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Seekers presents the work of Stuart
Abelman, a master glassblower who uses ancient techniques to create
original designs in sculpture, vases, bowls, perfume vials, paperweights,
oil lights, ornaments and other works.
His work is distinguished by optical
brilliance, rich colors and ethereal veils within veils of iridescence.
Abelman has evolved a style that combines organic, Art Nouveau influences
with contemporary refinements, resulting in original designs that are both
beautiful and timeless.
His Geode and Aquarium Sculptures are
designed to be illuminated from below so that the interiors glow from
within. Each piece entices the viewer to look inside the glass for images
that seem to change with the light and angle of vision.
Pieces in the
Aquarium series often includes fish, coral, sand, kelp and other reef
elements, all of which change when viewed from different angles because
the front facet is curved.
Dramatic floral images distinguish his
new series of Floral Vases, on which he depicts orchids, iris,
black eyed Susans and other colorful blossoms on an opaque or translucent
vessel.
Each piece, including his ornaments, are
individually blown and shaped without the use of molds, then signed,
dated, numbered and registered with his studio.
He achieves remarkable detail and
dimension by using molten glass in a painterly fashion. While a piece is
on the blowpipe, colored rods of glass are torch melted and worked into
distinct images. Some of his faceted sculptures feature elaborate designs
encased in solid crystal, depicting underwater scenes or outer space
landscapes.
Educated as a fine artist, Abelman
earned his Bachelor’s degree from Carnegie-Mellon University and his
Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA. He has lectured at universities and
symposiums throughout the United States, as well as to the American and
Japanese Glass Art Societies.
His Golden Spider Web ornament
was featured on the cover of Sunset Magazine December 1995. He
creates a number of other ornament designs, all beautiful and complex,
which Seekers carries on a regular basis.
His work is listed and pictured in the Encyclopedia
Americana and is represented in public and private collections throughout
the world, including The Oakland Museum and the permanent collection of
the Corning Museum of Glass. |
