Glassnewsletter of the National Shards american glass cluB www.glassclub.org Founded 1933 A Non-Profit Organization Autumn 2013 Huchthausen: sor, and museum consultant. For the Company in Toledo, OH, began oper- A Retrospective Woodson Art Museum, Huchthausen ation and soon developed notable rep- developed Americans in Glass exhibi- utations for producing fashionable Glass artist David Huchthausen’s tions in 1978, 1981, and 1984 that wares that were coveted by many work throughout four decades has al- documented the evolution of Ameri- middle- and upper-class consumers. tered the history of contemporary can studio glass from its early empha- The exhibition “American Glass” glass. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson sis on blown forms and hot working showcases objects by these and other Art Museum will hold a retrospective to an explosion of sculptural and con- American glass companies in order to of his work, which will be on view at ceptual forms. illustrate the variety of forms and the museum from November 16, 2013 styles that prevailed during this period. to January 19, 2014. Woodson Art Museum Glass manufacturing techniques will 700 North 12th Street be another focus of the exhibition, with Wausau, WI 54403-5007 representative examples of pressed, www.lywam.org cut, blown, and molded glass. Nearly all of the works on view are from The American Glass Mint Museum’s permanent collection at the Mint Museum of glass, which is second in size only to the ceramics collection in the mu- The 19th and early 20th centuries seum’s decorative arts holdings. represent a time of extraordinary growth for the American glass indus- Mint Museum try. Companies such as the Boston & 2730 Randolph Road Sandwich Glass Company in Sand- Charlotte, NC 28207 David Huchthausen, Leitung B, 2006. wich, MA, Steuben Glass Works in (704) 337-2000 Corning, NY, and the Libbey Glass www.mintmuseum.org Deliberately enigmatic and mysteri- ous, Huchthausen’s work— from his earliest mixed-media sculptures and fantasy and landscape vessels to his trademark integral color laminations and spheres designed to be examined from all directions—strives to tanta- lize and challenge viewers. While an architecture student he gravitated to- ward sculpture and in 1970 discov- ered and experimented with an aban- doned glass furnace on the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County cam- pus in Wausau. He later became Har- vey Littleton’s graduate assistant at UW-Madison and went on to become a Fulbright scholar, university profes- Lamp shades, Quezal Art Glass and Decorating, made about 1905. Glass Shards • Page 2

President’s Letter

Dear Friends, that Marc Chagall created terrific Mother’s Day weekend, which we This has been a busy year for the stained glass, of which we saw several used for many years in the past as National American Glass Club, with examples. We also saw some domes- travel and hotel prices are often better the Annual Seminar in New Bedford, tic stained glass from the same period then. We’ll concentrate on Tiffany for and the September trip to France to as Tiffany, another learning experi- one day, visit several other museums see glass, from which I have just re- ence for me. I can’t say that we saw and have lectures for one day. The full turned. The trip filled up very quickly all of the glass in France, but we cer- program will be published in the next and we had 23 travelers who visited tainly saw most of it. Bulletin. So, put that weekend on your Paris, Nancy, and places in between to Ellen O’Brien has been planning calendar, and plan on attending. see glass collections, museums, and the next Seminar, which will be in Or- several cathedrals. I, for one, learned lando, May 8–10. We’ve gone back to — Jane Shadel Spillman, President

Life Forms by Glass Artist Bryan Randa Shanghai Museum of Glass

The Sandwich Glass Museum is is lampworking, with this he creates The Shanghai Museum of Glass is pleased to present “Life Forms” by beautiful glass creatures of the ocean currently presenting a sparkling exhi- the talented torch and hot glass artist and of the garden. The other is off bition, opened in March, 2013, that Bryan Randa in the Contemporary hand glassblowing in a larger scale. shows the playful and fun character of Gallery on now through October 31. glass design. “Keep it Glassy” shows This exotic display will include a the work of more than 50 designers variety of creatures from our natural from all over the world, including re- world. Some are from the garden like nowned names such as Droog (The hummingbirds, praying mantis and Netherlands), Fabrica (Italy), the dragonflies. A majority of the work Campana Brothers (Brazil) and Tadao will be aquatic life from the ocean Ando (Japan). Over 200 exhibited ob- like octopus, sea turtles, crabs and sea jects have one thing in common: they shells of all kinds! Also on display Using this technique he makes a vari- ety of functional vessels and sculp- tures of colorful glass. This is done at McDermott Glass Studio in Sand- wich, MA where he has worked for nine years within an intense appren- ticeship under David McDermott and Yukimi Matsumoto.

Sandwich Glass Museum 129 Main Street Sandwich, MA 02563 (508) 888-0251 will be a several pieces in a larger sandwichglassmuseum.org scale. Large colorful vases and sculp- ture will be displayed along with a few drinking vessels. Skull Cuernos, Andres Basurto. This talented artist grew up in Iowa and developed a love and curiosity are designed with love and should be for nature and its intricacies at an handled with care. early age. From pencil drawings Throughout time, glass has come a and clay sculpture to graphic design long way. Up until today designers are and ultimately glassblowing. He embracing the materials’ fascinating works within two worlds of ability to take on endless shapes and glass-making. One of which colors. Besides the fact that working Glass Shards • Page 3 Glass Calendar (Confirmation of dates and schedules advised. More information is available on ourWeb page at www.glassclub.org) September 25, 2013–January 12, tions. It is free of charge to attend and centerpieces, Doulton ceramic bases, 2014 will be strictly a NO-SELL zone. Res- three-piece skirted examples, ornate MUSEUM OF GLASS ervations are requested. metal and ceramic high standards, fig- 1801 Dock Street ural china nursery lights, lithopanes, **** Tacoma, WA 98402 figural glass, jeweled ormolu, related (888) 421-5179 October 18–19, 2013 accessories and parts. www.museumofglass.org THE CORNING MUSEUM The same auction will include fine An Experiment in Design Production: OF GLASS Victorian hanging and other lighting The Enduring Birds of iittala One Museum Way from the Donald Scannell estate col- For the past 10 years, the Museum Corning, NY 14830 lection of Kernville, CA. Library of Glass and the iittala company has (800) 732-6845 lamps will feature a rare cranberry di- had a special relationship through the www.cmog.org amond quilt Charles Parker “Starpoint development of a unique line of birds 52nd Annual Seminar on Petticoat” plus other rare jeweled designed by Oiva Tokkia, which have Glass frames and colored umbrella stands, become visitor favorites. The 2013 This year’s Seminar, presented in a banquet and parlor lamps, opalescent exhibition of limited edition iittala new two-day format, will feature lec- stand lamps and more. birds pays special attention to the his- tures and live demonstrations focused **** tory of the glass factory in Nuutajärvi, around the topics represented in the Finland, where the majority of the Museum’s special exhibition, “Life Through November 3, 2013 birds are created and which is sched- on a String: 35 Centuries of the Glass TRAVER GALLERY uled to permanently close in 2014. Bead.” 110 Union St. #200 Hear experts such as Robert Liu, Seattle, WA 98101 Opening November 9, 2013 editor of Ornament magazine, and (206) 587-6501. CAUTION! Fragile. Irish Glass: beadmaker Kristina Logan discuss www.travergallery.com Tradition in Transition historical beads, techniques of bead- Lino Tagliapietra: Profumo Del Vetro Four years ago, Róisín de Buitléar’s making, Native American beadwork, Lino Tagliapietra was born on Mu- Visiting Artist residency at Museum beads used and made in West Africa, rano, a Venetian island which has of Glass inspired her to create an ex- 1920s French fashion, and more. served as the world’s glass capital for hibition to unite her passion for glass Seminarians will also have an oppor- the past millennium. At the age of and the rich tradition and cultural her- tunity to make their own glass bead. twelve, the artist apprenticed with Ar- itage of glass making in her native chimede Seguso. Training for glass- **** Ireland. The exhibition takes a closer blowers on Murano is traditionally look at the emotional, economic and October 26, 2013 structured, rigorous and slow; yet, artistic impact resulting from the mas- JEFFREY S. EVANS & Assoc. within this system, Tagliapietra was a sive closures of Irish glass factories. 2177 Green Valley Lane prodigy. After nine years of assisting, Mt. Crawford, VA 22841 he achieved the title of maestro. Sub- **** (540) 434-3939 sequently, he worked at several of October 12–13, 2013 www.jeffreysevans.com Murano’s greatest factories: Galliano North American Sea Glass Immediately following the first of Ferro, Venini, Effetre International, Association three auctions for the Hulsebus minia- and La Murrina (which he founded). 2013 Sea Glass Festival ture lamps collection, the auction A massive shift in the Studio Glass To be held at the Virginia Beach house will sell over 300 fairy lamps Movement began in 1979 when Taglia­ Convention Center from the collection of Lloyd and Nan pietra accepted Benjamin Moore’s in- 1000 19th Street Graham of Newbury Park, CA. The vitation to teach at Pilchuck Glass Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Graham Fairy Lamp Collection repre- School. There, he established many www.seaglassassociation.org sents all types of glass including cam- enduring professional contacts and On Saturday only (October 12), eo, Burmese, air-trap satin, Nailsea- continuing relationships with stu- there will be a “Collector’s Area” to type, spangle and spatter, enamel dents. The importance of his teaching encourage our collectors to exhibit decorated, opalescent, &c.; and all to the development of glass as an ar- and share about their sea glass collec- styles including hanging, multi-unit tistic medium cannot be understated. Glass Shards • Page 4

Haitian Glass at WheatonArts

A new exhibit, “Remembering collections of Lois Wilcken and Angus Gi­nen: Haitian Vodou Bottles, Flags Kress Gillespie. and Vèvè,” opened September 20 in The displays showcase several the Museum of American Glass at paint­ed-on-glass sacred rattles (ason) WheatonArts­ and continues through created by Pierre. Ason (sacred rattle) January 5, 2014. This exhibition is and bells (klochèt) are also used in one of a series of major presentations rituals. Ason is traditionally made of of Vodou arts at arts and cultural in­ gourds and adorned with beads. Like stitutions around the world that aim the bottles, the painted-on-glass sa- to overcome the misconceptions and cred rattles (ason) present contempo- misinterpretations of the Haitian arts rary interpretations of this art form as and culture and to inspire understand- deemed appropriate by the artist. They ing and appreciation of Haitian crea­ were created in partnership with the Batuque vase, Estudio Campana. tiv­ity and artistic expressions. WheatonArts Glass Studio where the Vodou arts reflect the memories of glass rattles (ason) were made and with glass is a very serious matter of Ginen, the African homeland and the later painted by Pierre in preparation craftsmanship, it is also a fun way of spiritual abode of the ancestors, thus for this exhibition. experimenting that can have surprising creating a sense of cultural identity, Pierre’s vèvè designs are symbolic results. The new exhibition “Keep it shared aesthetics and social cohesive- representations of individual Iwa (spir- Glassy” shows exactly this. ness among the Haitian people. Vodou its). The shape of the vèvè reflects the More than 200 exhibited works are arts are integrated into the Vodou cere­ character of the Iwa for whom it is cre- carefully brought in from all over the monies, but the Vodou Iwa (spirits) ated. Displays of Haitian Vodou flags world to come together in the new also serve as muses inspiring Haitian (drapo) complete the exhibition design tem­porary exhibition space of the artists to create vivid art works that thus providing a more comprehensive Shanghai Museum of Glass. For “Keep relate to universal human values and understanding of the Vodou ceremo- it Glassy,” an international selection join us all in a dialogue about the nies and their meaning as reflected in of designers was made, as the fun of meaning of the past in the present, the art works of the Haitian flag mak- working with glass goes beyond bor- harmony and balance, life, hope, and ers. The flags in this exhibition are a ders of language, style or culture. The possible future. valuable part of the private collection exhibition brings together the works The exhibition’s major focus is the of Nancy Josephson and Ted Frankel. of creative minds that share a common artworks of contemporary Haitian art- interest—a passion for glass and an ist Kesler Pierre, who creates the sa- WheatonArts excitement in working with the mate- cred bottles that adorn Vodou altars, 1501 Glasstown Road rial. the ceremonial rattles (ason) used in Millville, NJ 08332 “Keep it Glassy” is co-curated by Vodou performances and the elaborate (800) 998-4552 COORDINATION ASIA, who also vèvè designs that derive from cosmo- www.wheatonarts.org created the exhibition concept and de- grams traced on the floors during sign for the project. A maze of mirrors Vodou rituals. Each of his bottles is and pools offers surprising perspec- designed to incorporate the physical tives and leads the visitor through the representation and/or the vèvè associat­ selection of exhibits that put a smile ed with the individual Iwa for whom upon your face and show the magic of it is intended. Pierre uses paint to pre­ the material. sent a contemporary artistic vision of the traditional beaded bottles. But he Shanghai Museum of Glass also uses glitter to achieve a sparkling No. 685 Changjiang Xi Road effect similar to that provided by the Shanghai 200231 use of beads. The exhibition also in- P.R. China cludes displays of traditional beaded +86-21-66181970 Vodou bottles that offer a comparison http://en.shmog.org of techniques and designs. Some are E-mail: [email protected] created by the Haitian artist Lina Mi- chel. Others came from the private Glass Shards • Page 5

Mt. Pleasant Glass Museum Gains Notoriety via Out-of-State Publication

As volunteer docents at the Mt. The NewsJournal is a quarterly Pleasant Glass Museum, Scottdale’s publication of the national, nonprofit Don and Cheryel Sechrist are always organization founded in 1994 by a eager to spread the word about the group of collectors and dealers to fos- burgeoning, non-profit entity that cel- ter and encourage the collection, ap- ebrates the area’s rich glass industry. preciation, study, preservation, and The couple recently discovered that in- documentation of early American pat- formation about the museum— which tern glassware, its makers and its contains glass items made locally at place in American life, past and pres- the former Bryce Brothers, L.E. Smith, ent, according to the society’s Web and Lenox Crystal plants—is now ap- site, eapgs.org. pearing in out-of-state publications. Earlier this month, Hearn sent Vivian During a trip in June to Buckhannon, an email requesting she write an article WV, the couple, collectors of local Bryce Brothers covered butter dish. for the NewsJournal about the muse- glass products for 48 years, happened um. “One of our strong commitments on a copy of the April 2013 edition of by Collector Books based in Paducah, to the membership is education. Mu- a magazine called All About Glass KY. “They sold relatively well, con- seums are a great source to learn about which is published by the Museum of sidering the fact that its such an ob- glass history so it is a bit of a natural American Glass in Weston, WV. While scure topic, said Felt, who added that to tell the members about a new muse- leafing through its pages, the Sechrists both books are now out of print but um,” Hearn said. “Cassandra sent me discovered to their delight a brief pro- can be purchased as eBooks at collec- an outline of an article and we went on file of the museum. torbooks.com. to develop the details of an article.” “It took me by surprise,” said Don When Felt found out about the for- The piece will appear in the next edi- Sechrist, 69, who previously worked mation of the Mt. Pleasant museum tion of the NewsJournal due out Aug. for Lenox Crystal before the local in late 2012, he was quick to lend his 15, Hearn said. It focuses largely on plant closed in 2002. When Sechrist support by becoming a member, he the importance of the museum’s do- showed the article to Cassandra Vivian, said. “I became a member as soon as cents like the Sechrists, to the success president of the Mt. Pleasant museum’s I heard about it,” he said. “I know how of the facility, Vivian said. board of directors, her feeling was one difficult it is to start one of these mu- Vivian added that she is currently of pure elation, she said. “It’s just won­ seums. When the American Museum preparing an article on the museum derful,” Vivian said. “We are being of Glass in West Virginia was started for publication in the September edi- accepted into the world of the glass in 1993, there were a few years of tion of Connellsville Crossroads Mag- clubs and the glass museums. We are struggle before the facility gained a azine, which is produced by the Fay- a welcome addition. This is fabulous groundswell of solid support,” Felt ette County Cultural Trust. News of news.” said. “I know the importance of sup- such continued attention to the muse- Tom Felt, editor of All About Glass, port to another museum. I think it’s um makes Sechrist—a former Lenox counts himself as a registered member also important that they’ve gotten lo- Crystal employee—very proud, he of Mt. Pleasant Glass Museum, and it’s cal support, that’s really a key to their said. “I left the factories, but the glass not hard to understand why. “I have a success.” stays in your heart and in your mind. vested interest in Mt. Pleasant glass It certainly doesn’t hurt that Felt Things are moving on pretty good history,” Felt said. As the author of 11 further enhanced such support by in- for our museum and so on. If it keeps books on the glass industry, Felt has cluding a blurb about the museum in growing, it will be good for the tourist written two of them on the history of his magazine. “Our publication does trade in Mt. Pleasant.” the L.E. Smith Glass Company, he try to cover all American glass, so said. The works, titled L.E. Smith we’re supportive of all museums try- —Reprinted from an article published Glass Company—The First One Hun- ing to do the same thing,” he said. Wednesday, July 24, 2013, by dred Years and L.E. Smith—Encyclo- This month, the Mt. Pleasant museum A.J. Panian, Trib Total Media, Inc., pedia of Glass Patterns & Products, spurred the interest of Carl Hearn, ed- http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/ Identification & Values, were pub- itor of the NewsJournal of the Early yourmtpleasant/4371101-74/glass- lished in 2007 and 2011, respectively, American Pattern Glass Society. museum-pleasant#axzz2feoZMLnt. Glass Shards • Page 6

Museum of Glass Presents the 10th Annual Bird Lovers’ Weekend

In recognition of the 10-year anni- Like other recent closures in Europe, been selected as the focus of iittala’s versary of the glassblowing partner- such as the Waterford Crystal factory 2013 residency and this is the first ship between Museum of Glass and in Ireland, Nuutajarvi has reached a year that two birds, rather than one, Finland’s iittala, Inc., the 2013 exhibi- point of no return and is likely to close have been chosen. A limited edition of tion “An Experiment in Design Pro- its doors sometime in 2014. Since 200 pairs of wood ducks will be avail- duction: The Enduring Birds of iittala” 2003, factory glassblowers have come able for purchase exclusively in the (through January 12, 2014) pays spe- from the Finnish glass factory to the MOG Store. cial attention to the history of the iitta- fine art setting of the Museum of Glass Internationally recognized designer la glass factory in Nuutajarvi, Finland. Hot Shop where one-of-a-kind replicas Oiva Toikka has developed hundreds For the weekend celebration, iittala of commercial objects are made before of species of birds for iittala over the master glassblowers Arto Lah­ti­nen and an audience. past 50 years. A display of these birds, Kirsi Antila will work in the Hot Shop As always, the partnership features along with rare prototypes and other and create a selection of Toikka’s bird the design and production of an annual specimens from the Museum’s collec- designs. Other activities include bird- bird specifically for the Museum. A tion and private collections will be on related art activities as part of Family mated pair of resplendently view in the Grand Hall. Day, Saturday, October 12, and live colored wood ducks has Previous birds by Toikka created bird visits from Point Defiance Zoo for the Museum of Glass include and Aquarium on Sunday, October 13. American Goldfinch (2004), Pacific Also on Sunday, the Museum of Glass Water Fowl (2005), Spotted Towhee Store will host a Bird Lovers’ Brunch. (2006), Red-winged Blackbird A selection of the birds created in the (2007), Ruffed Grouse (2008), Hot Shop on Friday and Saturday will Swift (2009), Kingfisher (2010), be available for purchase, and Lahtin- Woodpecker (2011) and Western Tan- en and Antila will be present to sign ager (2012).

these one-of-a-kind sculptures. Western Tanager, Oiva Toikka, 2012.

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