Tree by Andrew Jackson Pollack.

Hot Glass flows with a natural fluidness that has captured contemporary imaginations.  The next generation of glass artists is bringing a fresh look to this ancient medium creating aquatic creatures and natural plant life.  Kaviar Forge & Gallery brings Andrew Jackson Pollack and Jennifer Umphress’ flamework glass creations to Louisville for the 40th Annual International Glass Art Society Conference 2010 which kicks off the Louisville Visual Arts Festival, “Glass 30: 4 Weeks of Fire”.  Both Mr. Pollack and Ms. Umphress have an affinity for capturing the essence of nature in their representational sculptural pieces with color, form, and elegance through one hot torch!  “Nature’s Semblance” is a combination of hanging as well as freestanding sculptural works, functional home accessories, and jewelry.  The dual glass exhibition “Nature’s Semblance” will run June 2, 2010 through August 28, 2010.  Join us in welcoming the exhibition “Nature’s Semblance” on Friday June 11, 2010 for extended gallery hours 6-9 PM during the GAS Conference 2010.

New Orleans artist and lampworker Andrew Jackson Pollack has been teaching at the New Orleans School of Glassworks and Printmaking Studio for the past 12 years.  Having the privilege of studying under and assisting masters in his field, including Lucio Bubacco, Paul Stankard, Brian Kerkvliet, and Bandhu Dunham, Pollack continues to incorporate their inspiration into his artistic endeavors in glass.  “Much of my knowledge has been acquired by practice and making lots of mistakes.  I now tell my students that if they have a big pile of scraps at the end of the day, it means they were learning.  And it’s true!”  His glass art is described as “Venetian with a little New Orleans funk” incorporating the elaborate fashion and colorings of the old Venetian techniques with the boldness of style infused from the richness of culture that resides in New Orleans.  His work has been exhibited widely throughout the United States including                the Museum of Art and Design Shop, The Contemporary Jewish Museum, The National Museum of American Jewish History, and Pollack can be found at many shows and festivals including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.  His delicate work has long been on display at Kaviar Galley including Judaica and candlesticks.  Creating everything from candelabras to goblets and jewelry to critters all with elegance and a touch of playfulness, Mr. Pollack’s work exemplifies his stunning achievements in form and contour.  As one of the leading artists in his field we are happy to welcome him to Louisville.  Come meet Andrew Jackson Pollack at Kaviar Gallery on Friday June 11, 2010, celebrating the opening of the GAS conference.

Jennifer Umphress has a talent for capturing oceanic movement in her glass creations, emulating the movement of sea life in a simple contemporary form.  Umphress was born and raised in California, though upon a visit to Hawaii in 1991, falling in love with its beauty, decided to make it her home.  Inspired by her island surroundings in Maui she became a flamework apprentice at a retail studio where she was working and later spent time in Murano, Italy studying under Cesare Toffolo.  In addition to learning traditional flamworking techniques, Umphress utilizes her own methods to create desired affects by using her torch at a higher pressure and applying color by twisting as opposed to a linear fashion.  She has been on display at the Kobe Museum and received the 2009 Niche Award for Lampworked Glass. “Glass to me is the ideal medium because it has it all; color, dimension, clarity and reflection. This medium enables me to express my thoughts and or feelings in the moment”.  Having relocated to the Pacific Northwest Umphress continues to find inspiration in a cooler aquatic climate.  Creating snap shots in glass capturing the fluidity of movement in her depictions of kelp, coral, and sea creatures, Ms. Umphress recently has brought her themes inland adding floral motifs and intricate detailing of insects to her repertoire.  Though her work is constantly changing and evolving, Umphress still draws her biggest influence from the islands and ocean that surrounded her for so long.  She has a variety of wall mounted and freestanding sculpture as well as jewelry bringing the beauty of Hawaii and the Pacific coast to Kaviar Gallery. 

Both Andrew Jackson Pollack and Jennifer Umphress are flamework glass artists with organic themes centered on creatures and aspects of motion.  Their technique, lampworking (also known as torch- or flame- worked glass) is one of the oldest glass making techniques and historically was fashioned in the flame of an oil lamp where nowadays it is commonly produced by using torches run on various fuels such as propane and natural gas.  Lampworking can be done with many types of glass.  Pollack often uses frits, powders, and smaller strips of dichroic sheet glass in many projects to accomplish certain effects where Umphress uses all solid rod, very rarely using tubing; both artists utilize sandblasting and various cold working techniques to achieve their individually desired looks.  Join us at Kaviar Gallery for “Nature’s Semblance” to see this amazing exhibition from two of the nation’s finest flamework glass artists.

* Receptions for “Nature’s Semblance” will be held in conjunction with the FAT Friday Trolley Hops on the following dates:  Friday June 25, 2010, Friday July 30, 2010, and Friday August 27, 2010 each from 6-9 PM.

Kaviar Forge & Gallery is a fine arts gallery with a hand forged twist!  The gallery is an extension of artist/blacksmith Craig Kaviar’s studio that displays over fifty local, regional, and national artists.  Kaviar Gallery provides rotating displays of fine, hand-crafted works in metal, ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, wood, painting, sculpture, and artistic wedding rings and is committed to facilitating support for the artistic community by providing opportunities for new and emerging artists along with well seasoned artists who continue to perfect their craft.

Gallery Hours:  Wednesday – Friday 12 to 6 PM and Saturday 12 to 4 PM or by appointment.