Glass Art Magazine - January / February 2017

Glass Art January/February 2017 Volume 32 Number 1 Letter from the Editor A New Year Offers Expanded Choices by Shawn Waggoner Glass Art editor Shawn Waggoner shares some of the magazine’s latest additions including its blossoming Glass Expert Webinar™ offerings produced in conjunction with its sister publication, Glass Patterns Quarterly. The growing podcast series, Talking Out Your Glass, reflects an ongoing dedication to reaching glass enthusiasts with information on creating glass art. Ginny Ruffner: The Flowering Phoenix Flameworked Glass, Public Art, and Emerging Technologies by Shawn Waggoner Photography by Mike Seidl, Ambodha, and Spike Mafford Beloved American artist, Ginny Ruffner, has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. The artist helped redefine flameworked glass, previously known as the process of tchotchkes and trinkets, as a sculptural medium for fine art. How she came back after an almost fatal car accident speaks to her strength of character. Glass Talk The First Transatlantic Stained Glass Symposium by Hallie R. Monroe On April 23, 2016, stained glass artist Hallie Monroe attended the First Transatlantic Stained Glass Symposium with the help of a scholarship from the American Glass Guild. Presented by Bendheim and Glasshütte Lamberts Glass, the attendees were able to take advantage of early morning tours to watch the factory’s glassblowers in their well-choreographed dance. International Glass Seeking Transformation My Modern Day Grand Tour by Ken Schneidereit Photography by Paul Cockrell, Jim Ginney, Sonya Schneidereit, Jon Green, Shelly Thorene, and Jim Lefever The glass art of Ken Schneidereit can be found in the collections of U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, corporate chiefs, celebrities, and folks from all walks of life. He recently began a new adventure into the world of creating glass mosaic panels from murrine cane that he creates at the torch. What’s New by Darlene Welch What’s New offers information on the latest in books and patterns plus new glass and tools for hot, warm, and cold glass artists and hobbyists. This is the perfect place to keep up with the innovations that will make working in glass easier and more enjoyable. Warm Glass Studio Profile Origins and Evolution The Power of Bob Leatherbarrow’s Glass Powders by Shawn Waggoner Photography by Jon Cameron Working with glass powders, former exploration geologist turned artist Bob Leatherbarrow has changed his focus from exploring the texture of rocks and minerals to kiln formed glass. The result is fused compositions that combine irresistible tactile surfaces with unforgettable color. As a popular instructor, he is expanding his teaching to include a series of e-books. GAS News Reflections from the Edge Glass, Art, and Performance by Erika Enomoto The 2017 Glass Art Society Conference, Reflections from the Edge: Glass, Art, and Performance, will be held June1–3 in Norfolk, Virginia. Visits to the Chrysler Museum of Art’s encyclopedic glass collection will give attendees the opportunity to experience glass from its ancient beginnings to today’s cutting-edge techniques. Winning Glass Bullseye Glass 2016 Emerge and Evolve Companion Exhibitions Current Winners and Returning Stars Bullseye Glass Co. has named the winners in Emerge 2016, the company’s ninth biennial juried competition for emerging artists in kiln formed glass. Selected award winners will be included in Emerge/Evolve, a national tour that will culminate in an exhibition at the Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Washington. CGS News Water & Music Glass Inspired by Handel’s Water Music by Pam Reekie Photography by Ester Segarra and Matthew Booth The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) is pleased to be working again with the prestigious Pyramid Gallery in York, England. In the 300th anniversary year of Handel’s Water Music, CGS members were invited to submit work that was directly inspired by water or music. Over 50 CGS members submitted marvelous, inspired glass art. Independent Artist Michael Janis A Smart Balance of Personal and Public Art by Shawn Waggoner Photography by Pete Duvall A translator of the subconscious, Michael Janis creates intricate glass powder drawings that ask questions rather than answer them. The time-consuming process used to create his work inspires the artist to find new ways and means to depict the poetry, symbolism, and magic of the everyday. Educational Glass Fused Glass Fanatics A Glass Guild for an Age of Social Media by Colleen Bryan Fused Glass Fanatics is a closed Facebook group comprised of members who are all about fusing glass. Remarkably, the group has grown to a membership of over 13,000 since its humble start in 2010. This makes it one of the largest nonprofit groups centered on developing glass artists. Readers’ Forum Readers share their thoughts on profiles and articles featured in recent issues of Glass Art. Marketing Where Do I Begin Marketing My Small Business? by Mark Veit Launching and maintaining a small business is no easy task, especially in a field such as glass art. Important things to consider include treating every person you meet as a potential customer, developing recognition for your art and business, offering a personal touch to clients, and using social media to your advantage. AGG News The Rumors of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated Text and Photography by Tony Glander The American Glass Guild (AGG) annual exhibition, Art Glass Now, helps to keep the art of stained glass alive and well. The exhibition is typically in place a month or two in the conference city, then travels to the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., allowing the public to see great traditional and contemporary designs. Architectural Glass Calley O’Neill Public Art in Service to Ecological Balance by Colleen Bryan Photography of Finished Mosaics by Kealaoha Bower Calley O’Neill’s passion for public art and social ecology have been established for decades, as have her practical skills of drawing, mural making, design, and stained glass. She had no idea how these diverse art forms would weave together until she found a way to integrate them into stained glass public art murals. SGAA News Come Join the Conversation! Photography by Neil Cippon, Beyer Studio The Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) will be holding its 108th Annual Summer Conference, The Art of Business and Glass, July 31 through August 2, 2017. This three-day conversation offers wonderful lectures and classes and a chance for attendees to talk with their peers on ways to find success in glass art. Emerging Artist An Homage to the Sea Morgan Rodriguez and Glasspow by Shawn Waggoner Morgan Rodriguez studied with glass master, William Gudenrath, at The Corning Museum of Glass, and subsequently established her flameworking studio Glaspow in her garage. Through trial and error and watching other artists, she mastered the techniques necessary to replicate her nature-based forms in glass using a Mirage GTT torch and borosilicate glass.