Arline Fisch - Wire Sculptor

After looking at Arline Fisch's sculptures, you won't know if what you're looking at is coral-inspired, sea anenome-inspired or jellyfish-inspired. It's probably all three. With a last name like Fisch, it's not surprising that Arline's pieces take their cue from the sea.

Jewelry, wall art and sculpture are all in the range of this artist who solely uses colored wire to create her vibrantly hued art. She clearly brings new meaning to the term "underwater basket weaver".

Long Platter

Fused & Slumped, this platter, about 2' long, pleasantly surprised me. I especially like the edges, which are not perfectly flat, but have a bit of a true craft feel to them. The edges give the platter genuine character. I've found that the edges of my pieces are oftentimes my favorite parts of the pieces. They're always unplanned and exciting to see for the first time upon opening my kiln door.

This platter continues my main design esthetic; simple, modern, abstract and ultimately "contemporary".

Jen Stark - Paper Artist

Jen Stark has an amazing eye for color. Her artwork, comprised of reams of colored paper, has a 3-dimensionality to it that makes the viewer want to touch the designs. She takes the paper and meticulously cuts the sheets until they resemble "rainbow explosions" that reach off the wall or pedestal they're displayed upon.

It was a trip to France without her usual art supplies that originally inspired Jen to improvise with her creative juices flowing. She purchased a pad of colored paper and began experimenting. She never looked back. Her work has been seen internationally and there's a palpable sensation that she is on the cusp of something gigantic.

Her website, www.jenstark.com is chock full of inspiration.

Markku Salo, Artist & Designer

Finland's own Markku Salo isn't only a glass artist but also a design visionary. One of his many public art installations is the amazing "Tuulipussi (Wind Sock)", installed in 1994 in Helsinki's Malmi House. At 39 feet long, it uses blown glass, diamond sawed, painted and installed in the metal framework.

Salo began his career as a products and graphics designer. From there, his own company opened to fabricate tableware. He graduated to larger-scale installations and from there, the sky's the limit.


An interesting technique that Salo utilizes is his use of metal mesh and wire. He had glass blown into pre-formed cages which left a permanent mesh imprint on the glass. This trademarked idea continues to be a common motif in his work.

He also likes dogs.

The 50's strike again!

This piece of art glass, fabricated about 3 years ago, is now residing in a private residence.

I'm always seeking out inspiration from my usual repetoire... design books, magazines from the 50's & 60's, films, etc. When all those images get whirled together in the blender in my brain, this is what comes out.

I learned to cut holes in the original oval pieces of reddish glass then took the pieces to a ring saw that was able to cut out the larger areas of glass in the center. Once I had created several oval "O's", I placed them all down on a white sheet of glass and full fused the whole thing together. I was very pleased with the results; a googie-like slice of time traveling heaven.

Jaw-dropping, hyperrealistic Sculptures

Ron Mueck, Jamie Salmon and Sam Jinks are sculptors. What an understatement! That's like saying Frank Lloyd Wright built homes.



Ron Mueck has been at the top of his field since he devoted himself to sculpting fine, photorealistic pieces in 1996. He began his career designing visual effects for the film Labyrinth but found his true calling using simple tools and his hands to create some of the most brilliantly realized sculptures since "David". Michelangelo often comes to mind when exploring Mueck's work; both men incorporate the technique of subtly distorting the proportions of their subjects for their desired final product.


Jamie Salmon uses real Human hair in his sculptures. These pieces are so detailed oriented, it could sometimes take months for each piece to be finished.


Australian sculptor Sam Jinks uses silicone in his hyperrealistic sculptures. He cut his teeth in the film industry before he devoted himself to his art full-time since 2004. His pieces, a bit odd & thought-provoking are designed with such loving care that each subject's expression is as honest and... well, Real.

See more at http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/11/mind-blowing-hyperrealistic-sculptures/

Ron Arad, Industrial Designer

The top photo, taken as an abstract image of Arad's Design Museum in Holon, Isreal is a Guggenheim influenced building made up of two separate structures wrapped together by layered steel bands. This project was Ron Arad's first free-standing structure.

This bookcase in the other photo, entitled, "Oh, the Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends", is on display as part of Arad's design and architecture retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Each section was created using stainless and corten steel and is in the shape of a continental state. Measuring 12' x 18', there is plenty of space to house your books, momentos, artifacts or other treasured objects in a totally stylish yet practical setting.

Jeremy Lepisto, Glass Artist

Jeremy Lepisto uses images, often in silouette, that convey images from a real and genuine environment. You see buildings, construction cranes, power lines and street lights just to name a few. You can virtually hear the car horns in the imaginary worlds he creates.

His different series', mostly using muted, transparent background hues, set the tone for a thought-provoking experience.

Check out his technique for various types of fused glass art. It's totally impressive that he makes complex pieces of art look incredibly easy to fabricate by his great photos. http://www.jeremylepisto.com/processstudio.html

He has served on the Board of Directors for the Glass Art Society since 2005.

Chicago's Omni Hotel

Spanning over 49' and suspended from 5 spots on the ceiling, this sculpture was my first commissioned piece for the Omni Corp.

Outsourcing the welding work that fabricated the "spine", I allowed myself the chance to concentrate on building 40 leaded glass panels for this project. 38 panels were used and 2 were built as back-up. I utilized a system that had me building only four different shapes for the glass panels. This way, I was super-efficient in my studio as I cut out the pieces of glass for the four different shapes at the same time saving my countless hours of redundancy.

Everything was placed inside an 18-wheeled truck and shipped to Chicago from Los Angeles. I flew to Chicago and assembled everything within a week with the help of my uncle, Don Linde.

The Structural Engineering firm that assisted me in this endeavor, Chicago-based Tylk/Gustafson/Reckers/Wilson/Andrews came up with a brilliant concept for attaching the steel "leaves" to the spine. Threaded rod was used as the "stem" of the leaves and they were simply twisted in place, on-site, after the initial steel spine was attached to the ceiling. Holes had been created in the spine every 18" inches so the leaves would have a consistent, uniform look within all the chaos of the shapes & colors. Attaching all the leaves literally took only an hour and a half!

It goes without saying that once this was installed and I was able to see it from Michigan Ave., I was bitten by the large-scale Art Glass Installation bug.

Hofburg statues in Vienna

Outside the Gates of the Hofburg, in Vienna, Austria, lies this spectacular sculpture.

The Hofburg is a medieval castle once home to the Hapsburg Empire and arguably the most significant secular building in Vienna.

What began as rough stone ended as the sublime. The details show incredible observation of the Human form... and the ability to re-create it using metal tools is baffling yet inspiring.

Photo by Bob Redpath

Los Angeles Omni Hotel

These photos represent one of my larger-scale installations. Encompassing over 308 square feet of fused glass, this "Bamboo Forest" was built using 110 panels of glass that were installed on-site on the patio of NOE, the fine-dining restaurant at the Los Angeles Omni Hotel.

From the time I first heard about the project until the last glass panel was inserted inside the steel framework, a year and a half had passed. It was an engineering feat that utilized two steel contractors, a cement contractor, a transportation company, City inspectors, permit offices, a structural engineering firm, an 80' crane, street closures, a dedicated hotel staff and many, many nights of continuous glass firings in my kiln.

Wearing many hats afforded me the opportunity to really get my hands dirty and learn worlds more than I originally anticipated. It was a thrilling, gut-wrenching experience that is one of my favorite chapters in my glass-making career.

While downtown, please visit the patio, which is in a pedestrian-safe portion of California Plaza's Water Court at 251 South Olive St, Los Angeles, CA. It's a wonderful, tactile experience to see and feel the glass at any hour of the day or night.

Blue, purple & dichroic orange Bowl

This bowl, with a 14" diameter measurement and a 4" height is my very latest.

Touches of red/orange "dichroic glass" gives this piece a subtle kick once light touches the surface. I personally prefer to NOT overuse the dichroic glass because it's just too trendy and can I say a touch "gaudy"?

Dichroic glass is glass that has an actual metallic surface on one side. Originally, the metallic surface was used by NASA to combat the enormous heat generated by the Space Shuttle re-entering our atmosphere and the fact that the Art Glass Movement has embraced it is exciting to think that there are scientific/artistic minds at work together. When heat (In my case, from a kiln) warms up the dichroic surface, there are fantastic effects that take place. It's kind of like pixie dust on steroids. There's glittery shine and real depth to pieces incorporating dichroic glass.

Maarten De Ceulaer Design Studio

These pieces are made in a close collaboration with one of the most renowned leather artisans in Brussels, Ralph Baggaley. The craftsmanship and detailing is simply sublime and calls for instant admiration. These pieces, though colourful and playful, evoke luxurious and sophisticated atmospheres.
The Pile of Suitcases, first piece in the Leather Collection, wanted to be an answer to all its predecessors, wardrobe closets which were enourmeously big, heavy and static. It is a clothing cabinet rich in poetry, which consists of different volumes, each specifically designed for one type of garments, which can easily be dismantled, separately transported or reconfigured if desired.
- www.maartendeseulaer.com

This takes me away to that faraway place.

Throwback

Another 50's inspired piece?!? "You betch 'em, Red Rider."

This platter, a petit 6" x 11", was fused & slumped inside a glass kiln.

Using an avacado color as the thin green lines and white as the "canvas" for the geometric design, I was able to capture a moment in time with a throwback feel.

It's completely contemporary yet retro-inspired.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

Glass, rock, water... the only thing missing is fire.

This masterpiece, east aurora house, located in East Aurora, New Jersey is a genuine spellbinder


Located in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, Bushman Dreyfus Architects work hand in hand with the client to make sure both parties are satisfied with the end result.

With work ranging from homes to schools to retreat centers to theaters to commercial spaces and beyond, BDA can incorporate contemporary design with current and popular safety and green features to all of their projects.

Irises

This Stained Glass window was built using the "copper foil" technique.

It hangs in a private residence in the Chicago suburbs and measures roughly 17" x 24".

The window colors took their cue from the newly remodeled kitchen where this piece hangs. A soft palate of sage green was painted on the walls and this piece, with its touches of purple, really kicks.

Bercy Chen Studio

Taking its cue from sustainable materials, Bercy Chen Studio LP is an architecture & urban planning firm with design/build capabilities based in Austin, Texas.

The work is influenced by various cultures- whether Islamic, Indian, African or pre-columbian, while maintaining respect for the particular contemporary contextual conditions. They know how to make a little color go a long way.

paraphrased from the website, www.bcarc.com

Retro-a-go-go

This framed, ready-to-hang piece is a throwback to the 50's. I think the design sense of the 50's has never been duplicated with its Wow factor ever since.

I used frit to act as the terrazzo-looking insides of the larger oval shaped pieces. My color selections, again inspired by the "Googie" period, reinforce this piece's attitude. It's about 13" x 18".

Claire Danthois - Furniture Designer

Claire Danthois, based out of Bristol, England, adds a unique spin on her furniture designs. She uses only reclaimed materials and doesn't use glues or finishes. This gives her pieces a tactile feel and a pure natural look.

While designing specific pieces for specific people with specific measurements, Claire explains, "I take measurements of the different proportions between a client's shoulders, lumbar and base of their spine firstly. Then the curvature is worked out using a giant profile gauge that I made specifically for that purpose."

Talk about settling into a good book.

Field of Poppies

This piece, 7" x 12", has a dynamic element to it. Encased in glass, lay hundreds of copper wires meticulously placed to resemble a field of poppies.

Time consuming, but totally rewarding in the end.

Powerhouse-Company

Powerhouse-Company, based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, designed this home, Villa 1.

Built in the woods of Holland, this is such an escapist's dream. The glass used throughout has the feeling of another soul living at the residence. It's visible, yet invisible.

So completely modern, it looks like it's a set from a science fiction film.

Its simple look makes me drool. I'll take two.

The Glass i is born!

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