Glass artists’ Everett show about experimentation

EVERETT — Seattle glass artists Granite Calimpong and Brent Rogers are on an artistic adventure.

Their discoveries along the way are featured in the exhibition “Halfway to Somewhere” at the Schack Art Center from Oct. 9 through Nov. 8.

The exhibit is a result of their residencies in 2013 at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. There, Calimpong and Rogers were able to experiment, try new ideas and make art using different materials and new approaches and processes.

Because their styles are so distinct, there was a lot of compromise on decision-making during the six-week residency and production of the work.

The show gives fans of the Schack a chance to see experimental works by leading glass artists without traveling to Seattle or Tacoma, or even the Pilchuck Glass School northeast of Stanwood.

Calimpong grew up the son of a potter in Northern California. He graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary computing in the arts from the University of California, San Diego, where he was first introduced to glass.

He has worked as a freelance glassblowing assistant to many artists including Nancy Callan, Benjamin Moore, Ethan Stern, John Kiley, Dan Dailey, Janusz Pozniak and James Mongrain.

Typically, Calimpong’s work is blown and cold worked glass with a focus on simple and clean forms and surfaces. In his artist’s statement, Calimpong said he considers himself “a glass worker and a craftsman.”

“My instinct is rooted in process. I find great value in understanding a material long before the creative process begins. I came to glass for the process first and then slowly began to piece together an understanding of its static qualities,” he said in the statement. “I strive to create work that exhibits balance and clarity of form. Whether the work is tight and symmetrical or loose in its manifestations, I am dedicated to creating glass that is carefully considered, cleanly executed and exhibits the attention to detail that I employ during every step of the process.”

Rogers’ work, on the other hand, focuses more on content rather than form. He uses imagery, lamination and painting on glass to convey various concepts.

In his artist’s statement, Rogers said: “My work focuses on themes of rejection, acceptance and failure because it is a common occurrence in everyday life. I aim to capture emotion of a specific moment utilizing the reflective qualities of glass. I am interested in this reflection and how the viewer then becomes part of the work. Working in the hot shop is as important as the alternative materials applied after the glass has cooled. I strive to push the boundaries of new cold applications to leave my own mark on the material.”

Rogers was born and raised in Seattle, where he worked as a production glass blower and designer at the Glass Eye Studio before relocating to Chicago in 2011.

He has been an active member of Studio 5416 in Ballard since it opened in April 2010.

Brent educated himself in glass and illustration concepts at the Pratt Fine Art Center and Pilchuck Glass School, and as an intern at Benjamin Moore Inc.

‘Halfway to Somewhere’

Exhibition is at The Schack (2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the show is free. More information is available by calling 425-259-5050 or online at www.schack.org.