Twilight in the Garden Catalog

Twilight in the Garden 2012

Curatorial Statement There are many aspects of an artist’s life that influence the creative investigations that they explore through their work. It often goes unsaid however the role that a shared studio environment plays in the development of an artists work.

Twilight in the Garden is an exhibition that showcases the current work of students, staff and artists associated with water street glassworks and metal studio. This exhibition highlights the influential role that a dynamic shared studio environment plays in the development of a unique and diverse visual language of working with glass and metal in artistic exploration that is often collaborative.

Twilight in the Garden celebrates the evolution and uniqueness of water street glassworks studio environment. This exhibition showcases a broad spectrum of fine art glass sculptures, vessels, functional work and metal work created by artists associated with water street glassworks using a myriad of processes including blown, torched, fused, casting, welding and assemblage.

Unique also to this exhibition is the spectacular garden setting. as a result, viewers can actively participate in the work, drawing upon their own experiences and creativity to access the intended meaning of each work.

Visitor expectations are challenged; their imaginations are stretched and offered a new way of experiencing both plants and art.

As you walk among the trees and flowerbeds you may find yourself confronted by a flower shimmering in the light…or in a bog…a dragon finds its way atop an old stone wall. this may sound like the kind of thing alice might have stumbled upon down the rabbit hole – but actually, this is in the heart of Twilight in the Garden: to experience the unexpected, to see the talents of creative minds challenged by a magical setting.

Exhibiting sculptural works under a canopy of trees, along the shores of Lake Michigan, intermingled with Tropical and Native plants, provides this exhibition with an inspiring presence which cannot be achieved in a gallery setting.

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The art is inspired by the natural world but given a twist and interacts perfectly with the plants that surround them. Textures, surfaces and colors are added to metal works making them shimmer playfully.

As the light changes throughout the day, the works alter-they pick up colors from their surroundings in a very subtle and beautiful way. These dynamic works draw the viewer’s attention and entice them to walk deeper into the gardens to discover more. Hence the title of this exhibition, Twilight, the time of day when a special light occurs and the glass and metal captures and comes alive with the distinctive quality of the ambient light.

This exhibition came together as an educational and social experience as well as an opportunity to encourage public participation in and engagement with their local visual culture. How can contemporary art and cultural organizations connect with the public and demonstrate value and relevance in everyday life? We can do this by inviting people to actively engage as cultural participants, not passive consumers. As more people enjoy and become accustomed to participatory learning and entertainment experiences, they want to do more than just “attend” cultural events; when people can actively participate with cultural organizations, those places become central to cultural and community life.”

Since its inception Water Street Glassworks has been an influential force in the creative development of students, artists and teachers alike. Through the arts Water Street Glassworks has played a pivotal role in the changing face of Benton Harbor showing that art has the power to transform community.

I invite you to discover and experience and enjoy…Twilight in the Garden.

Susan Wilczak, Curator

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WATER STREET GLASSWORKS Water Street Glassworks is a non-profit, fine-art glass and metal school, gallery, and public access studio located in the Benton Harbor Arts District. We offer Classes, Exhibits, Events highlighting the art of glass and metal along with the award winning after-school program, Fired Up! All proceeds from this event benefit the operations and programming at Water Street Glassworks.501(c)(3) non-profit organization BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anne Odden, President Barbara Pence, Vice-President Pamela Harper, Treasurer Catherine Pampalone, Secretary Ken Flowers Jacquie Johnson Kerri LeRoux Tony McGhee Dar Davis Margie Mattice Harold Bragg Tamara Phillippe Sarah Hess, Executive Director Co-Founders Jerry & Kathy Catania Special thanks to: Rhonda Snowaert in making a crazy dream become a magical, Twilight in the Garden.

Susan Wilczak for guiding Water Street Glassworks artists into a new, unimagined journey.

Lynne Clayton for keeping the journey on course and the waters calm with laughter and kindness.

Leslie Hilmer & Danielle Brown, for without whom the twilight would not sparkle so clearly.

And to the artists who participated, thank you for having the courage to cross your boundaries and discover the power behind the passion. You inspire us every day!

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PARTICIPATING ARTISTS Jerry Catania Robert Catania Daniel Christy Aaron Closson Heidi Closson Cynthia Fielding Jan Kimball Cynthia McKean Margie Mattice Carolyn O'Hearn Richard Thomas John VanAmerongen Rebecca Wehmer Eli Zilke

FIRED UP! ARTISTS Otis Cornelius Mahalah Fuller Dajanae Greely Oalliyah Hornes Stephen Nickel Mika Page Emma Schaper Allen Warren

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JERRY CATANIA

LD SO

Jurassic Jewels cast glass & steel. $700.

For the Birds cast glass & steel $700.

Jerry Catania's 2 works can be viewed in the "Autumn Garden".

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ROBERT CATANIA

Binary Seat cast glass & cement $900.

Nordic cast glass & cement $900.

Robert Catania's 2 works can be viewed in the "Autumn Garden".

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AARON CLOSSON

HEIDI CLOSSON

Butterfly Bench steel $1,500.

Carbonic Life steel $2,700.

Interrupted steel & copper $1,100.

A. Closson and H. Closson's work can be viewed in the "Sculpture Garden", the "Fall Garden", and the "Asian Garden".

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CYNTHIA ALTON FIELDING

Red Weave kiln-formed glass & steel • H 6' x W 8" $1,250 ea.

Untitled

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Blue Ice in Orange

Fiery Dragon kiln-formed glass & steel • H 12" x W 5' $2,400.

Cynthia Fielding's 5 works can be viewed in the "Bog Garden", "Asian Garden", and "Lake Garden"

Fiery Dragon Sm. kiln-formed glass & steel • H 8" x W 40" $1,400.

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CAROLYN O'HEARN

Who's Counting kiln-formed glass, steel, stone $650.

CYNTHIA FIELDING

Beauty kiln-formed glass, copper $200.

Both Fielding and O'Hearn's works can be viewed in the "Asian Garden".

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JAN KIMBALL

Flora Blue fused glass & ceramic • H 33" x W 10" $190.

Flora Trio fused glass & ceramic • H 36 - 40" x W 22" $360 each.

Flora Totum fused glass & ceramic • H 5' x W 18" $1,800.

Jan Kimball's 3 works can be viewed in the "Bog Garden".

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CYNTHIA MCKEAN

www.cynthiamckean.com

Wing steel • H 11' x W 4' $9,500.

Untittled steel • H 46" x W 34" $2,800.

Wave Runners steel • H 22" x W 34" $2,300.

Cynthia McKean's e works can be viewed in the "Bog Garden", the "Autumn Garden" and the "Lake Garden".

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MARGIE MATTICE

LD SO Beneath the Fern dalles de verre & steel • H 4 x W 5.5" $1,800.

Awe of the Beholder handblown glass & steel • H 6 x W 4 $2,400.

Margie Mattice's 2 works can be viewed in the "Formal Tropical Garden" and the "Autumn Garden".

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CAROLYN O'HEARN

Cascade kiln-fused glass & stainless steel H 9.5' x W 7.5' $8,400.

Carolyn O'Hearn's work can be viewed in the "Lake Garden"

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RICHARD THOMAS

Flame dalles de Verre & steel • H 60" x W 37" $1,400.

Flame dalles de Verre & steel • H 42" x W 36" $1,400.

Wave dalles de Verre & steel • H 37" x W 32" $1,400.

Richard Thomas' 3 works can be viewed in the "Formal Tropical Garden".

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JOHN VANAMERONGEN

Bower Study welded steel • H 7' x W 4.5 $7,000.

John VanAmerongen's work can be viewed in the "Sculpture Garden".

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REBECCA WEHMER

Canna handblown glass & bamboo installation $1,500.

Rebecca Wehmer's work can be viewed in the "Lake Garden".

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ELI ZILKE & DANIEL CHRISTY

Parasite handblown glass & steel ' $8,000.

Eli Zilke & Daniel Christy's work can be viewed in "Bog Garden".

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ELI ZILKE & RICHARD THOMAS

Propora handblown glass & steel • H 14' x W 3' $9,450.

Eli Zilke & Richard Thomas' work can be viewed in "Formal Tropical Garden".

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FIRED UP! ARTISTS & JERRY CATANIA Otis Cornelius Mahalah Fuller Dajanae Greely Oalliyah Hornes Stephen Nickel Mika Page Emma Schaper Allen Warren

Tiger Lilies handblown glass & steel ' $900.

Eli Zilke & Rchiard Thomas' work can be viewed in "Formal Tropical Garden".

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FIRED UP! AFTER-SCHOOL TEEN GLASS PROGRAM Water Street Glassworks is proud to offer Fired Up! as an after-school glass program for the area youth. Truly a unique opportunity, teens learn the art of glassblowing, fusing, beadmaking or stained glass afterschool from mid-September through June Fired Up! is not your typical after-school program in that we ask students and parents to make a two-year commitment to the program. Fired Up! is similiar to an AP fine arts course and is therefore an intensive study of the medium, studio work, the business of art, teamwork and social skills.

The art of glass is one that requires focus, forgiveness, patience and teamwork. Our passion for the program shows through the caliber of instructors we choose, the skills that are applied and the support of the organization.

During the Fired Up! school year, students participate in two semester-end exhibitions every winter and spring at Water Street Glassworks. At their opening reception discuss their work, demonstrate their skills, interact with guests and welcome family members. The Fired Up! experience culminates annually in a professional marketing and entrepreneurial experience a the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in St. Joseph.Becoming Members of the Creative Community Fired Up! students learn to become teen entrepreneurs and practice the “business of art” through hands-on creative learning. Students are encouraged to actively participate in the creative community of the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph by selling their work at summer (July) and fall (September) art fairs, through their semester-end exhibits (December & April), and selling of their work in the Water Street GelatoWorks Gallery. The gallery component of GelatoWorks is a year around retail venue for glass art created at our school and a marketing tool for our mission, educational programming, youth job training, event s and exhibits. In addition to selling their work, students have the opportunity to volunteer in the gelato shop behind the counter.

A part of the Fired Up! program is also personal and community responsibility.

Although most of our students have received this program tuition-free all students are required to give back to the program in two ways. First, 30% of sales of student work are returned to the program, and second, students spend a few hours each semester making production glass pieces to be sold at art fairs to benefit the program.

Fired Up! plays a big role in our organization and is the foundation of community commitment. We invited you to come visit the studios and talk to our students about their work and their experiences in the program.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Water Street Glassworks • Twilight in the Garden • August 18, 2012 • Page 21

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