I’m mailing this one in from my vacation holiday.
I just couldn’t miss…
IT IS FRIDAY!!!
Go ahead, put your feet up and relax. The weekend is here!
WARNING…Big, old, grouchy because my vacation holiday is over, blogger alert for Monday morning.
I’ll try my best to be cheerful on Monday. I will see you back here, then.
Patricia
Recently, I heard great news from glass artist, Kenneth von Roenn. So, what’s new with one of my favorite artists? According to Kenneth, he has made a move to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida to pursue a career in academia. Kenneth writes,
I am working at Florida State University to develop a new undergraduate and graduate program in public/architectural art as well to serve as the director of their art production studio which does glass, sculpture, terrazzo, cast concrete, etc.. While I am sad to leave my studio in Louisville, I am thrilled
with the opportunities here to prepare artists to work in the public arena as well as work with some fantastic artisans producing large scale art projects for environments.
I think this is an amazing opportunity. Kenneth will certainly propagate a lasting legacy of artistic excellence at FSU. You can read more about Kenneth and his move to FSU HERE.
And, as if that news wasn’t big enough. Kenneth also told me about his newly created glass studio, Kaiser/von Roenn Studio Group. One of the recent projects by the studio is a wall art piece for the Grosch Residence in Chicago.
Grosch Residence Wall Art by Kaiser/von Roenn Studio Group
Detail view – Grosch Residence Wall Art by Kaiser/von Roenn Studio Group
Detail view – Grosch Residence Wall Art by Kaiser/von Roenn Studio Group
Architectural glass artist Paul Housberg recently completed a two-story permanent art glass installation for the main lobby of Boston’s new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, situated on the Charlestown waterfront.
Water Walk, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Paul Housberg
The piece, titled “Water Walk,” is inspired by water, its movement, the play of reflections on its surface, and the connections between water and healing. Standing at the core of the new state-of-the-art facility, “Water Walk” is the physical and conceptual foundation of the Hospital’s art program, whose mission is to contribute to the overall healing environment through pieces that engage, inspire, and enliven patients and visitors.
Water Walk, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Paul Housberg
Detail view, Water Walk, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Paul Housberg
“Throughout history, water has been considered nature’s healer,” Housberg observes. “No matter what one’s beliefs or background, human beings are drawn to water for its soothing movements and fascinating textures, for its meditative sounds and ever-changing surface. It is a metaphor for the presence and flow of life and spirit. It can be a point of focus for meditation and reflection.” This relationship between water and healing was Housberg’s inspiration for the work, which consists of milky, mouth-blown sheet glass with vitreous paint laminated to mirror. The installation glows with the lobby’s ambient light, reflecting the movement of the viewer and changing lighting conditions.
Housberg was invited to the project by Boston Art Inc. in consultation with Partners Healthcare, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, architects Perkins+Will, and a focus group comprised of other community stakeholders. Housberg collaborated with Derix Glass in Taunusstein, Germany to paint and fabricate the mirrored glass panels. In tandem with its concept, the installation also addresses practical considerations. The glass visually ties together the lobby and mezzanine. It turns a formerly imposing elevator core into a humanizing sculptural element and creates an illusion of depth in a relatively compressed lobby space.
Water Walk, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Paul Housberg
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital is one of the largest inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States and has been consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Issue each year since 1995 – the only rehabilitation hospital in New England to do so. Spaulding’s holistic therapeutic approach strives to restore patients’ independence and ease their transition back into the community. The new facility in Charlestown is a national model for environmental and inclusive design. It offers harbor views as well as water access for patients to canoe, kayak, and windsurf through its Weingarten Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program. Having officially opened its doors on April 27, 2013, many of the facility’s initial patients were victims of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings.
Glass Artist, Paul Housberg
Paul Housberg is known for his inventive applications of glassworking technologies in architectural settings, including hospitality, corporate, healthcare, public, and residential spaces. Central to his work are the tactile qualities of glass and the expression of its materiality. Born in New York City, Housberg studied painting early in his career, but was drawn to glass for its atmospheric color. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design, he studied in England with Patrick Reyntiens, a pioneer in contemporary stained glass. Later, as a Fulbright Scholar, Housberg pursued his art at the International Center of Glass Research (CIRVA) in Marseilles, France. He has completed projects at Princeton University, Mayo Clinic and California State Teachers’ Retirement System Headquarters (CalSTRS) among others. Housberg currently lives and works in Jamestown, Rhode Island. To learn more about Paul Housberg, please visit http://www.glassproject.com/.
On May 19, 2013, Innovative Glass Corp announced the availability of SolarSmart™, the newest addition to the eGlass® product line. SolarSmart is a self-tinting, high performance glass that automatically darkens in the presence of direct sunlight to block heat, glare and damaging ultraviolet light.
IGC SolarSmart
Unlike most other dynamic glass, SolarSmart is 100% solar activated, powered and controlled; requiring no wires, electronics, external power or user involvement. This dramatically simplifies installation, and maximizes potential energy savings.
The secret to SolarSmart lies in its proprietary Suntuitive™ interlayer which responds to the heat & warmth of the sun. With SolarSmart, the view is always preserved even in the darkest state.
According to Steve Abadi, Chairman of Innovative Glass, “Windows receive different amounts of solar energy throughout the day, month & year, due to changing angles and position of the sun. As the sun strikes and heats the glass, SolarSmart automatically and proportionately tints and darkens to maximize user comfort. It’s as reliable as the sunrise and sunset, always adapting to the environment.”
SolarSmart reduces the need for blinds and drapes, and will significantly cut the cooling & lighting costs of office buildings, schools and homes. In fact, studies indicate that buildings with SolarSmart can save up to 22% of installed equipment costs, supporting a quick return on investment.
SolarSmart has passed NREL’s stringent durability & exposure tests, and meets ASTM E2141-06 standards for long-term, maintenance-free performance. SolarSmart is a reliable “net-zero-energy” glazing solution that contributes to LEED points credits in over 6 categories.
SolarSmart is available in the form of insulated glass units for curtainwalls, atriums & OEM applications, as well as complete windows, doors and skylights for contractor installation.
Today I am looking at a Tuscan inspired backsplash created and installed by Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass of Dallas, TX. The customer spent a memorable week in the Tuscany countryside and wanted a reminder of her visit there.
Tuscan Backsplash, Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass
Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass shared a view of the backsplash in progress-showing the tiles before going into the kiln for firing. You can see the original drawing in the background.
Tuscany Back splash in progress
Today’s guest blogger is Sandra Outland, Manager, Kitrell/Riffkind Art Glass
Today I am looking at paisley glass.
Paisley is very trendy right now. Here are a few of my favorite examples of paisley glass.
1981 Toan Klein Paisley Gatograph Art Glass Vase
IT IS FRIDAY!!!
Most weeks just fly by. This is the week before my week-long vacation. It has been the sloooowest week ever. I can’t wait to spend some quality time with my family.
Be good and stay out of trouble while I am off to Florida for fun in the sun. I promise to have lots to share when I return.
Patricia
Today I am looking at custom doors by Sculptural Glass Doors.
Did you ever know a secret that you wanted to tell but you had to wait? It can be the hardest thing to do. I know. I’ve had a secret that I have been waiting to tell you. That is why I’m so excited to finally share the amazing doors available from Bellingham, Washington company, Sculptural Glass Doors, with you.
I found Sculptural Glass Doors a while back and emailed company President and glass guru, Bill McColl, to let him know how much I liked admired l-o-v-e-d his doors and asked if I could share them with the Looking At Glass readers. Bill graciously agreed and asked if I could wait while the finishing touches were completed on a new website. The wait was well worth it. Sculptural Glass Doors has a shiny new website and I’ve now had plenty of time to consider their doors. I love how the scale of the pattern on these doors is not too small, not too big but, just right. I think they are perfect.
To view pairs of these doors and closeups, visit Sculpturalglassdoors.com
Today I am looking at Bottles mosaic tile by Erin Adams for New Ravenna Tile.
I think Bottles would make a great backsplash for an indoor or outdoor bar.
Today I am looking at the beautiful and fun Sole Mirror by Piero Fornasetti.
I saw this mirror in a Wright Auction catalog from 2008. This engraved mirror with brass rays is simply perfect. It makes me smile.
Sole Mirror, Piero Fornasetti
472
Piero Fornasetti
Sole mirror
Fornasetti Milano Italy, c. 1960 engraved glass, brass 18 dia x 1 d inches
This work has been authenticated by Barnaba Fornasetti.
Literature: Fornasetti: Designer of Dreams, Mauriès, pg. 227 illustrates variation
Today I am looking at Cycles by Carol Bennett at University of Hawaii West Oahu Library.
University of Hawai’i West Oahu Library
Cycles
The Glass Tower is in the heart of campus and easily used for way-finding, from both near and far. By day it is a reverse painting on glass, the reflective qualities of gold leaf, glass beads and the frosted glass catch natural light and cloud’s movement. By night it becomes a beacon that illuminates from within and changes upon the hour. Cycles uses a uses a vocabulary of simple, abstract circular organic and geometric shapes that symbolize personal, community and generational relationships to the University
– Carol Bennett
Carol Bennett Cycles project UH West library tower 2013 from Wayne Zebzda on Vimeo.
My name is Patricia Linthicum and I love design. I adore creative function and form using glass. This blog is a place for me to explore and share glass used in interior design and architecture.
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