As we look forward to the New Year we are optimistic about what lies ahead. Reflecting on the past year, we are very proud to say that Heller Gallery was a major resource for museum acquisitions in addition to purchases by significant private collections.

In 2009 the Gallery placed artworks by Beth Lipman in the permanent collections of the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Kamm Teapot Foundation, the Corning Museum of Glass, the RISD Museum of Art and the Speed Art Museum. The Kamm Teapot Foundation also acquired a sculpture by Susan Taylor Glasgow. A major sculpture by Karen LaMonte was just acquired from the gallery by the Chrysler Museum of Art while a Christina Bothwell sculpture went to the Palm Springs Art Museum. The Speed Art Museum received a number of partial and promised gifts from Adele & Leonard Leight including outstanding works originally from Heller Gallery by Aleš Vašíček, Sibylle Peretti, Lino Tagliapietra and the legendary Czech couple Stanislav Libenský & Jaroslava Brychtová. In Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Art hit the jackpot when it became the recipient of a 100-piece mega donation from Anna & Joe Mendel which included numerous works acquired from Heller Gallery. The Mendel collection will be on view at the MMFA from April 7th – October 31st 2010. Other pieces from the gallery were exhibited on loan at institutions ranging from the Museum of Glass to the Islip Art Museum, the Contemporary Art Center of VA, the Museum of American Glass and the Chrysler Museum of Art.

We are in the midst of a unique and expansive period in the history of glass. The material is increasingly viewed as a legitimate medium for fine artists and more and more works of art made from glass are entering public collections.

From the perspective of the Gallery’s interaction with the museum world, 2009 has been a banner year! Our thanks go to our artists without whose creativity and vision none of the above would be possible.

Happy 2010 from everyone at Heller Gallery!

Hank Adams, "Maple Syrup," 2005

“See Through,” an exhibition of contemporary glass at the

Islip Art Museum will be opening November 25 and running through January 24th, 2010.

The artists represented include Hank Adams, Christina Bothwell, Jim Butler, Barbara Campisi, Josely Carvalho, Lucinda Cobley, Beth Dary, Sue Fuller, Barry Goldberg, Karen LaMonte, Beth Lipman, Jill Moser, Marc Petrovic, and Tom Wolf.  The Islip Art Museum is an easy commute from New York City and  is in walking in distance from the Long Island Railroad, which runs from both Flatbush and Penn Station.   For more information on the Islip Art Museum vist their website.

Crossing the Pacific, Hiromi Takizawa

Heller Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Hiromi Takizawa’s installation Crossing the Pacific Ocean. In this piece the artist explores the ideas of cultural identity, cultural and physical movement, and the distance and speed with which they are spanned in the world today.  The emotions relayed in this work, are not weighed down by the permanence once assumed by the immigrant/emigrant.  Instead, we see a contemplation of the personal experience of ‘globalization’ which includes everything from the freedom to choose the culture you wish to surround yourself with (even if it is not your native culture) to providing transportation which will take you from one place to the other faster than your body will naturally adjust to.  Ms. Takizawa’s work makes us question whether the physical axiom of quantity changing into quality, ultimately translates the metaphysical concept of cultural distance by frequency to proximity.

The artist says of her work: “(In) Crossing the Pacific Ocean, I find myself contemplating the idea of physical distance that exists between me and my family in Japan.  This has produced profound feelings of dislocation and isolation as well as the positive experience of mixing-in and adapting to different cultures in the United States.  All of these experiences have become my inspiration.  I made tangible a cultural self-portrait, by creating an elusive airplane that appears as a reflection in the blue upon the surface of the glass.  All of the airplanes are heading towards the West except for one, which is heading towards the East – in the direction of my memories of home, my childhood, and the culture that nurtured me.”

Born and raised in Nagano, Japan, Hiromi Takizawa studied art at California State University at Fullerton from where she received her BA (2005) and an MA (2007) for which she studied with artist & teacher Katherine Gray.  Currently she lives and works in Richmond, VI.

“Crossing the Pacific,” will be on view through November 29th.

Lino Tagliapietra, Endeavor

“Lino Tagliapertra in Retrospect:  A Modern Renaissance in Italian Glass, ” is currently on view at the Palm Springs Art Museum through December 27th.  The extensive exhibit tells the story of Tagliapietra, a virtuoso factory glass blower, who explodes with creative vibrancy after traveling to the United States.  The show includes work from his entire career,  from masterful goblets to his large boat installation, “Endeavor.” You can read more about the exhibition here.

Beth Lipman, Basket of Fruit on Bancketje

“Symposium on American Studio Crafts: An Emerging Force in the Decorative Arts Market,” is a full day event for both new and established collectors, organized by the Appraisers Association of America.   The symposium will cover the critical aspects of connoisseurship and identifying value and will take place at Bonhams, on October 2nd from 9am-5pm.  Doug Heller, President of Heller Gallery,  participate in a panel discussion how an artist’s work progresses throughout their career.  Other speakers include  Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass, Corning Museum of Glass;  David McFadden,  Chief Curator,  Museum of Arts and Design; Kate Carmel, appraiser and former Chief Curator, American Craft Museum, to name a few.   For tickets call 212-889-5404, $85.00/person.

Gregory Grenon, That Uncertain Gesture, 2009

Start out at 420 W. 14th Street at Heller Gallery, of course.  Two new shows, “Love Hurts,”  by Susan Taylor Glasgow, and “Gregory Grenon” open this month.  Grenon’s reverse painting on glass brings a raw, colorful, and expressionist aesthetic to his female subjects.  The rich colors and heavy lines both contrast and highlight the dark emotional overtones which define his ouvre.  Also, get your fix of your favorites in the front gallery where Heller is  exhibiting  an international array of glass artists including Lino Tagliapietra, Bertil Vallien and Karen Lamonte.

From Heller,  head up to the High Line and enjoy the elevated railway park on your way to Chelsea.  The High Line walkway is lined with wild flowers, food vendors and benches were you can rest, socialize, eat and catch rare views of the city.

Spencer Finch, The River That Flows Both Ways, 2009

As you make your way north keeps your eyes pealed for  Spencer Finch’s contemporary stained glass window, “The River that Flows Both Ways.”  The piece is monumental in scale, but seems to camouflage into the urban facades that surround it.  To create the windows Finch took  photographs of the surface of the Hudson River every minute for 700 minutes.  From a single pixel point on each photo Finch derived individual colors of each of the 700 panes of glass.  The panes are arranged chronologically and function as a chromatic record of singles moments that culminates to produce the sensation of  light being reflected off the river.

Josiah McElheny, Monument to Socialist Spirituality, 2009

A few blocks beyond the Finch piece the High Line empties onto 21nd st. where you can begin a voyage through Chelsea.  While wading though the gallery lined streets make a point to stop to see Josiah McElheny’s solo show,  “Proposals for a Chromatic Modernism,” at Andrea Rosen Gallery (525 w. 24th st.).  McElheny investigates utopian aesthetics, and their relationship to modern architecture with a, “colored universe of interiors and architecture, some rough and unfinished, others polished to a high gloss.”

James Turrell, Untitled (23ROB), 2007

Also stop into Pace Wildenstein (534 W. 25th) where, “James Turrell, Large Holograms ” is on view.  Although “Large Holograms,” doesn’t consist of glass,  Turrell’s phenomenological pieces captivate the viewer with his seductive play of light and color.

If all the art-looking has made you weary, cruise over to Bongo, (299  10th Ave between 27h and 28th)for  a drink.  This seafood lounge severs up some of the most creative cocktails in the city, with each drink in a distinct vintage glass.  The mid century interior is clad with rainbows of gem toned factory bottles, and the oysters and lobster rolls make it a perfect stop for happy hour.

Get out in the sun and enjoy the city, while you still can. . .

Gregory Grenon, "Our Darling," 2009

“These things I do are intense and are made with unbalanced affection for you, the viewer.” – Gregory Grenon from “Unidentified Woman,” 1994

Meet Gregory Grenon and enjoy a glass of wine,Thursday, October 1^st from 6 – 8pm.

Gregory Grenon is a unique figure in the international glass world and his reverse paintings on glass are unforgettable. This is Gregory’s first major New York exhibition since 2004 and it should not be missed.

In his newest work Gregory Grenon builds on prior strengths with reverse oil paintings on glass, some of which take on sculptural dimensions.  Grenon has a style that has been compared to German Expressionists; younger women in brushy, vividly colored settings that often have dark emotional overtones.  Over time, Grenon has added both greater individual identity and more psychological insight.  Inspired by mass-media sources rather than exact portraiture, Grenon’s subjects stare into the eyes of the viewer with great force.  Only the crossed hands, upstretched palms and gestures of self-protection in a few betray the fragile vulnerability behind the glass.

© adapted from an article by Matthew Kangas, May 2009

Klaus Moje Exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design

There is one day left to see “Klaus Moje: Painting with Glass,” at the Museum of Arts and Design.  The show runs through Sunday, September 20th.  Don’t miss your chance to see this amazing retrospective of Klaus Moje, the father of Australian studio glass.  The show includes 68 objects as well as the “Portland Panels,” a large scale fusing project, which is the highlight of the show.  Read more about the exhibit here.

While you are at MAD you can also visit  “Glasswear,” an exhibtion of contemporary glass jewerly.  Sprint over to the Museum tomorrow between 10am-6pm.

Marc Petrovic, True North

Looking to get out of New York City for the weekend?  If you are a glass lover The Museum of America Glass at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center may be the perfect destination.  Just 140 miles from New York City, the museum has a comprehensive collection of American glass along side pieces by wide array of contemporary artists.

“Duets,” on display in the lobby, features work by two husband and wife teams: Marc Petrovic and Kari-Russel Pool, and Stephen Paul Day and Sibylle Peretti.  Petrovic’s work, which includes his signature glass letters and sculpted boats, is particularly striking.  The piece, “True North,”  captivates the viewer’s imagination with its  poetic assemblage objects.  Using signifiers of travel, it suggests a journey (maybe real or imagined) which evokes the sense of wonder and adventure.  However, the beauty of  Petrovic’s  work is  that it never reveals too much and intrigues the viewer by inviting them to construct their own meaning.

“Rising Stars,” a selection of artists from Glass Weekend 2009, is also on view.  If you missed Glass Weekend here is another opportunity to see works from Nicole Chesney, Christina Bothwell and many others.  Both shows are up through Nov. 1st.

Permanently on view is a vast collection  of New Jersey factory glass (much of it made at Wheaton) which demonstrates the brilliant form and function of mold blown bottles, mason jars, and glass insulators.  Other highlights of the collection include the world’s largest bottle, glass whimsies, the rubine verde display and the unusual selection of American studio glass.  Also, don’t miss Creative Glass Center of America Collection, perhaps the most unique section of the museum, which  includes pieces from former CGCA fellows such as  Beth Lipman, Karen Lamonte and Hank Adams.

While visiting  the Museum be sure to check out the other glass activities at Wheaton Arts.  Vistors can watch the  glass studio demonstrations, try to make their own paperweight, or visit the Festival of Fine Craft on Oct. 3rd and 4th.  The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.  Admission is $10 for  adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and children under 5 are free.