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Seekers
presents the work of Paul Harrie, who combines contemporary designs and classic
techniques to create a variety of small sculptures, vases, perfume vials and
other work.
Using
traditional glassblowing methods that are thousands of years old, Harrie creates
each piece at the end of a metal blowpipe, working the glass at temperatures in
excess of 2000 degrees F.
A master glassblower,
Harrie is particularly accomplished in the use of latticinio, murrini and
millefiori. These classic techniques, which date back to ancient Egypt, were
virtually lost around the first century AD, then rediscovered in the Renaissance
by the famed glassmakers of Murano, near Venice.
The
artist’s Pyramid Series of
sculptures feature interiors of latticinio or bits of glass encased in clear
crystal, with exterior rings of opaque colored glass. The sculptures are then
faceted, polished, signed and dated.
Harrie’s
Multifaceted Jeweltone Perfume Bottle
Series is distinguished by the use of rich primary colors, and facets that
suggest large precious stones, such as emeralds, rubies or sapphires. These
bottles are true little gems!
Harrie
began working in glass in 1975 and established his own Southern California
studio in 1980. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of
Kansas, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA, where he studied
glassblowing with world-renowned artist Richard Marquis. His teaching experience
includes several years as glass instructor at the Long Beach and Northridge
campuses of California State University, and two years as assistant glass
instructor at UCLA.
In
1981 the Corning Museum of Glass selected Harrie’s work for inclusion in its
prestigious New Glass Review 2 (only
100 are selected each year from thousands of international entries).
His
work has been exhibited at numerous galleries, universities and museums
throughout the
United States
, including the Nelson Art Museum, Kansas City;
Kansas
University
;
California
Polytechnic
State
University
,
San Luis Obispo
;
Hastings College
,
Nebraska
; and the
Royal
Art
Gallery
,
Kyoto
,
Japan
. Paul has had “one-man” shows at Bakersfield Museum of Art,
Bakersfield
California
and Palette Gallery,
Albuquerque
,
New Mexico
.
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