VT Kids Design Glass

VT Kids Design Glass is a collaboration that brings kids’ drawings of “imaginary creatures” to life with the help of a group of New England glass artists. The exhibit was inspired by a similar project at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Over the course of the 2010 school year, we gathered a large stack of drawings of “imaginary creatures” from kids in grades K–8. Twelve drawings were selected to be recreated in glass.

Each sculpture is accompanied by its kid-designer’s original drawing and his or her short written description about the imaginary creature, and by a panel about each glass artist. A video on display in the gallery captures highlights of the creation of one of the pieces.

Participating glass artists include Josh and Marta Bernbaum, Robert Burch, Robert DuGrenier and Xander D’Ambrosio, Peter Muller, Chris Sherwin, Randi Solin and Andrew Weill of Vermont; Charles Correll, Tucker Litchfield, and Joe Peters of Massachusetts; and Gale Scott of Rhode Island.

The drawings selected to be made into glass sculptures are by Chloe Hull, Durin Hoyer, Rei Kimura, Cayden Learey, Isabella Lonardo, Zenia Muhammad, Jahvon Parker, Ethan Vodrey, Thomas Vodrey, Maxwell Weeks, Olivia Weeks, and Kathryn Wocell.

Many glass artists produce functional objects such as vases, bowls, glasses, and paperweights. Creating a unique, figurative work of art from glass, on the other hand, is a challenge that may require methods and strategies different from an artist’s usual practice. The twelve artists who participated in VT Kids Design Glass were very generous with their time, materials, and perseverance in faithfully recreating their kid-designers’ drawings.

— Susan Calabria, Curator

The works in this exhibit were commissioned by BMAC for VT Kids Design Glass. A replica of each sculpture has been given to its kid-designer. The originals on view at BMAC will be auctioned off during Gallery Walk on Friday, December 2, with all proceeds supporting BMAC’s ongoing work with children.

This exhibit is sponsored in part by a gift from People’s United Bank.

IMAGES:
Click here to view selected images from this exhibit.
Click here to view “behind the scenes” photos of the glass artists at work.
Click here to view a short video of four of the glass artists at work.

RELATED EVENTS:
VT Kids Design Glass Benefit Auction
Hidden in the Hills: JMB Glass (1/21/12)