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The exhibition includes pieces by 31 artists from across the United States, with 19 from the Washington, DC area. Sally Hansen, owner of the nationally recognized The Glass Gallery in Bethesda, MD, selected all of the works on view. A reception and gallery talk will be held on Thursday, September 9, from 6-8 PM. The exhibition and reception are free of charge and open to the public. Transformed by Fire: Glass Today includes work by 31 American artists. In making her selections for the show, Hansen wanted to, "create an exhibition that represented both high quality and diversity, providing visitors not only with visual pleasures but also, through diversity, a learning experience." In particular, Hansen notes the importance of fusing-a technique of firing bundled strips of glass into intricate patterns and shapes. Citing the painterly qualities of the method, Hansen notes, "fusing has clearly come of age." Other techniques represented in the exhibition include kiln cast sculpture, flameworking, and glass mosaic, an ancient technique enjoying a revival. Transformed
by Fire comes at a time when an increasing number of regional artists
are working in the glass medium. In fact, 19 of the 31 artists in
the exhibition are from the area. This explosion is due in part
to a commitment to education and newer, state-of-the-art facilities
for fusing and kiln casting. The Glen Echo Glass Consortium at Glen
Echo Park continues to serve as the educational foundation for many
glass artists. Vitrum Studios in Beltsville, MD has a large facility
and was the first school to bring world-class instructors to the
region. More recently, the Washington Glass School in the District
has developed a following for content-driven kiln cast sculpture.
According to Judith Conway of Vitrum Studios (also an artist in
Transformed by Fire), "Facilities like ours tapped into a preexisting
desire among artists, and many now are able to work professionally
in fused and kiln cast glass." Tim Tate (also in the exhibition),
who heads the Washington Glass School, sums up the movement this
way: "For years, Washington, D.C. was the largest urban area
in the United States without access to hot glass. Due to the wave
of kiln casting facilities, Washington became nationally known for
innovations in these techniques and for breakthroughs in methods
and education." Many of the local artists in Transformed by
Fire teach at, or have taken workshops at, these institutions. Target Gallery is the national exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, displaying artwork in all media from artists across the United States and abroad. Located on the ground floor of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Target is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm and other times by appointment. All work in exhibition is for sale. For further information, call Claire Huschle, (Target Gallery Coordinator) 703.838.4565 ext. 4 or email |
Transformed
by Fire: September 1 through October
3, 2004
