Glass Artist John de Wit to Speak at Solomon Dubnick Gallery
Renowned glass artist, John de Wit, will present a slide show and lecture on his work at 2:00 pm on 2nd Saturday, January 9th at Solomon Dubnick Gallery.
John is recognized internationally as a leading glass artist for his unique and ever-evolving work. Born in Panama in1952, de Wit was raised in Woodland, CA and attended California State University, Chico, simultaneously studying in Sociology and Ceramics. He graduated with a Bachelors of Art Degree in Sociology in 1976 and continued his education with postgraduate studies in Ceramics and Glass before accepting professional employment at Orient & Flume Art Glass in 1978.
John moved to Washington State in the early 1980’s and soon opened his Cultus Bay Studio on Whidbey Island. After working as a glassblowing assistant for Dale Chihuly in Seattle, de Wit went on to teach at Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Art Center, and several workshops and lectures in France.
Pursuing his vision of using “glass as a canvas” de Wit is credited with developing the innovative use of high-fire enamel paints in the glass blowing process . Ultimately, his works are both paintings and sculptural vessels, with interiors and exteriors, multiple layers and all of the qualities of paint, metallic leaf and the glass itself.
John has participated in solo and group exhibitions across the United States as well as in Europe and Asia. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Gold Prize at the 4th Cheongju International Craft Competition in South Korea. His work is included in important public, private and corporate collections world wide, including the collections of the Boeing and Microsoft corporations, the Corning Glass Museum, di Rosa Preserve in Napa, California, and the Niijima Contemporary Glass Art Museum in Niijima, Japan. His sculpture has been the focus of feature articles in national publications such as American Craft, Glasswork Magazine, Glass Art Magazine, Glass Quarterly, and the French Revue Céramique & Verre.
John's inspiration comes from various sources: African objects, Japanese and Korean ceramics and Persian and Indian metal work. He combines his own painting techniques with hybridized Swedish and Italian glass blowing processes. When it comes to describing a theme or thread in his work, the artist states that, "The vessels and objects I produce reflect an interest in glass transcending its common purpose and achieving a sculptural possibility".
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