Steve Tobin

DOCUMENTATION 1957 1973 CHRONOLOGY Born Steven Robert Tobin on 10 February Begins studying physics, transferring in , . Shares fascination with natural world to theoreti- February 10 birthdate of his mother, cal world. Physics, art, and music become Frances Emanuel. interweaving passions.

1964 1975

Family moves to heavily wooded property Is selected in citywide search for applicants with abundance of wildlife in Villanova, for post of research assistant to the physi- Pennsylvania. Interest in nature is sparked cist Dr. Campbell Laird, a Nobel Prize- and Tobin is cited for first honors in winner, who is conducting six-month “Nature” at Penn View summer camp. experiment on structure of matter at University of Pennsylvania. Experiment involves growing crystals in metal, polish- 1967 ing them, and studying formations under electron microscope. Father builds tree house in large oak trees on property. There Tobin feels more at home with leaves, branches, sky, animals, 1976 elements than he does indoors. Below trees is a fire over which he cooks. Later work Attends Tulane University because school springs from this tree house of his youth, has electron microscope available to with fire and nature as early influences undergraduate students; also has strong and providing endless inspiration. music department. In first year in college continues to study music, physics, and mathematics and takes ceramics course. 1970 Takes mathematics in summer school.

Encounters glassblowing as physics experiment at Haverford School, leading 1977 to his buying torches to make decorative objects, such as glass trees. Takes train into Interest in ceramics increases; begins Philadelphia to buy glass tubing and sells exhibiting work in statewide competitions. glass objects on streets of New York City. Plays in campus jazz bands. Interest Loves using fire and transforming glass evolves from physics to theoretical mathe- through fire; early marriage of science and matics. Travels alone to Central America, art. Attends eight-week survival camp in learns to speak Spanish, and visits many Canada and learns to live off land. pottery factories and studios.

1971 1978

Begins serious study of saxophone with Gene Koss, ceramics professor at Tulane world-renowned, classical saxophonist, University, builds glass studio with Tobin’s Arthur Hegvik, whose high level of com- assistance. Tobin plays music profession- mitment strikes chord that would resonate ally in clubs around New Orleans, with for years. Learns that hard work lays foun- James Booker and others. Develops his dation for expression of inspiration. own glass-blowing techniques and work is chosen for traveling museum shows. Assists Peter Voulkos at ceramics work- 1972 shop at Tulane. Meets Christo at a work- shop and is impressed by his scale Follows eldest sister, Lynne, into art depart- fabrication process and collaboration ment at Harriton High School, Rosemont, with environment. Pennsylvania, where is introduced to pot- ter’s wheel; has natural facility with clay. Lifelong obsession with the material and its processes begins. His teacher, William Latina, stresses highest level of craftsman- ship, influencing Tobin’s work thereafter. 1

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1 Steve Tobin installing Roots at the American Museum of Natural History, 2000. 2 Casting an Earth Bronze, 1997. 3 Tobin building Teepee, 1990. 4 Pouring bronze into a glass torso mold, 1991. 5 Removing the molds from a termite mound in Ghana, 1997. 6 The villagers of Nswam in Ghana working on a Termite Mound, 1997. 7 Tobin blowing glass, 1989. 8 Tobin and his installation team in the Retretti Caves, 1993. 9 Tobin in his studio, 1988.

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8 1979 1989

Graduates with bachelor’s degree in theo- Becomes first foreigner invited to build retical mathematics. Moves to North own studio in Murano, Italy. Travels Carolina, builds glass studio, and begins between studios in Italy and United States. showing work at Heller Gallery in New Learns to speak Venetian dialect. York. Attends Pilchuck Glass School, Washington State, and Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina. 1990

Begins cast-glass series titled Doors; unprecedented process of casting bronze 1980 and glass together in same mold. Moves to Check, Virginia, and builds sec- ond glass studio. Has first solo exhibition in New York at Spring Street Enamels 1993 Gallery. Has first retrospective with Marc Chagall at Retretti Art Centre in Finland. Installs Water Columnat American Craft Museum 1982 (now Museum of Arts and Design) in New Leaves studio in Virginia and becomes York. As last blown-glass piece before offi- a vagabond glass blower. Returns to cially retiring from glass making, blows Penland and Pilchuck as a teaching assis- world’s largest bottle—later included in tant. Teaches at the New York Experimental Guinness Book of World Records(1995)— Glass Workshop and at Colorado Moun- to raise money for the artist’s fellowship tain College. program at Creative Glass Center of America, Millville, New Jersey.

Begins work in metal sculpture. Philip 1983–1984 Berman, chairman of Philadelphia Receives seven-month fellowship at Museum of Art, arrives unannounced at Wheaton Village, Millville, New Jersey. Tobin’s studio and invites him to join a Here foundation for many concepts for Triangle Artists’ Workshop, working in future glasswork is formulated. Makes steel, granite, and marble with interna- first outdoor installation (Waterglass), tional group of metal and stone sculptors a Glass River in Millville. Is invited to in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Berman blow glass at the Seguso Vetri d’Artes becomes mentor. in Murano, Italy.

1994 1985–1986 Builds bronze foundry and begins to cast Is invited to teach glass sculpture at bronze. Tokyo Glass Art Institute, learns to speak Japanese, and has numerous successful exhibitions throughout Japan. 1995

Publishes catalogue, Steve Tobin: Recon- structions, with exhibition at Philip and 1987 Muriel Berman Museum of Art, College- Returns to United States from Japan, pur- ville, Pennsylvania, documenting two chases residence and studio in Pleasant years’ work in metal. Makes the thirty- Valley, Pennsylvania. Builds hotshop and foot-long Bone Wall. develops studio.

1996 1988 Begins Earth Bronzes series with Forest Exhibits first large-scale (five to fifteen Floor bronzes, casting the earth in bronze. feet high) blown-glass sculptures, titled Cocoons, at Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia. 1997 2001

Mortgages home and studio to finance trip Begins Lantern Houseseries using glass to Ghana, West Africa, to make bronze lantern slides from 1800s. Revisits Murano castings of termite hills. Revives acquain- and Venice with installation of Lantern tance with Peter Voulkos who advises Houseat Marco Polo Gallery. Dismantles Tobin to return to clay as a medium. Earth Bronzes show at American Museum of Natural History one day before attack on World Trade Center. 1998

Exhibits Earth Bronzes at Fuller Museum 2002 of Art, Brockton, . Show moves to New York and exhibited simulta- Lantern Houseexhibited at George Eastman neously at OK Harris and artetindustrie House in Rochester, New York. Major year- Gallery. Phil Berman dies. Retains long exhibition of Earth Bronzes, titled Kathleen Rogers as manager. Tobin’s Naked Earth,installed on grounds of Page Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Hancock Park, Los Angeles, with ancillary exhibit 1999 at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, underwritten by Wolfgang Puck Installs year-long exhibition of Earth and Barbara Lazaroff. Exhibition of Earth Bronzesat American Museum of Natural Bronzes at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, History in New York, with ancillary Pennsylvania. exhibition at Montefiore Park in West Harlem. Exhibition featured in Newsweek magazine. Roots sculpture is centerpiece of Vancouver International Sculpture Project in Vancouver, British Columbia, and later, in Kirkland, Washington. 1979 1992

Sculptured Glass,Bienville Gallery, New Steve Tobin, Transformations: Three SELECTED SOLO Orleans, Louisiana Installations in Glass, Lehigh University, Wilson and Hall Gallery, Bethlehem, EXHIBITIONS AND Pennsylvania, 4 September–22 October, INSTALLATIONS 1980 catalogue Glass Portraits, Hanson Gallery, New Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida Orleans, Louisiana

Glasscapes, Spring Street Enamels Gallery, 1993 New York Steve Tobin at Retretti,Retretti Art Centre, Punkaharju, Finland, 5 May–8 August, 1982 catalogue

Glass Sculpture,Gallery 10, New York, 11–31 December 1994

Sanske Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland 1985 Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida David Bernstein Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, 18 September–9 October 1995 Manhattan Bowls, Snyderman Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Steve Tobin: Reconstructions,Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 19 1986 September–22 November, catalogue

Wheaton Ware, LaVaggi Gallery, New York Steve Tobin: Reconstructions,Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Glasscapes, Glass Gallery, New York 6 October–14 November

Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona 1987

Dream Glass, Axis Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 1996 30 May–8 June Matzoh House,Gallery B.A.I., New York, Glass for Tea Ceremony,Tazawa Gallery, 26 November–21 December Kyoto, Japan

1997 1988 Broadway River, New York University, Steve Tobin: The Glass Garden,Moore Broadway Windows, New York College of Art and Design, Levy Gallery for the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 4 November–9 December, catalogue 1998

Earth Bronzes, Fuller Museum of Art, 1989 Brockton, Massachusetts, 15 January– 15 March, catalogue Cocoons, Holsten Galleries, Palm Beach, Florida, 7 December 1989–9 January 1999 Earth Bronzes, OK Harris, New York, 23 May–20 June, catalogue

Earth Bronzes, artetindustrie Gallery, 1990 New York, 23 May–20 June, catalogue Cocoons, Judy Youens Gallery, Houston, Texas, 8 September–13 October

Steve Tobin,Sanske Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland, 21 April–16 June 1999 Earth Bronze Trilogy – Part I, Buschlen- Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver, Canada, 9– Cocoons, Corning Museum of Glass, 31 January Sculpture Gallery, Corning, New York, 7 June 1999–30 June 2001 2002 2000 Tobin’s Naked Earth,George C. Page Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, Earth Bronzes, American Museum of California, 5 October 2002–30 October 2003 Natural History, New York, 1 November 2000–10 September 2001 Tobin’s Naked Earth,Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 5 October Earth Bronzes, Montefiore Park, West 2002–30 October 2003 Harlem, New York, 1 November 2000– 10 September 2001 Lantern House,George Eastman House, Rochester, New York, 22 June–31 December

2001

Earth Bronzes, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, October 2001– September 2002 Baca, Judy. “A Permanent Home.” ———. “Monuments to the Insect Gods.” Norristown (Penn.) Times Herald, Allentown (Penn.) Morning Call,3 May SELECTED 28 August 1995, sec. D, p. 1. 1998, sec. F, p. 1. Barnes, Lisa Tremper. Steve Tobin: Recon- Glueck, Grace. “Gladly Glassy-Eyed at BIBLIOGRAPHY structions. Exh. cat. Collegeville, Penn.: the American Craft Museum.” New York Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Observer,June 1993. Ursinus College, 1995. Goodale, Gloria. “The ROOTS of his Bilau, Geoffrey. “Nature vs. Nurture.” ART.” Christian Science Monitor, 18 Pasadena (Calif.) Star News, October 2002, October 2002, p. 13. pp. 12–13. Goodman, Jonathan. “Steve Tobin at Bird, Tim. “Glass Magician.” Finnair Blue Art et Industrie and O.K. Harris.” Art in Wings. June-July 1993, pp. 36–37 and cover. America, September 1998.

Cash, Stephanie. “Public Sculpture.” Art in Gross, Richard. “A House of Glass.” America Annual,2001–2002, p. 50. Stained Glass Quarterly, summer 2002, pp. 116–17. Check, Erica. “Preserving a Bug’s Life.” Newsweek,6 November 2000, p. 73. Julian, Debbie. “Earth Bronzes.” Gallery Guide New York, June/July/August 1998, Clark, Kathryn F. “Dramatic Vision.” p. 17 and cover. Doylestown (Penn.) Intelligencer * Record, 23 December 1993, sec. C, p. 1. King, Kelly. “The Natural.” Philadelphia Magazine, June 1999, p. 25. ———. “Industrious Art.” Doylestown (Penn.) Intelligencer * Record,25 July 1994, Koskinen, Ulla. “The Event Itself Is the sec. A, p. 1. Only Truth.” Exh. cat., Steve Tobin at Retretti. Punkaharju, Finland: Retretti Conlin, Michelle. “Sculptor Creates a Art Centre, 1993. Tribute to Victims of the Holocaust.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 November 1994, Lawrence, Jenny. “Events in Nature.” sec. M, p. 1. Natural History, May 2001, p. 16.

Cotter, Holland. “Glass Sculptors Whose Levy Feldman, Kathryn. “The Material Work Transcends Craft.” New York Times, World of Steve Tobin.” Inside Magazine, 18 June 1993. Spring 1997, p. 47.

Crow, Kelly. “Not Quite Creatures Naedele, Walter F. “Artist Sees Nature’s from Outer Space.” New York Times, Secrets in Termite Hills.” Philadelphia 19 November 2000, sec. B, p. 1. Inquirer,1 May 1998.

Csaszar, Tom. Review. Phillip and Muriel Perreault, John. “Steve Tobin: Nature and Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, Beyond.”Exh. cat., Earth Bronzes. Brockton, Collegeville, Penn. Sculpture,January 1996, Mass.: Fuller Museum of Art; New York: pp. 80–81. OK Harris Gallery; New York: artetindus- trie Gallery, 1998. Feldman, Kathryn. “No Glass Ceiling for Main Line’s Steve Tobin.” Ardmore (Penn.) ———. “Ideas and Theatre.” Ceramics Main Line Life,26 December 1996, p. 8. Monthly, March 2001, pp. 59–63 and cover.

Fisher, Don. “Westward Mound.” Allen- ———. “The Murano Mystique.” Glass 81, town (Penn.) Morning Call,24 April 1998, December 2000, pp. 28–35. sec. B, p. 8. Porges, Maria. “Breaking the Rules of Gehman, Geoff. “Resonant Legacy.” Allen- Glass.” ArtToday 2, (1990), pp. 32–37. town (Penn.) Morning Call,2 March 1997, ———. “Glass Does Not Grow in the sec. F, p. 1. Forest.” American Craft Magazine,October/ November 1990, pp. 32–39.

Princenthal, Nancy. “Glass Installations.” Exh. cat. New York: American Craft Museum, 1993, p. 64. Sherman, Mary. “Tobin’s Termite Hills Torchia, Richard. “Steve Tobin: Glass and Beg Us to Consider the World Anew.” Environment.” Neues Glas, March 1989, Boston Sunday Herald, 15 February 1998, pp. 216–21 and cover. sec. A, p. 6. Travis, Mary Anne. “Visual Philosopher.” Small, Michael. “Bronzed Beauties.” Tulanian, Fall 2001, pp. 20–29. People Magazine, 29 June 1998, p. 65. Uslan, Rachel. “Termites and Roots, but Smith, Roberta. “Creativity Overhead, It’s No Problem.” Los Angeles Times, Underfoot and Even in the Air.” New York October 2002, p. 64. Times, 27 July, 2001, sec. E, p. 25. Vaudour, Catherine. “Le Verre.” Neues Sozanski, Edward. “The Art of Nature.” Glas, February 1992, p. 65 and cover. Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, 14 Warmus, Bill. “The Event Itself Is the Only November 2000, sec. F, p. 1. Truth.” Sculpture, March 2001, pp. 30–37. Stemle, Lisa A. “World of Water.” Palm “World’s Largest Blown Glass Bottle,” Beach (Fla.) Sun-Sentinel, 29 April 1994, Guinness Book of World Records.1995, sec. L., p. 1. pp. 78–79. Temin, Christine. “Making Mountains Out of Termite Hills.” Boston Globe, 31 January 1998, sec. F, p. 1.

Tobin, Steve. “When the Unreal Becomes Real,” Chronicle of Higher Education,13 November 1995, p. 76.