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Exhibition Reflects Contemporary Glass Movement

Glasswork created by 27 Ohio artists will be on display at the Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery November 5 through January 9, 1999. Curated by Henry Halem, internationally known glass artist and professor emeritus at Kent State University, Ohio Perspectives: Reflections in Glass presents 57 works expressing traditional points of view and exploring contemporary insights into the art of glass. The exhibition, organized by the Ohio Arts Council and the Akron Art Museum, is the eighth in the museum's Ohio Perspectives series, a triennial exploration of art from Ohio.

An opening reception will be held November 5 from 5-7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Reflections in Glass is meant to inspire viewers to see glass as a material that can be decorative or sculptural, austere or humorous, elegant or provocative. While some of the objects are inspired by and incorporate traditional glass-making techniques, they are non-traditional in their final expression. Work in the exhibition was created by independent glass artists in private studios throughout Ohio. Many of the artists push the boundaries of the material to new and previously unexplored limits, making goblets too large to drink from, bowls too porous to hold anything, sculptures and spheres that duplicate animal hides.

Artists in the exhibition have used a variety of traditional and non-traditional techniques, including glass blowing, glass casting (sand casting and p�te de verre), glass laminations, glass marble technique, stained glass, glass mosaic and lampworking. Viewers will find Reflections in Glass engaging and challenging.

Artists in the exhibition are Geoffrey D. Beetem, Athens; Rene Culler, Cleveland; Robert Dauel, Jr., Toledo; Libby Duncan, Crestline; Steve Finke, Cincinnati; Margot J. Gotoff, Cincinnati; Ellen Grevey, Columbus; Richard Harned, Upper Arlington; Marianne Hite, Uniontown; Tim Jerman, Logan; Ruth King, Columbus; Brent Marshall, Cleveland Heights; Leonard Marty, Toledo; Mark Matthews, Archbold; Tom McGlauchlin, Toledo; Shawn E. Messenger, Toledo; Xan Palay, Columbus; Cathy Richardson, Rudolph; Jack A. Schmidt, Toledo; Mary Kay Simoni, Chesterland; Mark Sudduth, Cleveland Heights; William Teschner, Columbus; Marvin Thorp (in collaboration with jeweler Mike Kozumplik), Fayette; Shirley Thrope, Cincinnati; Kimberly S. White, Canton; Brent Kee Young, Cleveland Heights; and Michael Dale Zelenka, Cleveland.

Until the early 1960s blown glass was produced in foundries. In 1962 Harvey Littleton of the University of Wisconsin, with the technical assistance of Dominic Labino, a chemist and inventor from Grand Rapids, Ohio, solved the problem of melting glass on a small scale. At a workshop at The Toledo Museum of Art they presented their revolutionary idea that an individual artist working alone in a small studio could make art glass. They could not have anticipated the enormous impact that workshop would have on the direction of art glass throughout the world. The workshop elevated the glass blower from craftsman to artist/craftsman and the contemporary glass movement was begun. Reflections in Glass gives viewers an opportunity to assess the effects of that historic shift on Ohio's glass artists and will be part of the continuum of more than 3,000 years of glass history.

Ohio is home to many fine glass artists for a number of reasons, including natural resources, market location, low-cost industrial space, a nurturing system of support through the Ohio Arts Council and, most importantly, the availability of quality glass education. There are opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study in glass in almost every corner of Ohio.

Henry Halem has been involved in the glass movement as an artist, educator and activist since 1968. Halem received his BFA in ceramics in 1960 from Rhode Island School of Design and his MFA from George Washington University. After serving as the first resident craftsman for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, teaching ceramics at Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia and working as an artist, Halem saw the energy and excitement generated by artists using glass. He did postgraduate studies in glass as Harvey Littleton's assistant at the University of Wisconsin, then was hired in 1969 by Kent State University to create a glass studies major. Halem built the KSU glass program into one of the premier programs in the world.

Ohio Perspectives: Reflections in Glass is organized by the Ohio Arts Council and the Akron Art Museum. The exhibition is made possible with generous support from the Ohio Building Authority, The Mirapaul Foundation and Sara Jane Kasperzak. Additional support is provided by Columbus Alive, Joseph M. Erdelac, Small Business News and Time Warner Communications. Reflections in Glass will be on view at the Akron Art Museum from March 20 through June 6, 1999. Call John Marzich, public information officer, at 330/376-9185 for details.

The Riffe Gallery, operated by the Ohio Arts Council, showcases the work of Ohio's artists and curators and the collections of the state's museums and galleries. The gallery is in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, State and High Streets, Columbus, OH. Hours are Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 12-8 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Admission is free. For information or to schedule a tour call the Riffe Gallery at 614/644-9624, or call the Ohio Relay Service at 1-800-750-0750 for TTY/TDD.

Providing visitors an intimate setting for learning and discovery, the Akron Art Museum is a world-class institution that showcases regional, national and international art created since 1850. Located in the heart of downtown Akron at 70 E. Market Street, the museum is open every day 11 am-5 p.m. Admission is free and convenient on-site parking is available.

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The Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio Arts Council and Friends of the Library have once again partnered to bring arts opportunities to artists and the public by presenting a juried art show at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Library. In 1998 the two organizations collaborated to create the Ohio Online Visual Artist Registry (OOVAR), a database that showcases the work of more than 700 artists from Ohio and around the world.

more on The Third Annual Online Visual Artist Registry Juried Art Show...

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