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Seekers Glass Gallery presents the work of Duane Dahl, an
internationally known artist who creates architectural commissions as well as a
series of dramatic serving pieces that meld glass and rock.
Dahl’s Rio Grande Series of plates, bowls, and trays offer an
unusual coupling of slumped glass over water polished river stones.
"I collect the rocks from the banks of the Rio Grande,"
explains Dahl, who resides in Santa Fe. "For me, the combination of clear
glass and river rock recalls the rushing of the river, or perhaps an icy
pond."
In his studio, Dahl selects and arranges a grouping of rocks
from among those he has collected. He then places a sheet of clear glass over
the rock arrangement, which will serve as a mold of sorts. Once placed into a
special fusing and slumping kiln, the glass becomes soft and conforms to the
curves of the rocks at temperatures near 1500 degrees F. After firing, the
stones are laminated to the glass and Dahl signs and dates each piece.
Among the many architectural commissions Dahl has completed is
Wolfgang Puck’s Granita restaurant in Malibu, where he created 26 door panels
of slumped and fused glass. A variety of Dahl’s pieces specially commissioned
for Carol Burnett’s Santa Fe residence were featured in 1997 on a House and
Garden TV special. Dahl created 32 pieces for Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe
residence. He has completed more than 150 other commissioned pieces in public
spaces and private residences in 15 states and Mexico.
In 1991 Absolut Vodka sponsored an international competition
which was juried by New York’s Museum of American Folk Art. Dahl’s piece was
chosen to be exhibited in the museum, used in national print promotion and added
to the permanent collection at Absolut’s U.S. corporate headquarters.
Dahl studied Journalism at the University of Washington and
then switched to glass fusing and casting at the Seattle Art Institute. He began
work as a glass artist in 1987 and established his own studio, Dahl Glass, the
following year.
Numerous publications have featured Dahl’s work, including The
Absolut Book; restaurant magazines such as Restaurants That Work, Hospitality
Design and Restaurant Hospitality; and consumer publications like Metropolitan
Home, Country Home, House & Garden.
Dahl’s work has been exhibited at the Museum of American
Folk Art, NY, as well as in major galleries and juried shows throughout the U.S.
and England.
USE AND CARE: Dahl’s
pieces make stunning serving pieces. For years of enjoyment, some care must be
taken when using them. Use as serving pieces (not for cooking or heating) with
cold food only. Do not soak them or expose them to prolonged heat, which may
affect the adhesive. Never place in an oven, microwave or dishwasher. Hand wash.
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