Reflections from the Edge: Glass, Art, and Performance

The Glass Art Society (GAS) selected the Chrysler Museum of Art and its Perry Glass Studio as host for the 46th annual conference, Reflections from the Edge: Glass, Art, and Performance. From June 1–3, 2017, attendees will experience technical glass demonstrations on various glass processes and topics; lectures on science and art; and special events such as a local Gallery Hop, Goblet Grab, International Student Exhibition, and Live and Silent Auction. Participants will also witness one of the Studio’s most exciting features, its groundbreaking theatrical glass performances, for which the Studio is quickly establishing a national reputation.

GAS selected the Chrysler, in part, on the strengths of its renowned glass collection and its state-of-the-art Perry Glass Studio’s growing national reputation in the world of glass, especially its groundbreaking glass theatrical performances.

The Chrysler Museum of Art boasts an encyclopedic collection of more than 10,000 works in glass, including significant strengths in American, English and French glass. The Museum’s extensive Tiffany collection is world-famous, containing many blownglass masterworks, as well as splendid windows, lamps, and decorative arts. The contemporary glass collection is far-reaching with representations of the Studio Glass Movement and works that illustrate new, innovative practices in contemporary glass. Recent acquisitions include historic glass by Frederick Carder and Christopher Dresser and contemporary works by renowned artists such as Beth Lipman, Luke Jerram, Etsuko Ichikawa, Steffen Dam, Jun Kaneko, and Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová.

The state-of-the-art Perry Glass Studio, launched in 2011 to complement the Museum’s glass collection, helps demonstrate how masterworks in the collection were created. The Studio offers free public glassmaking demonstrations and classes and workshops for all levels of expertise. Its educational assistantship program helps train the next generation of glass professionals. Over the past four years, its Visiting Artist Series has brought many of the world’s great names to Norfolk to create new works of art as the public watches. In addition, the Studio’s monthly evening performances on Third Thursday have helped it establish a reputation for its innovation and groundbreaking glass theater.