'50 Years of Contemporary Glass' glistens at Speed
“Fifty Years of Contemporary Glass: Art, Craft, or Otherwise?” gives patrons at the J.B. Speed Art Museum the chance to see a riot of color, exquisite design and dazzling beauty — all in glass. The exhibit runs from April 25 through Aug. 1.
Among the works featured in the exhibit are pieces from the Adele and Leonard Leight collection, one of the nation's most comprehensive collections of contemporary glass. The collection includes examples of more than 50 works by internationally celebrated glass artists including Dale Chihuly, Judith Schaechter, Richard Meitner, Stanislav Libenský and more. Included in the exhibit is Kentucky's own Stephen Rolfe Powerll, known for his use of color and light. The Leights began collecting contemporary studio glass in the late 1960s; they began donating portions of their collection to the Speed Art Museum in 1992 and have since given nearly 350 works.
“I hope this exhibition will encourage visitors to think about contemporary glass in new ways,” said Scott Erbes, the exhibition's curator. “Rather than simply being dazzled by glass’s color and beauty, visitors will be asked to be critical about what they will see. For example, should work be about color and form or about personal, social, or political statements? Do both approaches have value?”
While some of the Speed Art Museum's exhibitions charge admission, “Fifty Years of Contemporary Glass: Art, Craft, or Otherwise?” is free; viewing the Speed's permanent collections is always free. Athough admission is free, the Speed suggests a $4 donation.
Posted by Ivonne Rovira
