Nancy Callan
“My work explores the notion of play as an important component in creativity. It is also a dialogue with the challenging medium of blown glass. I am influenced by the bright colors and inflated shapes found in comic books and toys, and by the playful spirit of the unconscious mind. While creating each piece, I try to balance the fluidity of hot glass with the sense of wonder and fun I felt the first time I gathered from the furnace. I believe play is essential not only for the artist but for everyone. When we daydream or play games, we return to our childlike state of mind, where we are free to explore and imagine. This simple joy is a counterweight to our busy lives, and is central to my artistic process.�
A Fantastic Journey with Nancy Callan It is apparent when an artist loves what he or she does. Nancy Callan’s work reflects her pure joy and energy and good nature. While the work connotes a playful ease, it is created with great technical skill and mastery. We truly admire Nancy’s great energy and dedication—she has become a major force in the art glass community as an artist, gaffer, educator and mentor. The works in this exhibition, Dancers, Orbs, Tops, and Clouds, all have a rich diversity of character and style reflecting Nancy’s early career as a graphic designer. Each work projects its own character, denoting a place, person or mood, offering its own narrative. We feel very fortunate to represent Nancy’s work and to know her. You are sure to enjoy this fantastic journey into Nancy’s world. Jim Schantz and Kim Saul 2016
Top Sampler #3
2016, 5½ x 5½ x 5½” each element
Citron Anemone Orb 2016, 13½ x 13½ x 13½”
Indigo Anemone
2016, 25½ x 13 x 8½”
Captain America II 2014, 33½ x 17 x 17”
The Joker
2014, 36 x 17½ x 17½”
Anenome Top Mini 2016, 5½ x 5½ x 5½”
Tuxedo Top Mini
2016, 5½ x 5½ x 5½”
Pinstripe Spin Top Mini 2016, 5½ x 5½ x 5½”
Zig Zag Mini Top
2016, 5½ x 5½ x 5½”
Manifesto Top Mini 2016, 5½ x 5½ x 5½”
Morello Cloud
2015, 12 x 17½ x 8”
Quill (Paloma)
2015, 23 X 11½ x 7”
Nadja (Paloma)
2015, 25 x 14 x 7½”
Peony Anemone Orb 2016, 16½ x 16½ x 16½”
Klimt Top
2015, 11 x 15 x 11½”
Turquoise Cloud Mini 2015, 7 x 9 x 4�
Judy’s Cloud Mini
2015, 8 x 11 x 6”
Tweedy Cloud 2015, 9 x 12 x 6”
Persian Murrine Top
2015, 11 x 16 x 11½”
Nancy Callan Nancy Callan’s artistic voice as a glass sculptor reflects her high-level training and talents. Callan attended the Massachusetts College of Art (BFA 1996) and lives in Seattle, WA where she is part of the vibrant Northwest glass community. Callan’s numerous awards include the Creative Glass Center of America Fellowship, and residencies at the Starworks Glass Lab, NC; Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA; The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH; the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA; and the Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA. She was a key member of maestro Lino Tagliapietra’s glassblowing team for nineteen years. An much loved instructor, resident artist, and guest lecturer, Callan teaches advanced glassblowing. Among her many accomplishments, she has lectured at the Museum of Fine arts in St. Petersburg, FL and has been a presenter for TedXEast in New York, NY. Awards
Public and Private Collections
2016 Visiting Artist, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Artist in Residence, Starworks Glass Lab, NC 2015 Gaffer Olympian, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA Artist in Residence, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA 2014 Artist in Residence, University of Texas, Arlington, TX Scholarship Award, “Hands On Today”, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA Artist in Residence, Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA 2012 Visiting Artist, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH 2011 Visiting Artist, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA 2010 Artist in Residence, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA Artist in Residence, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI Shanghai Museum of Art, Shanghai China Wheaton Village Museum of Glass, Millville, NJ Ann Hauberg, Seattle, Washington David Kaplan and Glenn Ostergaard, Palm Springs, CA Lino and Lina Tagliapietra, Seattle, Washington Melvyn and Rosalind Pole, Seattle, WA Sir Elton John, Atlanta, GA Stephen and Shelly Powell, Danville, KY
Photography: Russell Johnson Design: Richard Tovell Front Cover: Nancy Callan with The Joker Back Cover: Citron Anemone Orb (detail)
Tweedy Cloud, (detail)
3 Elm Street Stockbridge, MA 413-298-3044 contact@schantzgalleries.com schantzgalleries.com