From Fire to Form
Homage to Marvin Lipofsky and the Studio Glass Movement
July 19th - August 17th, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 19th, 4-6pm
Working at the Crystalex Hantich Factory, Czech Republic, 2000.
|
Glass has become almost exclusively the property of industry. The artist has all but forgotten the "metal" as a creative medium. This is due in part to the prevailing "secrets" in glass history, the inherent difficulties in forming, and the divorced attitude of the "glass designer" from the act of working the actual material. This has changed. Although it is neither more nor less difficult to form glass today than it was in the past, the creative possibilities of a fresh blob of molten, fluid mass on the end of a steel blowpipe are endless. Inflating a red-hot mass of glass into a form to be pinched, punched, swung, twirled, pulled, flattened, molded, pressed, expanded, cut, and tooled until its plastic properties are exploited to the maximum... is an unparalleled creative experience. It is my interest to transfer this experience of forming glass from the confining sphere of craft dogma and utilitarian restrictions, to the domain of an art form. --Marvin Lipofsky, 1967 ACCI Gallery presents From Fire to Form: Homage to Marvin Lipofsky and the Studio Glass Movement, an exhibition celebrating the vibrant history of blown glass in Northern California and the influence of Marvin Lipofsky (1938–2016). Showcasing works by Bay Area glass artists, including Lipofsky, this exhibition highlights the region’s enduring contributions to the studio glass movement.
A visionary in the field, Lipofsky helped redefine the possibilities of glass, experimenting with scale, color, and technique. A founding member of the Glass Art Society, he played a pivotal role in shaping California’s studio glass movement while teaching at UC Berkeley and California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC) from 1964 to 1987. His innovative approach incorporated unexpected materials, from copper elements to mirrored and painted surfaces, constantly pushing the boundaries of the medium. Since the 1960s, the Bay Area has been a hub for innovation in glass art, home to a dynamic community of artists pushing the boundaries of the medium. From intricate sculptural forms to bold explorations of color and transparency, blown glass has flourished here as both an expressive and technically demanding art form. The influence of innovators like Lipofsky can be seen in the work of generations of glass artists who continue to experiment with form, material, and process. This exhibition highlights blown glass pieces by 20 contemporary glass artists alongside a selection of pieces from Lipofsky’s archive, showcasing the breadth of studio glass in the Bay Area. Through their diverse approaches, these artists honor a legacy of experimentation and skill, demonstrating the lasting impact of blown glass as an artistic medium. Join us in celebrating the artists who have shaped and continue to redefine studio glass in the Bay Area.
|
Participating Artists
|
Najah Alboushi
Mimi Abers Melodie Beylik Bill Burch Elin Christopherson Kathleen Elliot Gabe Feenan |
Lancelot Fraser
Patricia Garrett Erin Hoffman Georgianna Krieger Marvin Lipofsky Bruce Pizzichillo Mathew Porkola |
Momoko Schafer
Sam Schumacher Michael Sosin Randy Strong Kim Webster Mary Bayard White Daniel Wooddell |