Glass exhibit redefines uses of the material

The amorphous structure of glass makes it an interesting medium. Unlike metal or wood, glass can soften and mold into new shapes. Its luminescent quality and ability to capture light also make it an appealing material.

In 2012 artist Ray Polito and the Art Association of Jackson Hole decided to show the Jackson community the intriguing nature of glass with the “Captured Light Glass Exhibition.”

The second iteration of “Captured Light” takes after the first show by displaying art made by glass workers.

Featuring 25 artists, the exhibit will have an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Art Association Gallery.

“After the first show, we planned to do another one two years later and to reformat it,” said Thomas Macker, the association’s photography department head who helped plan the exhibit.

The first “Captured Light” highlighted the work of artists from the valley. For the second show, Polito and Macker decided to feature a broader range of artists.

Conducting a search, the association enlisted the help of three people to jury the show. After the nonprofit organization sent out a call for entries, the jury sifted through submissions from artists across the country.

“We were looking for artists who had the whole package in terms of having a solid portfolio,” Macker said. “We also thought about having a versatile variety of glass pieces that were abstract, illuminated or functional.”

On the exhibit’s list of glass workers are people from Arizona, California, New York and Washington.

John Webster is a Seattle artist. He creates sculptural cast glass and carved architectural glass. One of his pieces that will be hanging on the wall at the association’s gallery is titled Beginning Sunset’s End.

A kiln-cast and cold-worked glass creation, Webster’s piece uses glass’ transparent quality to show a cube placed inside another cube. Tying in the work’s name, Webster made his sculpture with orange and red colors.

Macker said the jury decided to show Webster’s work because it was different from other popular glasswork. Finding artists who reshape and cast the noncrystalline structure in a different way was the jury’s main goal.

“We were primarily looking for something that was unique in terms of creating a different understanding of the medium and how to work with it,” Macker said.

Karen Donnellan reinterprets the use of glass by using it to amplify sound. Donnellan believes that the material’s sonic quality is as important as its aesthetic component.

“Her piece has a motherboard, audio component that uses the glass shape as a way to project sound,” Macker said.

In addition to Donnellan’s glass amplifier the exhibit will showcase a piece she made in collaboration with John Hogan.

Donnallan and Hogan used water and projections to show refractions in the glasswork in a piece called Water Buffalo.

In addition to work by Donnallan and Hogan and other artists who work outside the Cowboy State, the show will display glass pieces made by Wyoming artists Patty Chapman, Laurie Thal and Daniel Altwies.