" The forms I have chosen to work with are used primarily as a support for brilliantly colored abstract paintings. These paintings are accomplished by combining a variety of glass elements, including color shards, cane, murrini, and frit, all of which are made ahead of time. The designs are arranged and preheated on a hot plate. The main body colors are usually transparent, applied in layers, sometimes adding opaque white between interior and exterior colors, followed by several gathers of clear glass. When the final layer of glass is gathered, the piece is rolled over gold and silver leaf, followed by the preheated design. After working the design into the surface by reheating and shaping, the piece is blown out. On some pieces solid glass elements are added at this point to enhance optical effects and form. Final shaping is done and the piece is placed in the annealer to cool.

"I began working with flat glass in my spare time while commercial fishing off the Oregon Coast in the mid 70's. I met Dale Chihuly through a mutual friend in 1978 and was encouraged to try a summer session at The Pilchuck Glass School. I enrolled in the flat glass workshop led by Patrick Reyntiens in that same year. It was during this session that I became drawn to hot glass. I enrolled in the hot glass program the following year and studied under Joel Meyers and Dan Dailey. I was determined to pursue hot glass, but in the meantime continued commercial fishing.

Returning to Pilchuck in 1984, I studied under Fritz Driesbach and Marvin Lipofsky. In 1985 I built the shop that I continue to work from.

I have had the opportunity to study under Lino Tagliapietra, Loredano Rosin and Lucio Bubbaco, masters of Murano, Italy. I have also been strongly influenced by Pino Signoretto in his attitude and approach to the material. Pino is a master glass blower, but of more importance, a pioneer in solid hot glass sculpture. Other artists that have had a strong influence on my work are Dale Chihuly, as he introduced me to hot glass, and William Morris, through his painterly approach to surface design and masterly control of form. My experience from watching these talented people work has led me to believe that any idea can be expressed in glass".

Birth date: November 25, 1953
Detroit, MI

Education: Pilchuck Glass Center

1978: Flat Glass - Patrick Reyntiens
1979: Hot Glass - Joel Meyers & Dan Dailey
1984: Hot Glass - Marvin Lipofsky & Fritz Dreisbach
1987: Advanced Glass Blowing - Lino Tagliapietra
1991: Solid off- hand glass sculpture - Loredano Rosin
1998: Advanced Flameworking - Lucio Bubbaco

2000:
Art Resources Gallery - Minneapolis, MN
Coos Art Museum - "Light Impressions" - Coos Bay OR
Adam Whitney Gallery - Omaha, NE
Katie Gingrass Gallery - Madison, WI

1999:
Oregon Coast Aquarium -
Newport, OR 24 month "Jewels of the Sea" exhibition
Ellen Noel Art Museum - Odessa, TX
Robert Kidd Galleries - Birmingham, MI
Grohe Gallery - Boston, MA

1998:
M.C. Gallery - Minneapolis, MN
Grohe Gallery - Boston, MA
1997: Edgewood Orchard Galleries - Fish Creek, WI - Aug
Robert Kidd Galleries - Birmingham, MI - June
1996: Philabaum Glass Gallery -
Tucson, AZ - Massicio - A Tribute to Loredano Rosin
Signature/Grohe Gallery-Glass Art
Society Conference Exhibition, Boston, MA
Joyce Petter Gallery - Saugatuck, MI

1995:
Hawthorne Gallery - Big Sur,
CA - Permanent Exhibition - 1995 - Present
Reflections Gallery - Europ'ART, Genéve, Switzerland
Joyce Petter - Saugatuck, MI

1994:
M.C. Gallery - SOFA - Navy Pier, Chicago IL
Gallery by the Lake - Solo Exhibition - Coeur d' Alene, ID
Pismo - Denver, CO
Sable V - Wimberley, TX

1993:
Joan Hodgell Gallery - Solo Exhibition - Sarasota, FL
Coos Art Museum - Fine Art of Vessels - Three Person Exhibition - Coos Bay, OR
M.C. Gallery- New Art Forms - Navy Pier, Chicago IL
Philabaum Glass Studios and Gallery
- Fall Glass Review - Tucson, AZ
Sable V - Wimberley, TX
Joyce Petter Gallery - Two Person Exhibition Saugatuck, MI
Katie Gingrass Gallery - Shapes of Color - Madison, WI

1992:
Christy Taylor Gallery-
Solo Exhibition - Boca Raton, FL
M.C. Gallery- New Art Forms - Navy Pier, Chicago IL
Joyce Petter Gallery - Saugatuck, MI

1991:
Vespermann Glass Gallery - Atlanta, GA
Robert Kidd Galleries - Invitational Show - Birmingham, MI
Christy Taylor Gallery - Boca Raton, FL

1990:
Maveety Gallery - Salishan, OR
Joyce Petter Gallery - Saugatuck, MI
American Craft At The Armory - New York, NY
D/Erlien Fine Art - Invitational Show - Milwaukee, WI
Grohe Glass Gallery - Boston, MA
Chrisy Taylor Gallery - Boca Raton, FL