SYMBIOTIC SPHERES: The interlocking worlds of glass, science, and art

It was wonderful to be included in this exhibition curated by Benjamin Wright and beautifully written about in the Glass Quarterly Magazine by Caitlin Vitalo. I was able to take over a large part of the contemporary wing with objects, installation and video.

This expansive exhibition, curated by Brooklyn artist Benjamin Wright, features over 20 contemporary artists whose work is inspired by science. The artwork on display will allow visitors to explore the role of creativity endemic to both science and art, while showcasing glass as a medium that provides a challenge to their perceived divide. At every turn, glass materially magnifies, distorts and illuminates our transdisciplinary world of wonder.

WORKSHOP: Spectacle of the Everyday, co-aught with Erica Rosenfeld at Urban Glass

Had an amazing time this past summer teaching a workshop titled “Spectacle of the Everyday” at Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY. Shot above is a collaborative exercise of stretching out a bubble using multiple people.

Course description: Students will explore how to transform objects into spectacle, beginning by making objects using hot glass that will be manipulated through coldworking and silvering. Daily demonstrations will show alternative ways to approach object making, and discussions will investigate ideas of attraction and experimentation. The goal of the workshop is to pursue how spectacle impacts and enriches our daily lives. Students should be prepared to expand on their current body of work and be open to challenging personal limitations.

SPACELAB: an interstellar exhibit of Glass Art

SPACELAB is a one-of-a-kind showcase of glass art that explores the great unknown – outer space. This collection of artwork examines human relationships with the universe, including space travel; extraterrestrial beings and intergalactic discoveries; the vastness and mystery of space; and much more. The innovative nature of glassmaking makes it the perfect medium for this subject, which has captured imaginations since the dawn of humankind. The featured work ranges from whimsical and mystical to elegant and awe-inspiring.

Solid States: Fluid Language

Indigo Blue, dry transfer rub-on-letter drawing

I am excited to participate in Solid States/Fluid Language exhibit featuring six artists testing the boundaries of glass will run Sept. 17-Oct. 17 , 2018 at the Hicks Art Center Gallery at Bucks County Community College's campus at 275 Swamp Road. In this exhibition I am installation and installation and rub-on-letter drawings.

The exhibit featuring the work of Jessica Jane Julius, Amy Lamaire, Yixuan Pan, Nate Riccuito, Esther Ruiz and Kristen Neville Taylor explores glass as a wide-ranging language full of expression and subtleties, BCCC officials said.

Join us for a panel discussion 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 26 in Room 257 of Grupp Hall at the Newtown Township campus. That will be followed by a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Hicks Art Center Gallery, including a performance by Pan at 6:15 p.m. followed by a curator's gallery talk.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call 215-968-8425 or visit www.bucks.edu/gallery.

Confluence: Teaching, Making, Ideation and Innovation

Part of CraftNOW’s Craft Month, Confluence: Teaching, Making, Ideation and Innovation is a group exhibition organized by guest curator Thora Jacobson, formerly the Executive Director of both the Philadelphia Art Alliance and the Fleisher Art Memorial. Featuring the work of Doug Bucci, Caroline Gore, Adela Akers, Anna Boothe, Dianne Koppisch Hricko, Matthew Courtney, Mei-ling Hom, Wendy Osterweil, Jon Clark, Jessica Jane Julius, and Susan Hagen, this exhibition celebrates the interconnectedness of local institutions and the influence of teaching artists on colleagues and contemporary makers.

Philadelphia has been a leader in craft and materials-based work since colonial times, and particularly with the growth of art schools over the past 200+ years. Critical to that reputation is the teaching and practicing artists who have influenced generations of students and apprentices. These ten artists have been invited to participate with work that is about both their teaching and personal practice and to consider how those joint practices intersect, align and diverge over time and circumstances. Confluence: Teaching, Making, Ideation and Innovation focuses on artists who have an impact, not just in art schools but also in the community and other settings, and not just in their material discipline. They range from new faculty to ACC fellows, and they are as distinguished as practitioners and innovators as they are mentors and masters.

Included in the exhibition are metalsmiths and jewelers Doug Bucci who teaches at Tyler School of Art, Temple University, and Caroline Gore, on the faculty at the University of the Arts; fiber artist, ACC fellow, and chair emeritus of fibers at Tyler School of Art, Adela Akers; glass artist Anna Boothe (formerly at Tyler School of Art and Salem County Community College; ceramic sculptor Matthew Courtney (adjunct faculty at Drexel University, Westphal College, University of Pennsylvania, UArts and Tyler); former ceramist and now an environmental artist, Mei-ling Hom; and sculptor Susan Hagen (Bucks County Community College).

This exhibition is part of CraftNOW’s Craft Month: a year-round, city-wide exhibition series with the 2018 theme as ‘Making a Difference’. This year’s theme shows visitors how discovering craft promotes positive change, social cohesion, and meaningful dialogue.

The Burnt Asphalt Family celebrating 10 years with 3 events in 2017

The year of 2017 marks The burnt Asphalt Family 10 year anniversary. Co-founded in 2007 it has been an amazing 10 years. For this year we celebrated by performing at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk VA as a preview for the GAS conference, heading immediatly after to Wheaton Arts to recreate parts of "Around the Campfire", and ending the year helping Urban Glass Celebrate their Birthday. Check out this video of Around the Campfire.

Detail of 12 foot black glass blackberry platter table spread serving fruit, red velvet cake, and gummy cherry dome lights

Visiting Artist Lecture at Rochester Institute of Technology

Full-time Position at Tyler School of Art, Temple University

I am so excited to announce I have recieved the Full-Time NTT position in Glass at Tyler School of Art. After teaching as an adjunct in Glass at Tyler for almost 10 years I am now able to focus all my energies to the program. One I am completely honored to be a part of. With an amazing group of faculty and students I am inspired everyday. Thank you Tyler!

Glass Art Society, Board Member and appointed to the executive committee

Last year I accepted a nomination to become a board member for the international Glass Art Society. At first I did it with hesitation but after a year with the current board members and the Norfolk conference I found it to be so rewarding. I am honored to have a voice in one of our major organizations in glass, be able to help GAS evolve, to get more connected to the international community and to make new friends has been more then worth all the time put in. Recently I accepted an appointment as Secretary on the executive committee. Very excited to see how this year plays out with the Murano Conference so close. Hope to see everyone there!

Teaching at Urban Glass

I am excited to be teaching a workshop this July at Urban Glass in Brooklyn NY call Adaptive Processes: combining Flameworking and Hot Shop techniques. Click Here to sign up

This 2 week course is split between the flameworking studio and the hot glass studio. In the first week, we will focus on developing flameworked structures, patterns, networks, and systems through manipulating soft glass cane and threads. In the second week, we will bring those components into the hot glass studio to investigate multiple pick up techniques including using the garage and pick up ovens. In looking at existing connections and similarities between studios, we will focus on developing new strategies to create. Students will have clear goals with room to experiment. Some experience in the hot shop preferred.

HUSH.ed at Pilchuck Gallery in Seattle

Review of HUSH in Glass Quarterly Magazine By Alexander Rosenberg

click here to read the article

Very Excited to have joined the board of the Glass Art Society

I am very excited to have joined the board of the GLASS ART SOCIETY. A non-profit international organization whose purpose is to encourage excellence, to advance education, to promote the appreciation and development of the glass arts, and to support the worldwide community of artists who work with glass.

If you love glass, make glass, buy glass, you should consider becoming a member!

Detroit Art Review

Click here to read the Detroit Art Review: Sensuous Memento @ The River House Arts Gallery written by Clara DeGalan.

River House Arts Gallery exhibiting HUSH.ex this Fall 2016

Exhibition runs from September 15 - October 22, 2016

Opening Reception: September 15, 6-9 pm

HUSH.ex is the second iteration of a body of work that debuted earlier this year at the Philadelphia Art Alliance. Working over the course of a year, Megan Biddle, Amber Cowan, Sharyn Omara, and Jessica Jane Julius, who are also colleagues on the glass faculty at Tyler School of Art, Temple University, created visually and conceptually diverse works that include site-specific installations as well as individual sculptures and drawings. At the outset, the artists recognized commonalities in their practice: reflection (literal and figurative) and distillation. They began with a collective desire to see past the overstimulus of the digital age and to focus on the analog, narrow the vocabulary from color to gray scale, and capture the power of memory and reflection in interpretation of experience. And yet, there is nothing simplistic either in the ambition or scope of any of the artists' work.

Review of HUSH at Philadelphia Art Alliance by Flora Ward

Flora Ward wrote 2 very insightful responses to the group exhibition. To read see below

click here for - GLASS: Monumental & Miniature

click here for - GLASS: Medium & Metaphor

Co-Teaching at Pilchuck Glass School

Very excited to have taught again with Erica Rosenfeld at Pilchuck this summer with our wonderful TA's Alison Siegel and Eamon DeFabbia-Kane . Our class "Stop, Collaborate, and Listen" investigated the artist collective as support for both individual and collaborative works. We shared resources and merged processes and materials. We worked with students, instructors, and staff in an all campus event at the end of the session. What an inspiration to be around so many talented, passionate, and wild people!!!!

HUSH exhibition, Philadelphia Art Alliance

The Philadelphia Art Alliance is pleased to present HUSH, an exhibition that brings together the work of artists Megan Biddle, Amber Cowan, Jessica Jane Julius and Sharyn O'Mara. Working over the course of a year, the artists, who are also colleagues on the glass faculty at Tyler School of Art, Temple University, created visually and conceptually diverse works that include site-specific installations as well as individual sculptures and drawings. At the outset, the artists recognized commonalities in their practice: reflection (literal and figurative) and distillation. They began with a collective desire to see past the over stimulus of the digital age and to focus on the analog, narrow the vocabulary from color to grayscale, and capture the power of memory and reflection in interpretation of experience. And yet, there is nothing simplistic either in the ambition or scope of any of the artists' work.

http://www.philartalliance.org/exhibition/hush-megan-biddle-amber-cowan-jessica-jane-julius-and-sharyn-omara/

details from my workin progress for the exhibition

"From Vessel to Video" review in Glass Quarterly Magazine

Invited to write a review on the exhibition "From Vessel to Video" at Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia PA for the Fall 2015 issue of the Glass Quarterly

"Act of the Table" review by John Drury

John Drury wrote a wonderful review in Glass Magazine spring 2014 edition of our Burnt Asphalt Family performance "Act of the Table". This performance took place at Urban Glass, Brooklyn NY in fall 2013. Take a second and enjoy.