#blown glass
Bagged Bags, 1983. John Littleton (American, b. 1957) and Kate Vogel (American/British, b. 1956). Glass, etched on bottom.
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“Tulipes” A Glass Luminaire on Metal Stand, Marcilhac no. 2005, designed 1925.Marks: engraved R. Lalique. 45.0 cm high.
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It was 30 years ago at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art that Alex Brand was introduced to the art of glass-blowing. “My degree is actually in jewelry making and metal-smithing, as one could not major in glass-blowing at the time,” he explains. “[However], I liked the scale, activity, and immediacy of the glass and knew pretty quickly that I had a gift for it and wanted to do it professionally.” Ever since, Alex has dedicated himself to the art, earning numerous awards and working and teaching in many esteemed venues such as the studio at the Corning Museum of Glass. Alex has also participated in several respectable shows and exhibitions, including the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show. His glasswork can also be found in many permanent collections including that of the Mobile Museum, of Mobile, AL, the Fuller Craft Museum of Brocton, MA, and Harvard University. Alex now lives in Lewisburg, West Virginia, where he enjoys the supportive and inspiring art community the town has to offer. He and his wife Susan also co-own the Virtu Gallery and Glass Blowing Studio, which is part of the Greenbrier Resort’s Artist Colony.
For Alex, aesthetic and artistic inspiration comes most from seeing the art of others. His time at Corning was especially influential, as he was exposed to other glass artists as well as numerous pieces of exemplary historical and contemporary glass. From blown-glass pagodas to celestially inspired bowls, Alex’s impressively diverse array of works certainly speaks to a vast breadth of experience and influence, leaving those who view his work eager to see more.
This year, Alex’s piece Bubble Encalmo Bowl earned an Award of Merit in the eighth annual The Best of West Virginia Open Juried Exhibition, which is sponsored by Tamarack and the Tamarack Artisan Foundation. Exhibition judges Tim Glotzbach (Berea, KY) and Jennifer D. Anderson (Roanoke, VA.) were especially captivated by the way in which Alex’s piece gracefully explores the relationship between physical form and environmental light. “The simple and straight forward utilitarian shape of this glass bowl was the perfect vehicle for an amazing display of color and reflection,” they stated in their juror’s statement. “[This] bowl was one of the best examples of an artist exploiting light to create a sensory experience that transcended the expectations of a simple, elegant form. The secondary ‘art work,’” they added, “exists in the reflection of light and color on the pedestal.”
Please join us in congratulating Alex for earning the Award of Merit for in the 2015 Best of West Virginia Open Juried Exhibition. Also on view in the gallery is his Black and Gold Saturn Bowl. Be sure to stop in and see them soon – the show will run until August 9.
For Greenbrier County artist Alex Brand, aesthetic and artistic inspiration comes most from seeing the art of others. He derived considerable influence during his time as an instructor at the CorningMuseum of Glass in New York, where he was exposed to other glass artists as well as numerous examples of historical and contemporary glass.
Another, perhaps more unexpected influence came from the partnership the Corning Museum held with Celebrity Cruise Lines. The pair put glass-blowing studios on three ships, affording artists like Alex the opportunity to integrate globally influenced characteristics into their work as they traveled the cruise circuit. “I got the chance to go on several cruise contracts and [was able] to see a good part of the world while blowing glass on the 14th deck of a cruise ship,” he explains. “While I was touring the Mediterranean, I saw marble everywhere and was inspired to make blown glass look like marble. While on the ship, I had the time to research and develop this idea and the technique has now become a very popular aesthetic in my work.”
Alex’s signature marble pieces are a unique, contemporary twist on a classic motif. He uses marble patterns in a variety of ways, from striking surface decoration on modern forms to literal representations of Classical symbols. Such is the case with a small marbleized vase that is balanced atop a blown glass ionic column, which is one of five marble-influenced glass works currently on display in the David L. Dickirson Fine Arts Gallery. More of Alex’s work can also be found in the Greenbrier Artist Colony, where he owns and operates the Virtu Gallery and Glass Blowing Studio with his wife, Susan.
art museums
Beacon to the Community @ Cary Fire Station #8 by Arthur Stern
With hand blown and hand rolled glass in its windows, this fire station stands out in North Carolina.
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