URBANGLASS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Interim Executive Director
Alwaysplayingwithnewmaterials,AliFeeneyisdrawntoallthingssoft,shiny,andcontrasting.Emergingartist,businessowner,andeducator,herresearchfocusesongendernorms,crafthistories,materials,andfamilydynamics.
AlexandraDeFabbia-KaneisaglassartistlivinginQueens,NY.AlixgraduatedfromMassachusettsCollegeofArtandDesignin2015.Sincethen,shehasbeenworkinginNewYork,focusingonglassforlightingdesignersandartists,aswellasteachingworkshopsforintermediateandbeginnerglassblowers.In2020,AlixandfellowdesignerMollyBurkecreatedSunside&Co.,wheretheycreatetablewareandfloralfunctionalpieces.
AmandaLaddhasbeenworkingwithflowersprofessionallyforover15years.
AmiraRogers,multimediumartist.AmiraRogersisacontemporaryartistwithalife-longpassionforcreatingartinmultiplemediums,whobeganexploringartataveryyoungage.AmiraformerlystudiedartforthefirsttimeattheacclaimedArt'sHighSchoolinNewark,NJ,thenwentontoearnherBachelorofFineArtdegree,withaminoringraphicdesign,fromSetonHallUniversity.Amiraconsidersherselfaninteractiveartistworkinginvariousmediums(photography,glass,acrylicpaint,pencilandmarkertonameafew).
AnaStavaracheisanativeNewYorkerandajunioratParsonsSchoolofdesign.ShehasbeenwithUrbanGlasssince2020,whenshetookpartoftheBloombergArtsProgram,andhascontinuedtoworkwiththestudioasshebegancollege.AnaiscurrentlystudyingArchitectureandBusinessManagementandenjoysexploringdifferentmediumsandskills.
AnnaRileyisaresearcher,teacher,andartistinterestedinmaterialculture.Herresearchandcreativeprojectshavebeensupportedbyfellowships,residencies,andgrantsfromtheCenterforCraft,theBrooklynArtsFund,UCBerkeley,ResidencyUnlimited,theCorningMuseumofGlass,UrbanGlass,theMuseumofArtsandDesign,andDieuDonnéPapermill.SheiscurrentlyagraduatestudentattheBardGraduateCenter,NY.
AustinDavenportGrierisaglasspersonfromNorthernCaliforniawhohasdabbledinallfacetsoftheglassworldfromtinydetailedbeadstoimmersivedecorativeglasshallways.
AveryShaffer,anartistanddesignerworkinginkiln-formedglass,receivedhisBFAfromEastCarolinaUniversitywithaconcentrationinpainting.
BenBarocashasbeenlampworkingborosilicateglasssince2002.OvertheyearshehasexhibitedinsoloandgroupshowsinRuckusGallery,StokedGallery,LongIslandGlass,MadeGallery,SherlocksGlass,1PercentGallery,andmanymore.
BrookeHamlingisanartistworkingincastglassandceramics.SheiscurrentlytheheadofresearchanddevelopmentatZircarLuminarGlassProducts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Caroline(Coco)PicardisawriterandcuratorbasedinNewMexico.AstheExecutiveDirectoroftheGreenLanternPress,shehaspublishedover40booksonart,theory,andliterature.
CedricMajorMitchell,LosAngeles-basedglassartistfromOklahomawhohonedhisskillswhileattendingTulsaCommunityCollegestudyingbusiness.Learningabouttheglassart-formasanemerginglocalhip-hopartistwhilerecordinginthemusicstudio,heimmediatelyenrolledasanelective.Asastudent,hequicklytransitionedintoanapprenticeandinstructoratTheTulsaGlassblowingSchool.
CharleneFosterakaChaChaChainzrepresentsthegoldstandardinglasschainmaking.Apioneerofthetrend,shehasbeenperfectingtheartofflawlessandseamlesslinkssince2002.
CharlieGolonkiewiczlivesandmakesglassinBrooklyn,NY.AftergraduatingfromAlfredUniversityin2015,hebeganlearningandworkinginseveralglassblowingstudiosbeforefoundingLEGlassworksin2022,wherehecreatesuniquetimelessglasswareaswellasteachingclassesandfreelancingforartistsanddesignersinNYC.
Mostlyknownformixedmediasculptureofteninvolvingglass,ChristopherDuffyispartdedicatedcraftsmanandpartculturaldilettante.HehaslivedinNewYorkCitysince2006inBrooklynandorQueens.
Brooklyn-basedartistChrisFreemanhasworkedinthefieldofneonsince1985.Themajorityofhisworkhasbeenthefabricationofsite-specificlightsculptures,aswellastheengineeringandmanufactureofneonandColdCathodelightingwithNYC-basedlightingdesignersandarchitects.HehasworkedasaneontechnicianforJosephKosuth,KeithSonnier,andStephenAntonakos,andhasbeencommissionedforsite-specificneonworksfortheNewarkPublicSchoolsandtheWildwood,NewJerseyConventionCenter.HehastaughtneonlightingatTheNewYorkExperimentalGlassWorkshop,BrooklynGlass,andceramicsculptureatTheSchoolofVisualArts.
ChristopherKerr-AyergrewupinruralVermont.Hestartedlearningaboutglassin2009,asanapprenticeinasmallproductionstudio.Kerr-Ayerrefinedhisskillandstudiopracticethroughworkingasaproductionassistantandemployee.HeholdsaBachelorofFineArtsinSculpturefromJohnsonStateCollege,Vt.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Assistant Secretary
- Member of the Board of Directors
Danielle"Dani"KaesisalightartistandeducatorbasedinSeattle,Washington.ShegraduatedwithaBSinBiochemistryfromtheUniversityofPugetsoundin2022.StartingasatraditionalglassbloweraspartoftheHilltopArtistprogramin2012,shetransitionedintoneonafterapprenticingasacommercialneonbenderinaprominentSeattlesignshop.Shehascontinuedtoworkinneonindependentlyandcommercially,usingitashermainartisticmedium,oftencitingitsinherentlytemporarynatureasitsmostvaluableandinterestingfeature.Interestedintheinnatehumorfoundinnihilismandtheabsurd,herworkplayswithscale,brashcolorchoices,animation,andrepeatingsimpleshapestoexploretheideaofwhathasthepotentialtobecomeartratherthansettingouttomakeartitself.Sheoftendescribesherworkas"nothingshewouldeverwantinherhouse"becauseitis"big,bright,andalwaysflashing".Asanartist,shehasexhibitedatvariousinstitutionsincludingPilchuckGlassandMuseumofGlass.Kaesispassionateaboutmaintainingopenaccesstoinformation,seeingitasnecessarytocontinuethemedium.Asaneducator,shedemonstratedandinstructedatvariousrenownedinstitutionsincludingPilchuckGlassSchool,MuseumofNeonArt,andwiththeGlassArtSociety.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Artist from White Plains
DavidLicataisanartistfromWhitePlains,NewYork.HeisagraduateofCranbrookacademyofartwithaMFAinmetalsmithingandaBFAinSculptureandArteducationfromSUNYNewPaltz.
BornandbredinBrooklyn,EllisfellinlovewithglasstakingclassesatUrbanGlasswhileinhighschool.AfterattendingTylerSchoolofArtandArchitecturehereturnedtoNewYork,wherehesplitshistimebetweenUrbanGlassandhisstudioinMountaindaleNY.Hisworkfocusesonexperimentationinpatternandtexture,incorporatingblownglassandcastmetal.
EmilyDoerflein'sworkcapturesthehumanformusingglassaswellasmixedmaterials.AfterreceivingherBFAfromtheTylerSchoolofArtandArchitecture,EmilyhasmovedbacktoNewYorktojointheUrbanGlasscommunity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Ex - Officio
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
EvanVoelbelreceivedhisBFAin3D/GlassfromMassachusettsCollegeofArtin2010.Followinghisundergraduateeducation,EvanworkedasateachingassistantatMassart,asastudioassistantforglassartistslocaltoMassachusettsandalsoasagafferandteacheratanumberofglassstudiosintheBostonarea.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
GabrielCohenisonehalfofFredericks&Mae-acompanythatstarted12yearsagomakinghandmadearrows,tasselsandkites.
Anavidfanoffrozentreats,GayleFormangravitatestowardthingsthatmelt,spill,andgenerallymakeamess.Artist,designer,andadministrator,herstudiopracticeandresearchfocusesonplay,imagination,theabsurdandtheeveryday.
GhislaineSabitiisaninterdisciplinaryFrench/AmericanCongolese-bornartist,apainter,costumedesigner,andflameworkerwhowasraisedontheoutskirtsofParis,FranceandisnowbasedinNewYork.
GoldiePobladorwasborninthePhilippineswhereshereceivedherBFAinStudioArtsfromtheUniversityofthePhilippinesin2009.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Art Center Assistant
HanDuongresidesinBrooklynandisapart-timeartistandcrafter.AnAlumniofUrbanGlass'sBeadProject,shelovesusingherhandstocreatecolorfully-cuteglassfigurinesandaccessories.
UndertheartisticnameHANMADE,HannahMartinworkswithglass,wool,andyarnasherprimarymediumstocreatewearablepiecesandhomeaccessories.Combiningthesemediumsincohesiveworksofart,sheexploreswaysthematerialscomplementandenhanceeachotherdespitetheirdifferences.
HilaryWangisamakerturnedarchivist.SheholdsaMSLISfromthePrattInstituteSchoolofInformationandwastheGuggenheimMuseumBorn-DigitalArchivesFellowandaformerGraduateFellowatBarnardCollegeArchivesandSpecialCollections.
IpekgrewupinIstanbul,Turkeyandisaglassartist,curatorandanarchitect.ShemovedtoBrooklynin2018afterreceivingherMFAdegreeinGlassfromRhodeIslandSchoolofDesign.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- University Instructor
JasmineAnokye,a2016BeadProjectAlum,isthefounderofWaystedStudio-anartisticlifestylebrandpassionatelycommittedtoselfcareandbodyautonomy.
JasonMontalvo,MPS,LCAT,ATR-BCisaBrooklyn-basedArtTherapistwithover15yearsofexperienceinworkingwithyouthofdiversebackgroundsandiscurrentlyworkingwithat-riskfosterchildren,adolescents,andtheirfamiliesthroughouttheNewYorkCityareacurrentlywiththeagencyMercyfirst.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
JenineBressnerhasbeensculptingglasswithtorchessince1998,andlasercuttingtextilessince2009,havingstudiedglassatRISDanddigitalfabricationthroughMIT.
JessiLi(b.1987)grewupinJerseyCity,NJ.TheyholdanMFAfromHunterCollege(2019)andaBAfromBardCollegeatSimon'sRock(2009).Limakessculptureabouttheinstabilityexistenceinglass,clay,andrepurposedobjects.
JessicaTsaiearnedherBFAinsculpturefromtheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesignin2011.SheworkedinNewYorkCityasanartfabricator,moldmaker,andmuseumpreparator.
JohnDillard(B.Gulfport,MS,USA1995.)IsaninterdisciplinarysculptorlivingandworkingBrooklyn,NY.AfterreceivingaBFAfromRinglingCollegeofArtandDesign,JohncontinuestoshownationallyandinternationallywithresidenciesatPenlandSchoolofCrafts,BurrenCollegeofArt,andGeorgeEnescuUniversityoftheArts.
MynameisJohnMcGuckinandI'vebeencraftingwithglasssince2014.IgraduatedfromSalemCommunityCollege,NewJersey,in2020.WhilethereIearnedadegreefocusedinscientificglasstechnologies.Myworkhasconsistedofpendantandmarblemakingwithborosilicateglass.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Artist and Professor
KacieLeesisaninterdisciplinaryartistandprofessorbasedinBrooklyn,NewYork.Lees'vividworksexamineaffectivequalitiesoflightandtertiaryspaces.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Managing Editor, GLASS Magazine
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
MynameisLeniseOmeasoo,I'vebeencreatingbeadedjewelryforthepast10years.Startingoutwithsmallhairaccessoriesformydaughter,thenmovingontolargerpiecesformygrowingfollowing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
LisandraisabuddingartistbasedinNewark,NJ.Herartjourneybeganlastyearwhenshewasacceptedintoafellowshipprograminwhichshespent7weeksatPeter'sValleySchoolofCraftstudyingmultiplemediumsandcreatingworkforanend-of-showexhibition.
Job Titles:
- Second Generation Glassblower and Technician
- Studio Technician
LucasKernan(they/them)isasecondgenerationglassblowerandtechnicianatUrbanGlass.
Job Titles:
- Artist
- Lead Studio Technician
BrooklynbornartistMalcolmKriegelbeganhiscareerasamakerinhighschool.
MattJacobworksinglassandillustration.Hisartisticpracticeofteninvolvesfoundglass,coldprocesses,andneon,buthealsoenjoysblowingglass,drawingcomics,andmakingzines.
AfterstudyingGlassattheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesign,Meganfoundherselfwheremanymakersdo,supplementingmultiplejobsintheartsbyworkinginhospitality.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
MichaelDavisstartedworkingwithstainedglassin1975,andhasworkedatmanystainedglassstudiosinCaliforniaandNewYorkCity.InNewYorkheworkedfor:Rambush,GreenlandStudio,JackCushen,St.Ann'sandtheGilStudio.Davisalsoranhisownglassblowing,stainedglassshopinLongIslandCityfor18years.
MichelleBayatstartedworkingwithglassatUrbanGlasswithaclasswhileattendingPrattInstitute.Herloveandfascinationworkingwithglassledtoanindependentstudythathasnowturnedintoapersonalpassion.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Member of the Board of Directors
MichikoSakano,wasbornandraisedintheculturallyrichcityofKanazawaontheWestCoastofJapan.HerfamilyhascarriedthetraditionandbusinessofKimonomakingthatdatesbackgenerations.ThisupbringingandtheinfluenceoftraditionalJapaneseaesthetics,includingminimalism,disciplineofline,originaldesignandtherigorofhandcraft,shapedMichiko'sperspectiveearlyandcontinuestoguideherapproachtoglass.
MiguelUnsondrawsinspirationfromarchaeologicalambiguityanddeliberatechaos.HefoundhisvoiceinglasshavingcompletedaMastersDegreeinCommunicationandPackagingdesignatPrattInstitute.
NateCottermanisknownforhismoderninterpretationofglassobjects,usingtraditionalVenetianglassblowingtechniques.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
NishaBansilworksinNYCandtheCatskillRegionofNY,whereshefabricatescommissionedglassworksaswellasherpersonalprojects.ShehasbeenaresidentartistatTheStudioofTheCorningMuseumofGlass,andBullseyeProjects.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Pearwareisacollaborative,multidisciplinaryNYCbasedwears&waresprojectrunbyartistsMikaAgariandCarolHu.Theirworkusessalvagedmaterials,handmadeandbootleglanguagestocreateone-of-a-kindworksthatexpressahumorousfunctionalityandaspiritofplayfulexperimentation.ThetwobegantheirglasspracticethroughtheUrbanGlassBeadProjectandhavebeenobsessedeversince.
PhilGaripisaneonartistandfabricatorbasedinBrooklyn.HeisaSagittarius,acatparent,andhislovelanguageisimprov.
RebeccaErdeisadesigner,fabricatorandeducatorbasedinBrooklyn.Shehasadiversebackgroundinglasscasting,architecture,woodworking,metalworkinganddigitalfabrication.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
RobPanepinto,alsoknownas"p0ng,"discoveredtheartofglassblowingatUrbanGlassinthemid-1990sandhasbeenpursuinghispassioneversince.Overtheyears,hehashonedhiscraftthroughteachingandcollaboratingwithotherartists,constantlypushingtheboundariesofwhat'spossiblewithglass.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Rosshasbeenworkingwithglasssince2005afterbeingintroducedtothematerialatFranklinPierceUniversitywhilegettinghisB.S.inBusinessAdministration.
RowanReneeisaBrooklyn-basedartistwhoexploreshowqueeridentityismediatedbythelaw.Intheirresearch-ledpractice,theycollectimagery,textanddocumentsthataddresstheintergenerationalimpactofgender-basedviolenceandincarcerationfromStaterecordsandfamilyarchives.
SallyPraschstartedworkinginglassin1970withLloydMoore.ReceivedBFAinCeramicsandGlass,alsodegreesinAppliedScienceandScientificGlassTechnology.
‘Makingglassbeadsismypassion.'Sheilafindsinspirationinnature,herextensiveworldtravels,anywhereandeverywhere!
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Senior Studio Technician
ShuheiFujiiisaJapaneseglassblowerwhoworksoutofUrbanGlass.Inaloud,bustlingBrooklyn,Shuheitriestoimbueeachglassvesselwiththesubtletyandsimplicity,andthebeautyandquietness,ofJapanesecraft-making.
OriginallyfromBuenosAires,Argentina,SilviaLevensonimmigratedtoItalyin1981,duringthe"disappearances"oftheDirtyWar.In2004,LevensonreceivedtheRakowCommissionAwardfromtheCorningMuseumofGlassinNewYork,andin2008shewasshortlistedfortheBombaySapphirePrize.In2016shereceivedtheVeniceGlassAward.
SimoneKearneyisawriterandanartistlivinginNewYorkCity.SheisauthorofDays(BelladonnaPress,2020,forthcoming),MyIda(UglyDucklingPresse,2017),andInThrees(MinuteBOOKS,limitededitionartistchapbook,2013).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
SuzanneHeadreceivedherBFAindrawingfromtheClevelandInstituteofArtin2016.Withamulti-facetedapproachtovisualstorytelling,Suzannehascreatedworkinpencil,paint,clayandglass,inadditiontopursuingpublicartasamuralist.
TaraTraisterisanartistandmilitaryveteranwhoservedintheNavyandArmyNationalGuardfrom1992-1998.ShebeganmakingartasawaytohealfrommilitarytraumainarttherapyworkshopsattheBrooklynVeteran'sMedicalCenter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
BornandraisedinJapan,TomoSakaidiscoveredglasswhenshewasateenager.AftergraduatingfromtheglassprogramatTamaArtUniversityinTokyoin2002,shemovedtoasmalltownintheglassmakingregionoftheCzechRepublictostudyglassengraving.
VictoriaAhmadizadehMelendezhasbeenaprofessionalglassworkerforover13years,apaththathasledhertoartistresidenciesatPilchuckGlassSchool,TheCreativeGlassCenterofAmerica,MASSMoCA,STARworksGlassLab,andtheUTAGGlassandNeonStudios.Herworkhasbeenshowninternationallyatseveralvenues,mostnotablyinYoungGlass,aonce-per-decadeexhibitionfeaturingrisinginternationalglassartistsunder35.DomesticallysherecentlyexhibitedatDelawareContemporaryinWilmington,ContemporaryCraftinPittsburghandUrbanGlassinBrooklyn.HersculpturesareincludedinNewGlassReview#33and#38,publicationsofTheCorningMuseumofGlass.AhmadizadehMelendeziscurrentlyfacultyatTylerSchoolofArtandArchitecture,fromwhichshereceivedherBFAinGlass.SheholdsanMFAinCraft/MaterialStudiesfromVirginiaCommonwealthUniversity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
WesValdezlivesandworksnearPhiladelphia,PAasanartistandeducator...
YiyiWeiisaninterdisciplinaryartistbornandraisedinChina.ShereceivedaBFAfromtheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesignGlassDepartment,whereshebegantoconsiderherartworksasprocessesthatperceivetheentangledconnectionsbetweenhumanandnon-humanexistences.