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Seekers® Glass Gallery presents
the work of Edward Kachurik, who creates
ethereal crystal sculptures, paperweights and other pieces that combine
transparent and translucent colored glass with clear crystal.
His Veiled
Sculptures resemble otherworldly fountains, with several veils of
translucent, misty color floating one on top of the other, creating ethereal
interplays of color, and refraction and reflection of light within.
The
finished pieces allow the viewer to look within the mass of crystal to see layer
upon layer of ultra thin, sparkling color. The resulting creations are optically
active, kinetic sculptures that allow reflections of the interior veils to flash
from one polished surface to the other as the viewer moves around the piece.
Ed
uses a technique of coloring the hot glass surface which is called veiling. A
veil is a metallic coating that is applied to the hot glass, and then encased
with clear crystal, trapping the color inside the sculpture in the process.
Mastery of this technique is key, because unwanted bubbles or inclusions are
extremely difficult to avoid, especially on larger pieces.
Working
independently, Ed experiments with precious metals and chemicals to create his
own colors, which make his pieces unique. His transparent and translucent Veiled
Sculptures maximize the extraordinary inherent qualities of the glass medium.
His veiled interiors seem to freeze a moment of movement while the glass is hot
and viscous.
After
the sculptures have been annealed, they are hand ground and polished. Each flat
surface requires six different steps of polishing to achieve the optical
polished finish that distinguishes Ed’s work. The facets are added to give
visual enhancement to the interior glass veiling. Each piece is personally
signed by the artist.
Ed
began working with hot glass in 1978. He attended Pennsylvania State University
and one of the world’s leading glass schools, Penland Craft School in North
Carolina.
His
work is represented in numerous public, private and corporate collections,
including those of: the Corning Museum of Glass, NY; Johnny Carson, entertainer;
the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, WI; Jimmy Buffett, entertainer; the Cincinnati Art
Museum, OH; Jane Orie, PA State Senator; Fred Rogers, PBS entertainer
(deceased); and the Sandwich Glass Museum, MA. In February, 2001 Ed’s
“Rapture” sculpture was featured on NBC’s show Providence.
Among
the many corporate commissions Ed has completed are those for: the Betty Ford
Foundation; Bride’s Magazine; Girl Scouts of America, Annual Awards;
PPG Industries; Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Association; American Trap
Association; Pittsburgh International Airport, Outdoor Sculpture; Pittsburgh
Zoo; Queens College, NC; YWCA, NY; YWCA, Pittsburgh; University of Pittsburgh;
and Sprint Cellular.
Ed
Kachurik’s work is shown in numerous fine galleries, museums, juried
exhibitions and other notable venues throughout the United States. In 2000 he
was honored with a solo exhibition and signing at the prestigious Corning Museum
of Glass in New York.
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