Jennifer McCurdy - Ceramic Artist

Ceramic artist Jennifer McCurdy lives on the island of Martha's Vineyard. She has been working with porcelain for over twenty five years. For the last few years, she has been working with structural questions. How thin can the high fire porcelain be before it collapses in the fire? How much can it be cut away and still maintain structural integrity? How can the structural form be integrated with the visual, as in nature? How can the movement of the potter's wheel and the fire of the kiln be reflected in the finished piece, which is rock-hard and permanent?

These pieces feel effortlessly light and airy. It appears as if the experiments are creating a stunning result.

Lynn Latimer - Glass Artist

“I’m very interested in line quality and detail, how the glass moves, and how to draw with these elements in the design process,” says Lynn Latimer. Several of the glass colors “strike” when heated, yielding a delicate fine brown contrasting line where pieces touch. “It lends another subtle bit of definition that I really like and work with in most pieces.” When this level of detail is achieved there is an intimacy, an invitation to study the glass up close, to follow where edges strike, bend, press into one another and shift colors. “If I’ve done my job right the glass draws you in and offers a deeply satisfying visceral experience: it’s enlivening.”

From a long process of spontaneous and experimental fusing tests, delicious “aha” moments are extracted, studied, expanded upon, and put to work, yielding a diverse, richly colored and patterned series of contemporary freestanding glass panels.

Richard Parrish - Glass Artist/Architect

As an artist and an architect, I find inspiration in both the human-made environment and in the vast landscape of the American west where I grew up. I am fascinated by the juxtaposition of the constructed and natural environments, which I often explore in my work. I find that it is critical to my existence to make things with my hands, using real materials. I focus on the integration of meaning, design and technique in my glasswork and in the classes that I teach. I am particularly interested in the interaction of light and color in the environment and in my own work.
-Richard Parrish

Thelermont Hupton - Designers

Thelermont Hupton’s products and furniture have become recognisable through their willingness to reflect social conventions and peculiarities, and their strong visual identity and sometimes surprising functionality. The products are ingrained with the mark of well considered, bold and inevitably lively design.
Both Thelermont and Hupton arrived in the design world via the route of cabinet making and furniture design. They continue to celebrate this medium and build upon their catalogue of projects and products within this field. The emphasis of the furniture design process remains firmly on creating and maintaining a strong visual presence while accommodating the essentials of comfort and functionality demanded by both the domestic and contract market.
At the same time, they have discovered that product design provides a route through which to convey and express their visual commentary in objects. This satisfies their urge to reflect influences that do not initially appear to have their roots founded in design with thoughtful, challenging and useful pieces that are capable of winning acclaim and sales within the critical and serious retail marketplace. Their products are now stocked worldwide.
(text taken from www.thelermonthupton.com)

* Sneak Preview *

These three pieces, originally thought of in terms of hanging on a wall, came alive once I set them in stands meant for pedestals. It just goes to show how often the glass surprises me even after I have an idea what it's all about.

A touch of "dichroic glass" gives these otherwise subtle pieces real kick. Light hits the dichro and simply dances within the glass. It kinda has to be seen to be believed.

These pieces (plus 97 more) will be a part of my solo exhibition, GLASS: Contemporary Fusion. For more details, please read the previous post.

100 Pieces of Glass - Oh my!

I'm prepping my first Solo Exhibition that will take place during the month of July. It's at the Burbank Creative Arts Center with an opening reception on July 9th from 7-9pm. This is an image of my promotional mailer that's just back from the printer.

I'm providing 100 pieces of Glass Art. 65 wall-hanging pieces and 35 free-standing pieces. Mostly fused pieces, but a few throwback stained glass windows and mosaics. If you're at all interested in attending the reception, let me know.

Tastes of my latest pieces

This is a sampling of some of the works I've been producing lately. I've been extremely busy prepping for a solo exhibition of my Glass Art. I've been asked to present 100 pieces of Glass. From July 9th until the 29th, my artwork glass will represent Burbank Creative Arts Center's first delving into the Glass World. Needless to say, I'm thrilled.

My stock had about 60 pieces and after culling through them, I've set a few aside as "Retired." I've been making tons of new pieces, ones I'm pretty thrilled with. With that being said, with a few months to go, I've got about 70 I'm happy with. 30 to go!

Deciding how to hang each piece has been a challenge to say the least. Glass, in its very essence, is heavy, fragile, delicate. Deciding how each piece is going to hang individually from the one next to it is almost as big a challenge as physically producing the pieces.

The next few months are going to be amazing!

The Gray Hotel - Milan's latest modern Inn

Stairway to Heavenly Design

The Gray Hotel, in the shadows of Milan's Duomo, is a forward-looking space in a city steeped in history. Interior Designer Guido Ciompi's mantra, "culture revolves around modernity", welcomes one to an oasis of contemporary design amongst the buildings and monuments of one of Italy's most stylish and aesthetic-conscious cities.

The hotel, rich in color bursts here and there, is on the forefront of a newer type of boutique hotel that seem to be popping up everywhere. While the stately establishments around the world are able to charge an arm and a leg due to their reputations, the smaller hotels, like the Gray Hotel, are able to afford the visually-aware traveller with an experience that is artistic, comfortable and a bit easier on the wallet.

Susan Clusener - Ceramic Artist

"My hands are convenient and frequent objects of interest. My fingers alone have so much going on below the surface: blood pumping, nerves sensing, muscles contracting. All of this movement, activity – life – happening unconsciously and for decades. Sometimes this unconscious becomes conscious. I become aware of all the goings-on under my skin, aware of my livingness. It is both exciting and frightening, this awareness of my vitality and its intrinsic finiteness." I like that. Seems like those words could have been spoken by sculptors, musicians, surgeons or just about anyone else that uses their own hands as another tool towards the desired end-result.

For Susan, It's not all about fruit. Her pear pieces, however, hold a certain appeal to me. Her "Stone" series, also thought-provoking and unique are certain to sooth eyes as well.

For more works by California-based Susan, visit her website; www.susanclusener.com

Neil Dawson - Creator of "Double-takes"

"Horizon", the steel sculpture from New Zealand's Neil Dawson, looks as if it's either an optical illusion, hallucination or comic book page come to life. Sitting on sculpture connoisseur Alan Gibbs' property, this imposing piece of art is nearly 50 feet tall and over 115 feet long!

Imagining what it took to fabricate and install this provocative installation boggles the mind.

Winter - 2010

This is my very latest. This snowy landscape is the first in a series of "The Seasons".

The tree image was adhered to the glass via a decal transfer. A ceramic decal, one that could withstand the enormous temperatures of the kiln, was originally burned onto a single, clear piece of glass. The glass was placed atop a stack of white & sky blue glass that created the horizon line. White frit (crushed glass) was set on top of the tree decal, as if the branches received a blanket of snow.

I was originally going to go all artsy-fartsy on it, thinking in terms of red frit flying all over the place. Didn't look right. I removed all the frit. My wife looks at it and says, "Use white." Classic.

AK47 Space - Industrial Design

Italy based AK47 Space brings new meaning to the term "It's gettin' hot in here" with their distinctive firewood holders. Each design brings a sex-appeal and style to the usual humdrum bucket. Spanning vertical space or disguised as the modern house's furniture, the holders bring the outside inside and remind one of the visual treat that only nature can deliver.

LA Omni Hotel - Noe Restaurant, Interior

I've just finished up my installation on this project, adding a Decorative Glass element to the interior of Noe Restaurant at the Los Angeles Omni Hotel. There are two Fused Glass panels suspended by ceiling-mounted brackets within two empty alcoves. Alongside the walls of the alcoves are shelf brackets that hold onto glass shelves containing the chef's herb garden pots.

The panels, 26" x 48" and 16" x 48", were created at the studio of my friend Cristy Lyon's Pomegranate Glass. Her kiln interior, measuring 30" x 60" was perfect for these two panels. Burning for more that 24 hours per panel, these windows took almost twice the time I'm used to for my smaller pieces.

The color scheme was determined by one factor, it was to match the glass wall that sits just outside the restaurant on the patio. A simple reversal of the two colors gave this installation its own feel while maintaining a continuity with the rest of the restaurant. A previous blog posting of the outdoor wall of glass can be seen on November 11th, 2009

Sissi Westerberg - Designer

Silver and Plastic Brooch, 2002
Silver Candlestick


Originally a Jewelry designer by education, Sissi Westerberg's interest in body-adornment has gradually shifted to an interest in the body itself. Most of her projects revolve around the idea of intimacy and belongingness, trying to create a sense of connection between our selves and the surrounding world, often using body-like shapes and materials in connection to well known everyday objects. Westerberg also has a great interest in developing alternative and more organic design-strategies, involving other people in the creative process. This among other things has resulted in a “Do It Yourself-kit” for the design store Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm and a number of collaborative projects with the art/craft/design-collective S U B.

Leo, Leo Beautiful

While learning about my new camera, I snapped these photos of my son, Leo.

My camera, a Nikon D90, seems to have all kinds of magic inside that little black machine.

I hope these shots are an indication of other simple, yet thought-provoking photographs to come. My eye, geared towards all things well-designed, is anxious to start looking at more things with "depth of field", contrast and composition all in mind.

My take on Coral

I learned a "technique" during my ongoing glass making education that makes my glass pieces look like coral. I like coral. I like that it is a completely organically shaped part of our earth. I like that each piece is predominantly one color, yet coral from around the world comes in countless colors. I like that it's mysterious, unique and interesting. ...and beautiful.

This piece uses a few different materials. There's the regular clear glass that acts as the structured backbone. Then, there's white crushed glass, frit, covering the clear glass. Clear frit was poured on the whole piece afterwards. Finally, a red powered glass is the final step that gives the piece the impression of the coral.

Still curious about the "technique" that gives this piece that coral look? Sorry. Like a magician, I can't reveal my secrets.

Javier Senosiaian - Organic Habitat Architect

Mix equal parts Wonka's Chocolate Factory, "Lord of the Rings" shires, Gaudi's visions, Dali's flair for the fantastical and you get close to Mexico's Javier Senosiaian's Nautilus House. The Nautilus House is a ferro-concrete construction coated with polyurethane and UV-resistant elastomeric waterproofing. Inside it comprises a complex labyrinth of rooms and interconnecting tunnels.

Virtually no right angles are in this house - such an uncommon feat that it makes your head spin. The wonder doesn't stop at this house, however. Senosiaian's entire portfolio is comprised of uber-colorful structures, organically shaped homes, voluptuously curved exterior landscapes and interiors that create the womb-like sensation of being safe & comfortable.

Please take a long visit to the website, www.arquitecturaorganica.com for more inspiration.

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.