Conversations on Glass by Apice: “Venice and American Studio Glass”

Moderator: Tina Oldknow, Independent curator, art historian and former curator of modern and contemporary glass at The Corning Museum of Glass 

Speakers: 

Benjamin Moore, Artist

Dan Dailey, Artist

David Landau, Trustee, Pentagram Stiftung and member of The Venice Glass Week Organising Committee

Nancy Callan, Artist

William Warmus, Independent curator, Art writer, Art critic and former curator of modern and contemporary glass at The Corning Museum of Glass

The exhibition “Venice and American Studio Glass” is on view at Le Stanze del Vetro - Fondazione Giorgio Cini from 6th September 2020 to 10th January, 2021.  The exhibition gathers together 155 outstanding examples of contemporary art, craft, and design in glass by American artists, with a selection of iconic works by legendary Venetian maestros.  The “Venice and American Studio Glass” exhibition reveals the impact of Venetian traditions on contemporary American art in glass, and how American and Venetian artists renewed the creativity and vibrancy of a historic craft language. The exhibition showcases a diversity of work in glass that is both traditional and ground-breaking, demonstrating the enduring and versatile legacy of Venetian glassmaking in America.  This online panel discussion will focus on the concept and realisation of the exhibition, with additional comments by three of the exhibition’s featured artists.

Tina Oldknow is an independent curator and art historian specializing in contemporary art, craft, and design in glass, and former curator of modern and contemporary glass at The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York. She curated the exhibition, “Venice and American Studio Glass”, with William Warmus

Many of the artists included in the exhibition, “Venice and American Studio Glass”, have had a profound influence on the development of American studio glass. Benjamin Moore traveled to Venice, learned Venetian techniques, and then invited Venetian maestros to the United States to teach. His work, which explores mid-century Venetian design ideas, is featured in the exhibition.

American visual artist Dan Dailey has produced sculpture and functional art, with an emphasis on lighting, since 1970. A pioneer of American studio glass, he has had a long and influential career.  Dailey designed the layout of the exhibition, “Venice and American Studio Glass”, in which his work is also featured.

Art historian and philanthropist David Landau is behind Le Stanze del Vetro exhibition space on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. A joint initiative between The Cini Foundation and the Swiss-based, non-profit foundation Pentagram Stiftung, headed by Marie-Rose Kahane, David’s wife, the aim of Le Stanze del Vetro’s programming is to introduce 20th- and 21st-century glass to as many people as possible, and to make them aware of its history, its beauty, importance, and function.

Nancy Callan represents the younger generation of American artists working with glass, and she has been actively exhibiting her work since 2001. For many years she worked as an assistant to the famous Venetian maestro, Lino Tagliapietra, and she is regarded as one of the most talented and innovative glassblowers in the United States. Her work is featured in the exhibition, “Venice and American Studio Glass”.

William Warmus is an art writer, independent curator, art critic and former curator of modern and contemporary glass at The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York. He curated the exhibition, “Venice and American Studio Glass”, with Tina Oldknow.