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Seekers Glass Gallery presents the work of Ken and Ingrid Hanson,
who skillfully employ the most intricate glass making techniques to create
original, uniquely contemporary statements in form and color.
The Hanson's are a talented young husband and wife glassblowing
team from northern California whose work is focused almost entirely on vessel
forms. According to Ingrid, they "enjoy creating traditional forms in
glass, while using non-traditional colors and applications of color to create
unique, contemporary and alluring works of art."
A modern "Renaissance couple" would be an apt term
to describe this pair of high achievers. To say they bring a multi-disciplined
approach to their work in glass is a bit of an understatement, since between
them they have five bachelor’s degrees from San Francisco State University!
Ken has two BS degrees, one in computer science/electrical engineering and one
in sociology, and a BFA degree in ceramics. Ingrid has a BS degree in sociology
and a BFA degree in sculpture/art education. She also has a Dutch Language
Certificate of Fluency from the University of Amsterdam.
The Hansons have worked in glass since 1992 and have continued
to refine their mastery of classic Italian glassblowing techniques such as
latticinio and murrini. "We are inspired by Italian master glassblowers as
well as by many different contemporary artists," explains Ken.
For three years they worked for Bruce Pizzichillo and Dari
Gordon, who were among the first wave of San Francisco Bay Area glass artists to
emerge in the early 1970s. During this time, the early 1990s, the Hansons were
exposed to the techniques of some of today’s greatest living glass artists and
attended demonstrations by legendary artists like Lino Tagliapietra, Dante
Marioni, Ruth King and Richard Marquis.
The Hansons worked hard on developing and refining their
designs and techniques until their vision was clear enough to establish their
own studio, Hanson and Kastles, in 1998. Their work has been exhibited at the
Scottsdale Cultural Center and Scottsdale Center for the Arts, both in Arizona,
and at the Palo Alto Cultural Center in California.
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