:
What a fun group you have. We thoroughly enjoyed
your visit. Several people asked about the labels
that we have for most of our glass. We got them
through Display Case Art Inc. in Cleveland Ohio.
They make them up to your specs. Ours are 3 ½"
long by ½" high by ¼" deep. They can be
purchased in any quantity. They cost about $1.50
each. Contact then at (330) 332-0496 or (330) 2227064, or [email protected]. You will need
to have a label maker to print out the name of the
artist and then affix it to the plastic piece.
Save the Date: Glass Art Society
International Conference
Interface: Glass, Art, and Technology
June 5-7, 2015
Scholarship Recipient Elio Renderos
[Elio Renderos]
My name is Elio Renderos. I’m 15 years old and a
homeschooler that enjoys glass-blowing,
basketball, welding, taking care of my pet chickens
and volunteering at a pet store. I really appreciate
the fact that I was chosen out of so many to get this
scholarship.
[Susan Longini]
The biggest, most exciting glass conference in the
world is coming to California for the first time in 21
years! Over 60 international glass luminaries,
amazing CA artists, tomorrow’s stars, and mavens
from the tech world will enlighten us with their
demonstrations, lectures, and open forums. With
over 1500 participants expected, we can meet and
mingle with our favorite artists, collectors, curators,
and the tech community.
I learned that different people have their own
techniques to teach glass blowing. Everybody
brings their own style to teaching and is very nice to
the students. The teachers really know what they
are doing at the Crucible and really care about the
people they teach. They take the time to make sure
everybody gets to leave class with something
special. I learned how to make bowls, glasses, and
flower paperweights. I hope to some day be able to
take classes again soon! When I am old enough, I
hope to join the Fuego program. Thank you for the
opportunity!
A few highlights:
• Paul Stankard – Lifetime Achievement Award
• Mary White – Lifetime Membership Award
• Therman Statom – inaugural Littleton Lecture
on innovation
• Mildred Howard – Willson Sculpture Lecture
• John Lewis – Cast Glass and the Environment
• Keynote Panel: Dale Dougherty, CEO of
Maker Media & Mamie Rheingold of Google
• More Glass Exhibitions than have ever been
staged in the Bay Area
• First Friday Gallery Hop – South First Street
• Corning Hot Glass Road Show
• Collectors panel followed by a fabulous auction
• Demos in hot glass, coldworking,
flameworking, water jet cutting and more…
• Please go to www.glassart.org to see the
complete listing
Saturday night, June 6, GAS will host a very special
gala event honoring George and Dorothy Saxe for
their superb contributions to glass art and furthering
the careers of numerous artists, and to the
inauguration of the Saxe Fund for Emerging Artists.
Details to follow.
2 Glass Matters
GLANC Member Artist Shows
[Jim Della]
Anna Mlasowsky debuts her “Departures” exhibition
at Bullseye Glass in Emeryville. (October 18 –
January 10, 2015)
http://www.bullseyeglass.com/kilnforming/openingreception-departures-bay-area-1151.html
Out and About
I had a wonderful experience at my first trip to
SOFA Chicago in November. Three amazing
collector home tours, the opening night festivities
and another full day of visiting gallery spaces and
meeting many artists at the Navy Pier show. I ran
into GLANC members Dorothy Saxe, Latchezar
Boyadjiev and Lani McGregor and Dan Schwoerer.
Marvin Lipofsky and John Lewis along with Richard
Marquis and Elin Christopherson are featured
artists at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) Museum.
Departures-Terminal 2, post-security. (October 14
thru May 15, 2015)
http://www.flysfo.com/museum/exhibitions/studioglass-art-marvin-lipofsky-richard-marquis-johnlewis-and-elin
New GLANC members Jeremy Scidmore and
Carrie Iverson are excited to announce the opening
of IV Designs, their new studio in downtown
Oakland, where they will be teaching a variety of
glass techniques. See more on their website,
www.ivdesignsstudio.com
Kathleen Elliot “Imaginary Botanicals” exhibition at
Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art
Museum in Myrtle Beach SC (January 8 – April 12)
Demetra Theofanous, GLANC Board Member, has
won the prestigious 2014 Niche Award for Best in
Flameworked Glass with her piece
"Protection/Constraint". Congratulations, Demetra!
http://www.nicheawards.com/category/2014finalists/professionals/glass-lampworked/
Kathleen Elliot “Eden Revisited” exhibition at SOKA
University Founders Hall Art Gallery. Aliso Viejo,
Orange County CA. Opening Reception Feb. 12
5:30-7:45 pm (January 20 – April 17)
http://soka.edu/about_soka/our_campus/artgallery.aspx
Latchezar Boyadjiev is the 2014 National Liberty
Museum artist honoree. Congratulations,
Latchezar, a well-deserved honor!
Marvin Lipofsky at Art Palm Beach, County
Convention Center (January 22-25)
http://artpalmbeach.com/
Congratulations to GLANC member artists Mary
White and Jaime Guerrero for their recent
magazine feature articles. Mary is profiled in Glass
Art and Jaime in Urban Glass Quarterly.
David Patchen is now represented at Petri’s Gallery
in Sausalito as well as An American Craftsman in
New York. He has also been commissioned for
several pieces at the 5-star Island Hotel in Newport
Beach, CA. His next show “Italian Traditions” is part
of the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center
in St. Petersburg, Florida. Reception Fri. Jan. 23.
(January 23 – April 19) www.moreanartscenter.org/
The 44th Glass Art Society (GAS) International
Conference will be held in San Jose next year,
June 5-7, 2015. The theme is "Interface: Glass, Art,
and Technology." GAS is excited to invite its
membership to interface with the unique tech
culture of Silicon Valley and San Jose.
Jaime Guerrero “Cervidae: Open Season” – new
work of large-scale sculpted glass deer heads and
antlers. Vincent Price Art Museum in Los Angeles
(January 24 – April 18)
http://vincentpriceartmuseum.org/exhibitions/year2015/hoy-space-jaime-guerrero/
Mary White will be honored at the 2015 GAS
Conference as the recipient of the Honorary
Lifetime Membership Award for outstanding service
to the Glass Art Society. A well-deserved honor,
Mary!
3 GLANC’s HOT New Logo!
4. Final designs were presented to the board for
another poll, and we declared a winner. The
designer provided us with all of the original graphic
design files, and Lisa checked the files for technical
correctness. Once that was done, the designer was
paid the agreed-upon contract amount, and all
rights to the design were handed over to us.
[Lisa Stambaugh and Susan Longini]
We recently held a crowdsourcing contest at
99designs.com to design a new GLANC logo. For
those unfamiliar with the term, crowdsourcing is the
process of obtaining needed services by soliciting
contributions from a large group of people —
usually an online community — rather than from
traditional [solo] resources. Engaging with a local
designer might provide a few concepts for review.
Crowdsourcing gave us many creative ideas, which
could be refined, and ultimately lead us to one final
custom design. In summary, the process worked
like this:
If you need our logo for any reason, you can
download the files at http://glancinfo.org/logo.html
One interesting aspect of crowdsourcing is that the
designers are often in other countries – with virtual
work, time zone is not a limiting factor. We might
send comments in the evening, and then wake up
to a number of new designs ready for review!
1. We created a project brief, describing GLANC,
our mission, our objectives with the new logo, some
specs regarding words, fonts, colors, image,
etc. The brief was posted, and designers in the
99designs.com community were invited to submit
concepts.
For many of these designers, what we consider a
relatively inexpensive cost is, in fact, a month's
wages. This leads to a competitive environment,
with many designers anxious to deliver their best
work and win the prize. Our winner's name is
Melody, and she lives in Jakarta, Indonesia. She
works full-time as a graphic designer both locally
and online.
2. We reviewed each concept, rated it 1-5 stars,
and provided feedback for next steps. For example,
we might have liked the graphics, but wanted a
different font. One request was having "GLANC"
larger than "Glass Alliance of Northern California"
but we wanted all of it to be readable in both large
and small formats. Ideally, a logo looks clear and
readable in sizes ranging from postage stamp to
billboard.
Guido GerIitz at the Crucible
[Jim Della]
On Sunday, October 19th, GLANC sponsored
Guido Gerlitz for an informative and fun event at
The Crucible. Guido started with a slide lecture
chronicling his life in glass, gaffing for others and
his current status as founder and President of
Effetto Glassworks in Richmond, a studio whose
objective is to channel the history and heritage of
the Venetian glass tradition through a uniquely
American perspective. Visit the Effetto website at
www.effettoglassworks.com. About 35 attendees
then went downstairs for a reception in the main hot
shop area where Guido and his team made a very
nice sculpted hot glass horse head. It was
fascinating … took about two-and-a-half hours, and
everyone stayed to the end!
After providing feedback, designers would post
revised versions, and we'd provide more feedback.
So both of us spent quite a lot of time reviewing,
discussing, providing feedback. Susan's focus for
feedback was on the brand/image and messaging
around the organization. Lisa's focus was on the
technical side (sizing, balance, fonts, presentation
aspects for both website and print materials, etc.).
3. After the first fast-paced round of 4 days, a poll
was held with the board members, who provided
their own ratings, feedback, and suggestions. With
that input, the field was narrowed to 6 "finalist"
designers. Those designers were then asked to
fine-tune their concepts, and to show us how each
design looked in color, black and white, grayscale,
color over black, white over black.
4 Demetra: Name 3 words you would use to describe
your career.
Artist Spotlight: Randy Strong
[Demetra Theofanous]
Randy: *chuckle* Lucky, challenged, and inspired.
I want to start by thanking Randy Strong, for his
years of service as a valued Glass Alliance Board
Member. We appreciate his contributions over the
years, as well as his contributions to the community
as a whole.
Demetra: Inspired … let’s talk about your
inspiration, starting with earlier years.
Randy is one of a handful of early pioneering
American Glass Artists that define the studio glass
movement. His first taste of working with glass
came in 1969 at the California College of the Arts,
where he began by studying ceramics with
renowned ceramicist and mentor Peter Voulkos.
Randy Strong with Dale Chihuly, Ruth Tamura, John
Landers, John Landon
Indian Head, 1979. Cast crystal, black glass, opaque
white glass, gold. Acid etched with concrete base and
steel
Purchase award by Canadian government
Donated to the Louvre Museum
32” high x 18” wide x 8” deep
He has since gone on to explore what was a largely
unknown frontier at the time, the realm of studio art
glass. His color-saturated, seemingly gravitydefying, and multi-piece sculptures have been
acquired by collectors internationally, and are a part
of collections ranging from The Corning Museum in
New York to the Louvre in Paris. His newest
sculptural work again breaks new ground, and
reflects his continued passion for the medium.
Randy: I am of the age that I grew up with icons like
Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger. The underlying story
was always about the good guy winning. That
greatly influenced me, and I continued to be
influenced by the good in my life, nature, and those
teachers who taught me in a positive and generous
way.
I had the opportunity to interview Randy recently,
and gain some insight into this new chapter in his
life. When I called him, I knew he had resigned
from the GLANC Board, and retired from glass … I
was curious to see where his energy would be
directed next. Below is a glimpse of my
conversation with Randy that captures various
periods in his life, and what is coming next!
When I was in school, it was difficult for me. I didn’t
do well and this made me scared of failure. These
bad experiences also made me want to be a
positive influence on others.
5 Demetra: In the process of trying to create this
communication, what is most challenging for you?
Demetra: Has that mindset changed at all over
time?
Randy: The biggest challenge is that the answers I
seek, are really just good guesses that I create out
of trial and error. Life is a challenge, a rollercoaster,
and with the ups and downs you have no choice,
but to figure it out. Looking at the big picture, this
challenge is constant. I have to figure out how to
move forward.
Randy: I have really had two different lives. The
first life, I was trying to figure things out and didn’t
really know who I was and what was right. Then
midlife, things really came into focus. I started to
figure out who I really was. I don’t call it a midlife
crisis but a midlife wonder! I grew up wanting to be
like the good guys – showing people the path,
being positive, and helping them find their way. The
best way to say it is I am in love with the good
things – influence is everywhere, good and bad,
and I always look for the good in people. I also
accept the reality of life, the yin and yang, and how
the good and bad can exist together.
Demetra: I am sensing a great deal of change, and
even some uncertainty.
Randy: I am trying to change who I am, while
understanding and accepting the fear of losing [the
person I am leaving behind]. I fear not being
relevant. I fear not coming up with anymore good
ideas, of not being able to add positively to the lives
of others.
Every day is about always looking for influence. I
want to express the beauty in life, [and bring that to
others]. I allow nature to use me as a translator, to
use my fingers and emotions, to express things that
build up inside of me. That emotion comes through
me, and out into each piece, for people to enjoy
and see what I see.
Bluewind 2013
18” high x 30” wide x 14” deep
Private Collection
Demetra: Does spirituality play into your
communication with nature and your art?
Creation, Crystal Glass Edged
circa 1978
15” high x 6” wide x 4” deep
Private Collection
Randy: I want to express the spiritual reality of our
world. We do things that cut us off from being
connected to nature, and I want to bring us back; I
want my work to bring pleasure to the viewer.
6 Demetra: Many were surprised to hear the
announcement that you retired. Is this true? Were
you really able to step away from the glassblowing
studio?
to challenge myself again! And to do so without the
pressure of paying the bills and keeping up the
studio. This led to my decision to close my studio,
but still continue making glass.
Randy: Well … about a year ago, I started getting
real tired, and I wanted to have a game plan for my
future. Everything was just too much, and I couldn’t
see the good stuff anymore. Once I made that
decision to retire, I suddenly felt like I had more
control over my life. I had a sense of ease about my
future, and could see a light at the end of the
tunnel. I participated in the La Quinta Festival, as
my last big show. But I also had the best show of
my career, and it left me feeling inspired!
Demetra: It sounds like the best of both worlds!
Randy: Well everything is such a learning process,
and I am always searching for the answers.
Sometimes you can stumble over a question a
thousand times, before you stumble one last time,
and finally find the answer.
Ruth Tamura, John Landers, John Landon, Dale
Chihuly: Meeting with John Hallburg to pick the site for
Pilchuck
Photo by Randy Strong, Circa 1971
Demetra: It sounds like you have a new-found
acceptance, of where you are in your life, and
where your future will take you.
Randy: Acceptance is such a powerful word. Trying
to accept what is coming down the path, when you
can’t always see how it all fits together … but I am
one of the luckiest people I know. I have never had
a lack of imagination or ideas. The biggest difficulty
is trying to figure out which one to take! Now that I
have moved on from being a master craftsman, to
focusing on art, I have to be very selective. One of
my new ideas involves creating work where the
buyer can swap out pieces, and actually change
the composition of the artwork. It is so exciting – it’s
like watching a flower bloom! For the first time I
have a door that I can open and walk through and it
is very exciting. I can see the light at the end of the
tunnel, and I am making the work that I want to
Desert Cactus 2012
32” high x 15” wide x 14” deep
Collection, City of La Quinta
I think I was always so freaked out about failing that
I was pushing myself too hard, and always doing
too much. I couldn’t see the good anymore, or
appreciate my art. But with my new sense of
inspiration, I realized that I could still make glass,
but in a way that is for me. So I changed my mind,
and decided not to retire. I want to focus on making
work that makes me feel good. I want to take risks,
7 make. I am also working on an incredible book on
Glass Maker’s people, that has been years in the
making. These individuals have been making glass
for over 35 years, and this book is to honor their
contributions to the glass community.
Demetra: It sounds like there are exciting times
ahead for you! It is always difficult to strike a
balance, and it is inspiring to see that you are still
creating glass, developing new ideas, and always
looking for a new area of exploration. Thank you for
sharing your thoughts with our membership, and
again, thank you for your contributions as a Glass
Alliance Board Member. Thank you.
Red Orchid, 2013
Private Collection
28” high x 15” wide x 13” deep
Blue Orchid, 2014
Private Collection, Palm Springs
8 Amber Cowan at the San Francisco
Museum of Craft and Design
Calendar of Events
Please visit these websites for information on
events and exhibits.
th
On October 17 , GLANC sponsored the opening
reception for Amber Cowan: Second-Life Glass.
We now host a shared Glass Events Calendar on
the GLANC website, at
www.glancinfo.org/calendar.html, where you will
find events for all of the major Bay Area Glass
Facilities, as well as other groups.
Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass:
www.contempglass.org
Bay Area Glass Institute: www.bagi.org
Bullseye Gallery: www.bullseyegallery.com
The Crucible: www.thecrucible.org
Glass Art Society: www.glassinfo.org
Amber Cowan with work
“Amber Cowan combines old glass and new as she
sculpts and manipulates her way through her
rescued treasures with a pure sensitivity and
flawless dexterity. Cowan seduces us with her
luscious sculptural installations from beginning
to end with a romantic yet decidedly contemporary
twist. Her process-driven compositions involve
reheating glass discards through flame-working,
blowing and hot-sculpting salvaged recycled, upcycled and second-life glass, much of which is
pressed glass from the mid-20th Century.”
Habatat Galleries: www.habatat.com
Pilchuck Glass School: www.pilchuck.com
Public Glass: www.publicglass.org
Sculpturesite Gallery: www.sculpturesite.com
Blue
Visit the San Francisco Museum of Craft and
Design website at www.sfmcd.org.
Visit Amber’s website at www.ambercowan.com.
9 GLASS at a GLANC
ACTIVITIES OF THE GLASS ALLIANCE OF NORTHERN CALFORNIA
DECEMBER 2014 and JANUARY 2015
GLASS CALENDAR EVENTS
Oct. 17 thru Jan. 4
Amber Cowan "Second Life" Exhibition at the SF Museum of Craft & Design
Oct. 18 thru Jan. 10 Anna Mlasowsky "Departures" exhibition at Bullseye Glass in Emeryville
GLANC MEMBER ARTIST SHOWS
Now thru May 15
Marvin Lipofsky, John Lewis, Richard Marquis and Elin Christopherson at the SFO
Museum > Departures-Terminal (level) 2
Jan. 8 thru Apr. 12 Kathleen Elliot "Imaginary Botanicals" Exhibition at the Franklin G. Burroughs Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum - Myrtle Beach, SC
Jan. 20 thru Apr. 17 Kathleen Elliot "Eden Revisited" Exhibition at the SOKA University Founder's Hall Art
Gallery - Aliso Viejo, Orange County, CA
Jan. 22 -25
Marvin Lipofsky at Art Palm Beach - County Convention Center - FL
Jan. 23 thru Apr. 19 David Patchen "Italian Traditions" exhibition as part of the Chihuly Collection at the
Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, FL. Reception Jan. 23
Jan. 24 thru Apr. 18 Jaime Guerrero "Cervidae: Open Season" show. New work of large-scale deer heads
and antlers. Vincent Price Art Museum - Los Angeles
OUT AND ABOUT
For a press recap of SOFA Chicago 2014, click on the link on the GLASS MATTERS Tab under Out and About.
Latchezar Boyadjiev is the 2014 National Liberty Museum artist honoree. Congratulations, Latchezar!
The 44th Glass Art Society (GAS) International Conference will be held in San Jose next year, June 5-7, 2015.
The theme is "Interface: Glass, Art and Technology". Everyone is invited to interface with the unique tech
culture of Silicon Valley and San Jose. Details will follow in Spring.
Mary White will be honored at the 2015 GAS Conference as the recipient of the Honorary Lifetime
Membership Award for outstanding service to the Glass Art Society. A well-deserved honor, Mary!