Tagliapietra on DVD
September 12, 2008
The Corning Museum just released a new Lino Tagliapietra documentary that I’ve been told is excellent. If you’re a glass video junkie like me, you’ll probably want to get your own copy, but since mine’s on the way there’s no rush. I can guinea-pig it and let you know how it comes out. 
Holy Sapphirability
September 10, 2008
The Bombay Sapphire folks are back with the finalists in this year’s international glass competition, asking designers and artists from around the world to come up with the best martini glass.
Even if you’re not a martini fan, you’ve gotta see some of the designs. They make me want to head to the kitchen and throw out the Baccarat. (Yeah, like I’ve got a lot of THAT…) A few, like the US entry, are fine but not exactly what James Bond would reach for. Others? Wow.
Meaningful(less) art
August 24, 2008
So I’m in a gallery (not owned, managed or as far as I know displaying the art of anyone who reads this blog), looking at one particular (and very expensive) work, and a nice-looking fellow sidles up to me. “I love that one too. Doesn’t it just hit you? The sense of isolation, the rejection of modern materialism, the knowledge that all our aspirations eventually decay. He’s really making a statement of urban life, isn’t he? I have nightmares about this piece, it’s so powerful.”
We were looking at a chunk of frosted glass on a rusted steel base. So help me.
Creative process, part I
July 14, 2008
Spent hours at GAS (the Glass Art Society conference) last month asking glass artists how they create–not the technical part so much as the inspiration and content part–and was kind of surprised at what came out of my very unscientific survey.
Most appeared rather surprised by the question, clearly hadn’t considered WHY they do what they do, and had a lot of trouble separating creative process from technical production details. A few had absolutely pat answers that sounded like well-rehearsed artist statements.
What I most liked, though, was talking with people who hadn’t thought about it before. It was fun to listen as they verbally ran through the creation of their work, looking for patterns. I got a lot of “Hmmmmmm….how DO I create?” murmurs, which tells me this may not be something the average artist thinks about. [Read more]
The power of laughter…and Ted Sawyer
June 27, 2008
I will never again sniff at all those perky little “power of laughter over pain” people. By golly (or in my case, by gum), it works.
Earlier tonight I was having trouble seeing over the knot of pain in my jaw caused by an infected tooth. I came yay-close to bagging the evening’s entertainment–Robyn had snagged tickets to a play in the Pearl–and thought of just going home to sob in my pillow.
In the end, I couldn’t figure out a way to decline without sounding whiny. We ate a fast dinner at Life of Riley, distinguished for slow service, salty so-so food and rather large checks, considering it was happy hour. Not really worth reviewing.
Then we scooted over to the Armory building, to the Portland Center Stage, and saw “Little Dog Laughed.” Fifteen minutes into the first act I was laughing so hard that it took another 15 minutes before I realized that I was pain-free for the first time in four days.