Original Voices 2016 by Ken Saunders Gallery

ORI GI NALVOI CES

Published by Ken Saunders Gallery 230 West Superior Street Chicago, IL 60654 www.kensaundersgallery.com ÂŠ 2016 Ken Saunders Gallery All Rights Reserved Design by Amy Stieve Photography by Andrew Calise, Amy Stieve, Etienne Frossard, Mike Fleming and Sam Fritch

Published on the occasion of the exhibition

ORIGINAL VOICES Featuring work by:

STEVEN CIEZKI KATE CLEMENTS JACOB FISHMAN ROBERT HICKMAN KIT PAULSON

October 7 - November 1, 2016

ORIGINAL VOICES 2016

STEVEN CIEZKI KATE CLEMENTS JACOB FISHMAN ROBERT HICKMAN KIT PAULSON

The artists in this exhibition strain against convention, pushing the boundaries of both physics and technical expertise. Originality of style and fresh approaches to familiar challenges are common characteristics among the works on display. These are very well trained artists who continuously reflect on the integrity and meaning of their work and who take heart that in the uncertain present only a commitment to the work can carry the day and provide a way forward. Steven Ciezki is the sole glass blower in the exhibition. While this young artist is already known for the quality of his traditional technical skill, especially his Reticello, Steven pushes hard to bring concept and meaning to his most ambitious works. The monumental three-part sculpture entitled Roses explores the tragic legacy of the terrible four-year siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War by juxtaposing elegant large scale blown forms that have been “marred” by a splash of bright red glass that evokes an image of violence. Robert Hickman works in Brooklyn, NY and has the distinction of having created an installation made up of over a million hand cut pieces of glass. The award-winning work is on permanent exhibit at the 72nd Street MTA station. The installation is the artist’s most ambitious take on his exploration of optics and refraction. The work on display in this exhibition, the commanding Untitled from 2003 which is made up of hundreds of hand-cut pieces of mirror, led to the creation of DDII which at 42 feet long has an unapologetically pyrotechnic presence. In addition to the artist’s on-going practice of producing installations Hickman also produces intimately scaled works that are marked by an austere subtlety. Kate Clements has created one of the most unique objects we’ve ever had the honor to exhibit in the gallery. The breath-taking fragility of Wall from 2013 is matched by the work’s incredible scale and complexity. Properly lit in the gallery setting the work is captivating and irresistible. Clements is fusing glass, willfully pushing the physical attributes of the material to create the objects she is envisioning. In addition to very large wall pieces like the one in our exhibition the artist creates flame-worked objects that play on notions of luxury and adornment. Jacob Fishman is renowned in the neon community but until the recent revival in interest in neon the artist has been satisfied working on large scale fabrication and repair projects. With the resurgence of neon Fishman is enjoying the renewed interest in his own artworks which incorporate pithy phrases associated with an existentialist (and humorous) world view. WYSIWYG and It Is What It Is do express the same kind of forlorn apathy for contemporary life hidden in a jokey motto that everyone gets. Kit Paulson charges her works with an intensity that springs from deep inside the imagination of this extremely talented artist. Paulson creates vaguely nostalgic artworks that seem to be props for an absurdist play. The artist’s personal history is marked by struggle and hope and the sculpture she produces dances on the knife’s edge between strange and wonderful. Paulson’s bonnets and gauntlet/gloves are extremely detailed riffs on feminine adornment while her helmet and plague mask have sinister presences made all the uncannier because the flameworking process reminds the viewer of very intricate and delicate lace. Curating our somewhat annual Original Voices exhibition is one of the treats of owning an art gallery. Summoning my powers as a sleuth while cultivating the most open mind; the sense of discovery and wonder I feel today is as strong as it was when I made my first awe-stricken studio visits nearly forty years ago. Ken Saunders October, 2016

STEVEN CIEZKI

DISCONTINUOUS

(detail) blown glass variable dimensions 2016

ROSES

blown glass variable dimensions 2016

DISCONTINUOUS blown glass variable dimensions 2016

(pg. 13)

EDUCATION 2012

BFA / Illimois State University / Normal, IL

2016

Ways of Making / Cohen Gallery at Goggleworks / Reading, PA Black and White Biennial / Exhibit A / Corning, NY Alumni Spectacular 2015 / University Galleries of Illinois State University / Normal, IL Wheaton Arts: Glass Weekend / Riley Gallery / Millville, NJ All Art Arizona 2015 / Art Intersection / Gilbert, AZ Mesa Arts Center: 36th Annual Contemporary Craft Exhibition / Mesa, AZ Circle 6 Studios: Glass Invitational / Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Art Museum: Contemporary Forum Art Auction / Phoenix, AZ Taos Art Glass Invitational / Taos, NM 10x10 Benefit Show / Mesa Arts Center / Mesa, AZ Solo Exhibition: Flame Run / Louisville, KY Ways of Making / Cohen Gallery at GoggleWorks / Reading, PA Group Exhibition / Exhibit A / Corning, NY Glass Art Society: Enlightened Glass (The Magic of Neon and Plasma Art) / Chicago, IL Glass Invitational / Marshall-LeKae Gallery / Scottsdale, AZ Gathering: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland / Indiana Glass Arts Alliance / Kokomo, IN Wheaton Arts: Glass Weekend / Riley Gallery / Millville, NJ 6x6 Benefit for Eye Lounge: Art Detour / Phoenix, AZ McLean County Arts Center: Vase as Voice / Bloomington, IL Atmosphere Gallery: The Replacements / Cincinnati, OH Fall Invitational / Ken Saunders Gallery / Chicago, IL BFA Group show / Transpace: Student Gallery / Illinois State University / Normal, IL Steven Ciezki: Live for the Moment / Illinois State University, University Galleries / Normal, IL 84th Annual McLean County Amateur Art Competition & Exhibition / Bloomington, IL Fall Invitational / ECHT Gallery / Chicago, IL Tip-a-VIP presented by The Child Protection Network / Normal, IL Fall Invitational / Ken Saunders Gallery / Chicago, IL Martinis for Marc presented by Marcfirst Organization / Bloomington, IL

EXHIBITIONS 2015

2014

2013 2012

2011 2010

AWARDS 2014 2013 2012

2010

Emerging Artist / Glass Art Society / Chicago, IL Second Place Award / Indiana Glass Arts Alliance Finalist / Civic and Arts Foundation 2012 Visual Arts Competition / Chicago, IL “Irving S. Tick Award in Glass” / Illinois State University Student Annual / Normal, IL Nominee / Windgate Fellowship Award Finalist / NICHE Award in the student functional glass category First Place / Jerry Landy Collector’s Choice Art Glass Competition / Midwest Contemporary Art Glass Group / Chicago, IL Sue Bradford Hauberg Scholarship / Pilchuck Glass School First Place / Undergraduate Student Art Glass Competition / Midwest Contemporary Art Glass Group / Chicago, IL

2014 2013

Corning Museum of Glass / Corning, NY University of Wisconsin, River Falls Collection / River Falls, WI

2011

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2016 2015 2014

2013

2012 2011

Gaffer for professional glass artist David Bennett / Phoenix, AZ Workshop Instructor / Circle 6 Studios / Phoenix, AZ Visiting Artist Demo at the Cleveland Institute of Art / Cleveland, OH Workshop Instructor / Circle 6 Studios / Phoenix, AZ Workshop Instructor / Mesa Arts Center / Mesa, AZ Demonstration / Corning Museum of Glass: Hot Glass Roadshow at SOFA Chicago / Chicago, IL Artist-in-Residence / The Corning Museum of Glass / Corning, NY Emerging Artist Lecture / Glass Art Society / Chicago, IL Artist Assistant / Jason Chakravarty: Artist-in-Residence at the Toledo Museum of Glass / Toledo, OH Workshop Instructor / Mesa Arts Center / Mesa, AZ Teacher’s Assistant / Jason Chakravarty: Glass Without the Furnace / Appalachian Center for Crafts / Smithville, TN Teacher’s Assistant / Jason Chakravaraty: Piecing it Together / Goggleworks / Reading, PA Demonstration / Corning Museum of Glass: Hot Glass Roadshow at SOFA Chicago / Chicago, IL Assistant / Thomas R. Riley Galleries / Cleveland, OH Visiting Artist / University of Wisconsin / River Falls, WI Visiting Artist / New Trier High School / Winnetka, IL Studio Assistant / Jason Chakravarty: Git ‘R Lit / Penland School of Crafts / Penland, NC Teacher’s Assistant / Jason Chakravaraty: Intermediate Glassblowing / College of Mount St. Joseph / Cincinnati, OH Assistant / Thomas R. Riley Galleries / Cleveland, OH Demonstration / Chicago Hot Glass / Chicago, IL Shop Technician, Assistant and Equipment Maintenance / Neusole Glassworks / Cincinnati, OH Teacher’s Assistant / John Miller: Glass I, Introduction to Glass / Illinois State University / Normal, IL

KATE CLEMENTS

WALL

kiln-fired glass 96 x 96 x .25 inches 2016

FRUIT HEART

assorted fruit, shrink wrap, silk, foam 30 x 42 x 15 inches 2015

FROUFROU

vinyl treated upholstery fabric, kiln fired glass beads, plastic, sequins 96 x 48 x 40 inches 2015

EDUCATION 2015 2014 2011

MFA / Tyler School of Art / Philadelphia, PA Graduate Seminar in Aesthetics and Cultural Studies: Vision and Rationality / Temple University / Rome, Italy BFA / Kansas City Art Institute / Kansas City, MO

2016

A Long Goodbye, Wind Challenge / Fleisher Gallery / Philadelphia, PA Emerge 2016, International Juried Kiln Glass Exhibition / Bullseye Projects / Portland, OR DCCA MFA Biennial / Delaware Center of Contemporary Arts / Wilmington, DE Fa|eint / Sherry Leedy Contemporary / Kansas City, MO FROUFROU / MFA Thesis Exhibition Temple Contemporary / Philadelphia, PA Charade / Philadelphia Art Alliance / Philadelphia, PA Unnatural Beauty / Philadelphia International Airport / Philadelphia, PA No Meat in Team / Crane Arts Ice Box / Philadelphia, PA Emerge/Evolve / Bellevue Arts Museum / Bellevue, WA Beware of False Prophets / Stella Elkins Gallery / Philadelphia, PA Emerge/Evolve / Pittsburgh Glass Center / Pittsburgh, PA Bullseye Glass Resource Center Bay Area / Emeryville, CA Fresh Batch / Stella Elkins Gallery / Philadelphia, PA Emerge 2014, International Juried Kiln Glass Exhibition / Bullseye Gallery / Portland, OR River Market Regional Exhibition / Kansas City Artist Coalition / Kansas City, MO The I, The Cover, The Vice & Their Home / Paragraph and Project Space Gallery / Kansas City, MO Money / Leedy-Volkus Gallery / Kansas City, MO Secret Salon / Spyn Gallery / Kansas City, MO XOXO / Spray Booth Gallery / Kansas City, MO HOME Show / The Writer’s Place / Kansas City, MO River Market Regional Exhibition, Kansas City Artist Coalition / Kansas City, MO Natural/Habitual / Dodge Painting Gallery / Kansas City, MO E-merge 2010, International Juried Kiln Glass Exhibition / Bullseye Gallery / Portland, OR

EXHIBITIONS 2015

2014

2013

2012 2011 2010

SELECT AWARDS 2016 2015 2014 2013 2010

Bullseye Glass Emerge 2016 / Academic Gold Award Awarded Artist for S12 Glass Studio Residency / Bergen, Norway Pilchuck Glass School Full Scholarship Wind Challenge Exhibition Series 2016 / Selected Artist and stipend GAS International Student Online Exhibition / Second Place Bullseye Glass Emerge 2014 / Academic Award Dean’s Grant Recipient University Fellowship / Tyler School of Art Pilchuck Glass School Partnership Scholarship

RESIDENCIES & PROGRAMS 2016 2015 2011 2010

Artist in Residence / S12 Glass Studio / Bergen, Norway Michael Hernandez Neon Workshop / Pilchuck Glass School / Stanwood, WA Artist Studio Residency / Museum of Arts and Design / New York, NY Urban Culture Project Studio Residency / Charlotte Street Foundation / Kansas City, MO Roberta Echinberg & Patrick Martin Glass Casting Workshop / Pilchuck Glass School / Stanwood, WA

W inds

blown and sand carved glass 8 x 17 x 17 inches 2014

24 20

JACOB FISHMAN

BRAINIAC neon

42 x 42 x 5 inches 2016

BIG HAIR neon

30 x 15 x 2 inches 2016

GOOD MORNING

(top)

neon

20 x 14 x 5 inches Jacob & Petrie Fishman, 2016

GOOD NIGHT

(bottom) neon

20 x 14 x 5 inches Jacob & Petrie Fishman, 2016

EDUCATION 1976 1973

Certificate for Vocational Instruction / Northern Illinois University B.S.E.E. / University of Arizona

SELECTED EXHIBITIONSÂ 2016 2015 2008 2006 2004 2001 2000 1999 1998-99 1998 1996

1995 1994-02 1993 1992 1991-92 1990 1987 1986-88 1986-87 1984-92 1982-83 1981-92 1981 1979 1978

Ken Saunders Gallery / Chicago, IL Ken Saunders Gallery / Chicago, IL Luminous Frontier / GAS Portland Luminous Frontier / GAS Portland Luminous Glass / Venusian Garderns Water Works Gallery / Salisbury University of California / San Diego, CA Alfred Berkowitz Gallery Museum of Neon Art / Los Angeles, CA Glass Art Society / Seto, Japan Boston College of Fine Arts August House Gallery / Chicago, IL The Asylum / Chicago, IL University of Wisconsin Wood Street Gallery / Chicago, IL Penland Gallery, North Carolina Miami Center of Contemporary Art Michigan Gallery New East Side Neon Brierly Gallery / Winnetka, IL Katie Gingrass / Milwaukee, WI Prism Gallery / Evanston, IL Natalini Gallery Halsted Gallery Enterspace Neville Sargent Gallery Lightwriters Neon Gallery Illuminate Chicago University of Wisconsin Triton College

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1985-current 1983-current 1975-current

Various Conservation Projects for Museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago and Private Collectors Various Neon Fabrications for Artists, such as Bruce Nauman and Museums, including The Smithsonian Various Presentations and Workshops with focus on Neon as an art medium

ROBERT HICKMAN

UNTITLED

(detail)

three dimensional mirror mosaic 52 x 58 x 12 inches 2004

UNTITLED

three dimensional mirror mosaic 52 x 58 x 12 inches 2004

DMMDI

(pg. 37)

three dimensional mirror mosaic 96 x 192 x 5 inches Long Island University Humanities Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2013

EDUCATION 1998 1985

MFA, Sculpture / Hunter College / New York, NY BA, Film Production / University of Iowa / Iowa City, IA

2016

Original Voices / Ken Saunders Gallery / Chicago, IL Group Exhibition, curated by (Courtney Wendroff) / Brooklyn Arts Council / Brooklyn, NY FIRST YEAR: Faculty Exhibition / Parsons School of Design / New York, NY triangles on the wall / Memorial Sloan Kettering Brooklyn inFUSION Center / Brooklyn, NY TILEMASTERS / Salena Gallery, Long Island University / Brooklyn, NY Working Knowledge / Lorimoto Gallery / Ridgewood, NY Checkered History / Outpost Artists Resources / Ridgewood, NY Group Exhibition, curated by Sarah Campbell / Brooklyn inFUSION Center Gallery / Brooklyn, NY DMMDIA / Smack Mellon Gallery / Brooklyn, NY FLUID, curated by Janusz Jaworski / Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art / Staten Island, NY Art Prospect Festival / St. Petersburg, Russia PIEROGI XX: Twentieth Anniversary Exhibition / Pierogi Gallery / Brooklyn NY Second Family, curated by Julie Torres / 2 Rivington Gallery / New York, NY Robert Hickman Recent Work / Saint Peter’s Church / New York, NY DMMDI / Humanities Gallery, Long Island University / Brooklyn, NY Robert Hickman and Becky Yazdan / Forge Gallery / Milford, PA Sideshow Nation / Sideshow Gallery / Brooklyn, NY Unhinged / Pierogi Gallery / Brooklyn, NY Art Glass / Gallery North / Setauket, NY August Group Show / Forge Gallery / Milford, PA Overseas Highway Unicycle Tour / Sculpture Key West / Key West, FL Gift Shop / Valentine Gallery, Ridgewood, NY Holiday Show, Forge Gallery / Milford, PA Twin Twin, curated by Matt Freedman / Pierogi Gallery / Brooklyn, NY All Roads Lead to Coney Island / A.M. Richard Gallery / Brooklyn, NY Sculpture Key West / Key West, FL The Studio Visit / Exit Art / New York, NY Harlem Public Art Festival / New York, NY Along the Way: MTA Arts for Transit / UBS Gallery / New York, NY Summer Outdoor Exhibition / Huntington, NY Sculpture Key West / Key West, FL A Warlike People: Victims or Perpetrators / Monorchid Gallery / Phoenix, AZ The Faculty Exhibition / Hunter College, Times Square Gallery / New York, NY Terrorvision / Exit Art / New York, NY Summer Celebration 2004 / MoMA/PS1 / Long Island City, NY Scent / The Proposition Gallery, Sculpture Center / New York, NY Going Public: Public Projects / Center for Architecture / New York, NY Faculty Small Works Show / Leubsdorf Gallery, Hunter College / New York, NY Sculpture Center at Saks 5th Avenue / New York, NY Faculty Exhibition / Hunter College, Times Square Gallery / New York, NY Six Sculptors / Long Island University / Brooklyn, NY Supastore / Up & Co / New York, NY Portraits / Trans Hudson / New York, NY Group Exhibition / Qualita Fine Art / Las Vegas, NV American Glass / Fine Arts Museum Of Long Island / Hempstead, NY Outer Boroughs / White Columns / New York, NY Group Exhibition / Nancy Hoffman Gallery / New York, NY

EXHIBITIONS 2015

2014

2013

2012

2011 2009 2008 2006 2005

2004 2003 2002 2000 1999

1998 1997

1996

1995

Ghosts and Goblins / Robert Lehman Gallery, Urban Glass / Brooklyn, NY Escape Velocity / Socrates Sculpture Park / Long Island City, NY Pets / Bronwyn Keenan / New York, NY Microcosmic Cryptozoic / Here Art / New York, NY Traveling Flat File Show / Pierogi 2000 / Manchester, England Stair Masters / New York, NY Glass Worlds / Robert Lehman Gallery / Brooklyn, NY Emerging Sculptors IX / Sculpture Center / New York, NY Brookworld / Soho Arts Festival / New York, NY Alternative Art Fair / Pierogi 2000 / New York, NY Pieces of Eight / Marymount Manhattan College / New York, NY Glass Art Now: Made in Brooklyn / Islip Art Museum / East Islip, NY Con Figure, Aperto 95 Venice Biennale / Arci Gay Venezia / Venice, Italy Summer Exhibition / Long House Foundation / East Hampton, NY Invitational Small Works Salon / New Arts Program / Kutztown, PA

AWARDS 2016 2013 2007 2006 2003 2002 1997 1996

Summer Artist-in-Residence / Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild / Woodstock, NY Adjunct-CET Professional Development Fund Grant / Professional Staff Congress/CUNY CEC ArtsLink One Big City Project Grant / Bronx, NY CEC ArtsLink Project Grant / Samara & Nizhny Novgorod, Russia CEC ArtsLink Project Grant / Nizhny Novgorod, Russia New York City MASterwork Award, Best New Public Art / The Municipal Art Society of New York / New York, NY Wolf Kahn Award / Vermont Studio Center / Johnson, VT Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Nominee William Graf Travel Abroad Scholarship Award / Hunter College / New York, NY Borinstein Foundation Scholarship / Pilchuck Glass School / Stanwood, WA

PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

2004 Permanent Public Sculpture Commission at Capital Community College, Hartford, CT, Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Arts for Public Spaces Commission 2003 Finalist, Brooklyn, 9-11 Memorial Monument, 69th Street Pier Bay Ridge Brooklyn, Brooklyn Remembers, Inc., Brooklyn Arts Council 2002 Permanent Public Sculpture Commission at Verdi Square, 72nd Street Station, New York, NY, Metropolitan Transportation Authority 1996 Public Sculpture Commission at Roosevelt Island Station, New York, NY, Metropolitan Transportation Authority in conjunction with the Sculpture Center

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Chromart / New York, NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority / New York, NY PECO Energy / Philadelphia, PA The State of Connecticut / Hartford, CT

KIT PAULSON

CARAPACE II

kiln-fired glass

18 x 18 x 22 inches 2016

STEREOSCOPE kiln-fired glass

7 x 7 x 13 inches 2016

BONNET

kiln-fired glass

9 x 12 x 13 inches 2016

EDUCATION

(2018) MFA Candidate / Southern Illinois University 2004 BFA / The School of Art and Design, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University

EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS & RESIDENCIES 2016

2015

2014

Celebrity Cruises Glassmaking Scholarship / Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass) Becky Winship Flameworking Scholarship / Glass Art Society Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass Visionary Scholarship Award Honorable Mention in the 2016 Glass Art Society Conference International Student Exhibition Solo Show at the Wakely Gallery, Weslyan University, Bloomington, IL Rosenberg Residency at Salem State University, Salem, MA Midwest Contemporary Glass Art Group’s Collectors’ Choice Award, Chicago, IL Finalist for the NICHE Awards Residency at the Tacoma Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA Permanent Collection of the Tacoma Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA Windgate Charitable Foundation Research Grant of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL “Chicago Glass Artists” at Chicago Hot Glass Gallery, Chicago, IL “GATHERING: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland” at Gallery 24, Indianapolis, IN “International Glass Art Biennial” at Kunststichting Perspekteif vzw, Netherlands

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2015

2014-15 2012 2009-15 2007-09 2006-14 2006 2005 2004 2003

Graduate Teaching Assistant / “Art and Design 214: Survey of Glass” / Southern Illinois University Teaching Assistant / “The Mechanics of Making” / Penland School of Crafts Teaching Assistant / “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes: Flameworking the Figure” / Pittsburgh Glass Center Production Assistant for Baigelman Glass / Chicago, IL Teaching Assistant / “The Optics of the Lens: Glass and Video” / Ox-Bow School of Art Glassblowing Instructor & Technician / Chicago Hot Glass / Chicago, IL Glassblowing Instructor & Technician / Chaos Glass / Evanston, IL Production Assistant for Matt Urban / Normal, IL Teaching Assistant / “Painted and Tainted” / Pilchuck Glass School Teaching Assistant / Spring Concentration / Penland School of Crafts Instructor / “Basic Glassblowing Techniques” / Making Glass Studio / Highland Park, IL Production Assistant for Thor Bueno / Penland, NC Production Assistant / Lost Angel Glass / Corning, NY Teaching Assistant / “Glass: A Designer’s Material” / Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass

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