“Prima Donna” circus vase, blown glass, nickel and gilt bronze, pate de vert, lampwork glass. 17 x 17 x 8 3/3 inches, by Dan Daly
A sure sign of spring is the annual juried craft show sponsored by the Smithsonian Women’s Commission. This year’s performance dates are May 1st to May 5th.
All net proceeds go back to the Smithsonian Institution’s incredible commitment to science, art, and community projects at its 19 museums, research centers, and the National Zoo.
In 2014, SWC launched a program to recognize late-life artists who have reached the pinnacle of their art. The eligibility criteria for the Visionary Award is that the artist has been exhibited in a major museum or important collection.
Past recipients of the Visionary Award include Albert Paley, Wendall Castle, Faith Ringgold, Dale Chihuly, and Toots Zinski. These amazing artists set the standard for future award winners. This year’s winners are all glass artists, and their work is amazing. Smithsonian Institution Director Ronnie Bunch will present the awards on the show’s opening night.
Dan Daly
The first recipient is Dan Daly. He combines sculpture. A deft hand of painting and storytelling born from work in Venini, Italy, Cristalellis Dome in Paris, and Waterford, Ireland.
Pay particular attention to the delightful characters depicted in pate de vert. Pâté de Verre is a kind of sanded or frosted finish that harkens back to his days working on the dome glasses of Paris. Not only are these works fun to look at, but the technical aspects of their execution are also exceptional.
His white series is also noteworthy. These vessels are crafted with great attention to the shapes of his works, but include calligraphic elements in contrasting colors reminiscent of Matisse. amazing.
Judith Schechter
The second recipient is Judith Schechter, an artist who creates stained glass. Her technique involves layering what she calls “flash glass,” or pre-colored glass sheets, with layers of other colors, most of which are carved with engraving tools. Her intricate paintings, carefully carved into layers of glass, are set in frames to tell a story.
The stories can be fanciful, such as “Swarm,” a long, undulating piece of flowers, birds, and butterflies, or heart-rending pieces like Medusa’s Raft, layered with graphic pieces in sepia and gray tones. there is. Uses glass to produce a soft depth of color field.
Stained glass has never looked like this. If you think of this medium as cheerfully colored panels that you install on your windows to break up the light coming into your kitchen, you need to see Judith’s work in person. It’s pretty amazing.
Norwood Viviano
Many years ago, the Women’s Committee wanted to recognize mid-career artists who would eventually reach the status of visionaries. These young and collectible artists have a safe place at our shows. We call this award “Delphi” and it will be presented to Norwood Viviano by SWC President Trudi Hearn.
Norwood is currently an associate professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. His work, as well as his other works, can be found in museum collections such as the Renwick Art Museum, the Chrysler Museum of Art, and the Corning Museum of Art.
Norwood presents kiln-cast glass in dense sculptures depicting urban scenes. These usually depict cities with a history of manufacturing, and the carvings show changing landscapes. Although they are monochromatic, they come to life with the refraction of light.
Mining: Seattle (details), 3D kiln cast glass, mirrored glass, fabricated steel. 17.5 x 14.5 x 38 inches, by Norwood Viviano
He is also in charge of a series called “Global Cities.” The pieces in this series are elegant triangular or conical shapes suspended from the ceiling by cable he wires. The first series is crowded, but the next series is all about light and space. The contrast between the two shows the breadth of the artist’s heart.
“De-Luxe” 2022, stained glass, 28 x 40 x 3 inches.Written by Judith Schechter
All artists will display their work in booth 117. His discussion will be facilitated by a panel led by Stephanie Stevich, director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery, on May 2 from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For tickets to the craft show, visit smithsoniancraftshow.org. Schedule: May 1 – A Visionary Reception will be held at 5 p.m. to introduce Visionary Award and Delphi Award winners. Preview Night Party from 6pm See website for pricing. May 2nd-4th: 10:30-5:30. Sunday, May 5th: 11-5. General admission: $20. For more information, visit smithsoniancraftshow.org.
