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May 10 – September 7, 2009
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Hodge Gallery: Current Exhibition
Seventh-Inning Stretch
July 3 - September 20
Exhibition Opening Reception: Friday, July 3 at 6pm
Nancy Callan's blown glass combines the complexity and elegance of the Venetian tradition with the wit and aesthetic sensibility of a contemporary artist.
Based in Seattle, Wash., Callan is highly influenced by pop culture and her work references sources such as comic books, children's toys and high fashion in her ongoing series.
"Rich in craft and technique, these works build upon the past to create forms and patterns that are both modern and playful. Callan represents a generation of glass artists that have come from the hot shops and classrooms of the pioneers of the studio glass movement, she herself studying, teaching with and assisting such prominent artists as Lino Tagliapietra, Ginny Ruffner, and Josaiah McElheny. The variety of ideas and shapes presented in the exhibition speak to her own unique voice in the field, and the ways in which the artist's sensibilities and the working of glass are inseparably linked," said Art Martin, collections manager and assistant curator for Muskegon Museum of Art located in Muskegon, MI.
Intrigued by the relationship between textiles and glass, Callan created a series called Winkles to explore the potential of Venetian cane techniques to create complex patterns. The tall forms are called Winkles after Rip Van Winkle's long stocking cap.
Bee Buoys and Bee Butts are two playful series of wall and table sculptures inspired by the bumblebee. The Bee Buoys can float and spin on their rounded bottoms.
The Stingers possess an air of comedy, made slightly menacing by their pointy cone. Each unique sculpture sports a bold color combination inspired by the costume of a comic book super-hero.
Several works of art including Winkles, Bee Buoys, Bee Butts, and Stingers will be on display at PGC through Sept. 20, 2009.
About Nancy Callan
Since receiving a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1996 and relocating to Seattle, Nancy Callan has been a rising star in the international glass scene. "My work explores the notion of play as an important component in creativity. It is also a dialogue with the challenging medium of blown glass. I am influenced by the bright colors and inflated shapes found in comic books and toys, and by the playful spirit of the unconscious mind. While creating each piece, I try to balance the fluidity of hot glass with the sense of wonder and fun I felt the first time I gathered from the furnace. I believe play is essential not only for the artist but for everyone. When we daydream or play games, we return to our childlike state of mind, where we are free to explore and imagine. This simple joy is a counterweight to our busy lives, and is central to my artistic process," said Callan.
Visit Nancy's Web Site
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