This winter, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft heats up with two exhibitions featuring the red-hot medium of glass: Hot Glass, Cool Collections and Environments = Form + Space, on view through March 15. The glass celebration continues with a blazing lineup of special events, Hearts Afire Weekend, which includes live glass demonstrations and a cocktail fundraiser on Feb. 21-22.

Hot Glass, Cool Collections 

Hot Glass, Cool Collections offers a glimpse inside 12 of Houston’s best private glass collections. The exquisite works on view represent the many styles and techniques of the Studio Glass Movement including hand-blown, kiln-worked, torch-worked and cold-worked glass. The show includes more than 60 pieces by such masters as Dale Chihuly, Harvey Littleton, Dante Marioni, Richard Marquis, William Morris, Michael Schunke, Preston Singletary,
Paul Stankard, Lino Tagliapietra, Toots Zynsky and others.

The American Studio Glass Movement, which began in the early 1960s, marked a new era in the long history of glass as an artistic medium. For the first time in more than 3,500 years, technology allowed artists to make glass alone and unaided, without the necessity of a factory environment. In the early part of the 20th century, glass was made in large-scale industrial settings, where hundreds of employees worked to mass produce glass objects. Studio glass differs from factory glass in that the individual artist completes all aspects of the creation of a piece, and the quantity of work produced is extremely limited (most studio glass artists make fewer pieces in their lifetime than factories like Baccarat or Waterford make in one day).

From the United States, the techniques developed in the studio glass movement spread to countries around the world and enabled artists to share ideas and technical knowledge on a global basis.

A few of the most celebrated artists in the show are Dale Chihuly, known for his fantastic abstract and sea-form sculptures; Lino Tagliapietra, one of the world ’s greatest living glass blowers; Toots Zynsky, who creates her stunning pieces from thousands of colored glass threads; and Paul Stankard, known for his paperweights and delicate sculptures of flowers and insects encased in globes and cubes of clear glass.

Environments = Form + Space 

Environments = Form + Space features imaginative installations by three emerging glass artists, Matthew Eskuche, Amy Rueffert and Pablo Soto, who present new and expansive ways to define the discipline of glass. Emphasizing the importance of form over function and the relationship between objects and the spaces they occupy, the show explores the unique environments created by nontraditional glass forms, while pushing the boundary between contemporary art and craft.

Displaying incredible detail and craftsmanship along with conceptual ideas, two of these artists are at the very forefront of work that blurs the line between craft and contemporary art. Matthew Eskuche, based in Pittsburgh, Pa., is most recently known for his arresting installations of “white trash.” While most glass artists focus on the luxurious nature of glass and the medium’s delicate qualities, Eskuche takes his inspiration from discarded plastic bottles, crumpled paper and take-out containers to comment on American culture ’s crass consumerism and over-use of disposable and convenience packaging.

Pablo Soto, originally from Georgetown, Texas, and based in Penland, N.C., attended several top glass programs and studied with master glassblower Lino Tagliagpietra. A natural talent, whose aesthetic is based on form and function, Soto believes his inherent sense of color and design stems from his family, all of whom are potters and artists. Though his work is rooted in ancient glassblowing techniques, Soto ’s vessels are clean, simple and contemporary, with strong attention to line and color.

Gwynne Rukenbrod, HCCC curator of fine craft, commented, “With these two contrasting exhibits—each showcasing different genres and artists—HCCC hopes to raise regional awareness about glass, a diverse and frequently overlooked art form. With help from our generous collectors in Houston and three of the nation ’s leading emerging artists, we are confident that our visitors will discover the beauty, skill, variety and surprise inherent in glass art. ”

 In addition to the exhibitions, the large gallery will have an educational area dedicated to glass techniques, where visitors can learn about the many ways in which glass is created.

Hearts Afire Weekend Events

Hearts Afire Weekend will be held on  Feb. 21 from noon- 3 p.m. Watch live, hot glass demonstrations. Stop by to see three of America ’s most celebrated glass artists—Matthew Eskuche, Kristina Logan and Paul Stankard—as they demonstrate glass work on the torch. If you love fire and glass, you’ll love watching these amazing artists transform glass rods into molten glass to create beautiful pieces of art. This event is free and open to the public.

Support HCCC by attending Hearts Afire on Feb. 21 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. This  fundraiser includes hot glass demonstrations, crafty cocktails, tasty nibbles, and a live auction of the glass art created throughout the evening.

Attend a lecture by Paul Stankard on Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. This world-renowned glass artist encases his delicate sculptures of flowers and insects in globes and cubes of clear glass. He will discuss “Educating One’s Self through Making Things,” based on his recently published book, No Green Berries or Leaves. The lecture is free and open to the
public.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is dedicated to advancing education about the process, product and history of craft. HCCC provides exhibition, retail and studio spaces to support the work of local and national artists and serves as a resource for artists, educators and the community at large.

Located in the Museum District at 4848 Main St., HCCC is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. –5 p.m., and Sunday  from noon-5 p.m.. Admission is free. For more information, call 713-529-4848 or visit www.crafthouston.org.