January 2013
Holsten Galleries
newsletter
Note from Kenn Holsten
Greetings. I hope your new year is off to a great start! As we enter the 51st year of the studio glass movement, I want to take a moment to appreciate all of the great people I’ve been privileged to work with over the years. In the 35 years I’ve been a glass art dealer, I have had the honor to work closely with many of the glass greats. Some of these include Dale Chihuly, Marvin Lipofsky, Harvey Littleton, Lino Tagliapietra, William Morris, Ginny Rufner, Steven Weinberg . . . the list goes on and on. I’ve also had the pleasure of assisting many of you in acquiring wonderful pieces of glass art for your collections. I often like to think of the symbiotic three-way relationship of artist, gallery and collector. Without any of these three components the studio glass movement as we know it could not exist. Thank you all for being a vital part of this ongoing glass world that we love so much.
Quote of the Month
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain a child once we grow up.”
– Pablo Picasso
Featured Works
Acres of Diamonds by Dorothy Hafner
Dorothy Hafner’s new piece, “Acres of Diamonds,” is a wonderful example of her absolute control of the material she works with, namely colored glass. The seamless joining of the diverse shapes and colors produce almost a gemlike feeling to this piece. It is shown here in a pedestal stand but also looks great mounted on a white wall where a spotlight can shine through the glass and project a dazzling image on the wall.
Raven Steals the Moon by Preston Singletary
Here is a piece from Preston’s signature “Raven” series. Like so many of his works, this piece is a narrative from his native Tlingit tradition and reminds us of the story in which a crafty bird steals the moon (or the sun or stars in other versions).
Tangier Top by Nancy Callan
This new piece from Nancy’s well known “Top” series demonstrates once again her mastery of the cane technique which is prominent in almost all of her work. The form is familiar and playful, the colors intensely dramatic. Nancy’s works stand out in any collection of contemporary glass in which they are found.
Teasing Jupiter Johnson by Stephen Powell
This magnificent piece by Stephen Powell combines the best of the world of color field painting with glassblowing skills only matched by a handful of contemporary artists. As in almost all of his works, Stephen takes the Venetian murini technique to a level only accessible to someone who has been practicing it for decades.
Mandara by Lino Tagliapietra
I love everything about this piece by the Maestro. The colors are sublimely subtle, the form is simple and elegant, the technical virtuosity unsurpassed. It is one of several new pieces you can enjoy on Lino Tagliapietra’s webpage.
Azure Blue Seaform Pair by Dale Chihuly
2011 Studio Edition
Although the 2013 Chihuly Studio Editions have not yet come out, there are limited supplies of some of the editions from previous years, including this one from 2011. Of all of these smaller scale works by Chihuly, this is one of my favorites. The form typifies what is probably Dale’s best known series, the “Seaforms” and the shade of blue reminds me of the skies in New Mexico.
Thank you for taking time to look at this month’s newsletter and, as always, I look forward to your comments and question.
Kenn Holsten
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