Aug. '96
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Glass: More than meets the eye.
It has been written that glass could easily be the eighth wonder of the world. Its origins remain a mystery. Pliny relates the legend of a group of Phoenician sailors building a hearth on sand dunes with blocks of saltpeter from their ship's cargo. When they lit the cook fire, a translucent rivulet of some new fluid trickled forth, forming a vitreous material in the embers. There could be some truth in the story, as the basic component of glass is sand (silica) fused with an alkaline substance (soda) which was obtained from seaweed in ancient days. The earliest glass vessels which can be dated are three vases with the cartouche of Thothmes III (15th dynasty, 1501-1449 BC). One of these vases is in The British Museum, one in Munich, and one in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Mew York City. Glass is exciting to work with because at various stages in its manufacture it can be blown, molded, twisted, painted, cut, engraved, and impregnated with color. Glass can be clear or glowing with color, decorative or useful, and is essential in many objects for scientific experiments. Glass is known for practicality and beauty, from art glass and Philip Johnson's glass house in the woods to modern and antique pieces for the dining room table. The American Craft Museum, 40 West 53rd Street, New York City show called "Breaking Barriers", runs through October 13, 1996, exhibiting ingenious, inventive glass pieces by well-known artists such as Dale Chihuly and Wendell Castle. Leo Kaplan Modern at 965 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10021, (212) 535-2407 is a continuing source of art glass. Most of their artists have been exhibiting since the 1970's in individual and selected group shows. The work of the following glass artists is available at this gallery:
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