Welcome to THE LAST GLASS SHOW! Or depending on how you look at the current state of the world…it might be THE NEXT GLASS SHOW! Either way it is an exhibition that brings together a diverse group of artists and designers, professionals and hobbyist, all of which share a common interest in glass as a creative medium and who are drawn to participate in a national community.
GLASS is not an easy material to work with. It is one of the most common of materials yet it remains one of the most mysterious. It requires collaboration, cooperative studios, and an overall willingness to share ideas and information. It is highly inclusive and like all culture, it is a group activity. This exhibition is as much about the culture that this organization supports as it is about how we contribute to it. The works presented represent the ways in which each person responds to their own set of concerns and circumstances and to the world at large. All who expressed interest have been given the chance to be involved. The inclusion of personal photographs and video provides an intimate view into how glass objectsare lived with and experienced on a daily basis, from the eyes of those who produce it. The Last Glass Show (the NEXT glass show) offers a glimpse into the ideas and efforts that in many ways define our collective identity from coast to coast and beyond. - Ryan Legassicke, curator The Glass Art Association of Canada is a volunteer-run organization. We offer Canadian glassmakers, students, collectors and interested individuals an online glass-network with our association’s e-magazine Contemporary Canadian Glass, our email-based electronic newsletter, and the GAAC home website. The membership would like to acknowledge the people who have made a significant contribution to this exhibition: Current Board Members: Jamie Gray, Rachael Wong, Marcia DeVicque, Benjamin Kikkert, Steven Tippin, Kate Tippin, Wendy McPeak, Gilles Payette, Karina Guevin Previous Board Members & Exhibition Advisors: Sally McCubbin, Brad Copping, Susan Edgerley, Jay Macdonell Membership Coordinator: Christy Haldane Volunteer Coordinator and additional support: Alex Anagnostou, AN, Meagan Smith, Hana Schweighardt, Ash Butti, Patrick Fisher In recent years the Canadian contemporary glass movement has suffered deep losses with the passing of distinct and pivotal members of our community. Many were front and center during the formative period of our history while others were active on a more remote basis and are therefore somewhat obscure to their present day fellows. How best to describe them or ourselves? Artist, craftsperson, designer, educator, curator, dreamers or gambler? Hot, cold or stained? Driven, passionate and obsessed alchemists, or inventors and friends? They operated both as individuals and under the mandated umbrellas of organizations and institutions. They were our colleagues. Without them many of us may not have been here today as participants and or observers in and out of our wonderful activity. Variously they taught or advised us, formed liaisons with organizations, governments or patrons and through different levels and methods of collective action, created a legacy that we continue within today. As creators, they, by intention or otherwise, influenced, designed and formed not only objects but also a community. Their surviving impression is in this room. An exhibition such as this acts as a necessary celebration of the legacy. Also hopefully, an instigation by exhibition. This exhibition is dedicated to the memory and place of honor these individuals –our colleagues, formed and hold in our collective history. As ye sow, so shall ye reap. - Alfred Engerer
"... It gave me the insight to bring things into my own home and sit with them to make sure they were right... Some of my best pieces have sat in my living room for three months before I go, Wow, that is a lot better than I ever thought it was." - Les Manning (An Interview with Les Manning, Studio Magazine fall/winter 2012/13, Toronto, p.16-17) GAAC Members Show - The Last Glass Show (the next glass show)
This is the Last Glass Show! Or depending on how you look at the current state of the world… it might be the NEXT glass show! Either way it is an exhibition that brings together a diverse group of artists and designers, professionals and amateurs, all of whom share a common interest in glass as a creative medium and who are drawn to participate in a national community. Glass is not an easy material to work with. It is one of the most common of materials yet it remains one of the most mysterious. It requires collaboration, cooperative studios, and an overall willingness to share ideas and information. It is highly inclusive and like all culture, it is a group activity. This exhibition is as much about the culture that this organization supports as it is about how we contribute to it. The works presented represent the ways in which each person responds to they’re own set of concerns and circumstances and to the world at large. All who expressed interest have been given the chance to be involved. The inclusion of personal photographs provides an intimate view into how glass objects are lived with and experienced on a daily basis, from the eyes of those who produce it. The Last Glass Show (the NEXT glass show) offers a glimpse into the ideas and efforts that in many ways define our collective identity from coast to coast and beyond. And the definition of in-situ: In archaeology, in-situ refers to an artifact that has not been moved from its original place of deposition. In other words, it is stationary, meaning "still." An artifact being in-situ is critical to the interpretation of that artifact and, consequently, of the culture which formed it. Once an artifact's 'find-site' has been recorded, the artifact can then be moved for conservation, further interpretation and display. An artifact that is not discovered in situ is considered out of context and as not providing an accurate picture of the associated culture. C’est la dernière exposition de verre! Ou si l’on juge par l’état de la planète... C’est peut-être la prochaine! Quel que soit le développement des évènements, c’est seulement lors d’une telle exposition que l’on peut réellement réunir un groupe si diversifié d’artistes et de designers professionnels et amateurs. Ceux-ci partagent une même passion pour les arts verriers et sont attirés par les activités de leur communauté nationale. Le verre, qui n’est pas un matériel facile à maitriser, se retrouve quotidiennement dans notre vie. Tout en gardant ses aspects mystérieux, son utilisation demande de la collaboration et de la coopération en atelier, ainsi qu’une volonté de partage d’idées et d’informations. C’est une activité de groupe, inclusive, comme bien d’autres activités culturelles. Cette exposition reflète aussi bien la culture de notre association que les différentes façons de s’impliquer. Les œuvres présentées représentent diverses interprétations des préoccupations, des circonstances et des perspectives sur le monde. Tous ceux qui ont signifié leur intérêt ont eu l’opportunité de participer. La possibilité d’intégrer des photos personnelles au cœur de l’exposition donnera un regard intimiste sur les relations quotidiennes qu’entretiennent les artistes verriers avec leurs créations en verre. L’exposition offrira différentes idées, approches techniques du verre ainsi que plusieurs représentations de la diversité créatrice de notre collectivité d’un océan à l’autre, et plus encore. En archéologie, in situ réfère à un artefact qui n’a pas été déplacé de son lieu d’origine. L’interprétation de l’objet trouvé se fait donc par la mise en contexte avec la culture qui l’a créé. Ce n’est qu’une fois que l’emplacement de l’objet a été enregistré qu’il peut être retiré du site pour ensuite être conservé, analysé et exposé. Tout artefact qui n’a pas été trouvé en place est considéré hors contexte et n’offre pas une image complète de sa culture d’origine. |
Glass Art Association
|