October 27, 2010

Glass Art Society founder to visit campus

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The founder, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, and current trustee of the Glass Art Society, Fritz Dreisbach, visits Southern Illinois University Carbondale this weekend to help celebrate Glass@40, the observance of the School of Art and Design’s 40th anniversary as a glass art program.

Dreisbach is a giant among glass artists. He was influential in the beginning of the modern movement, and has remained so throughout his career. His work is part of dozens of permanent collections -- including the University Museum at SIUC. His glass is also permanently housed in the American Art Museum of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the American Craft Museum in New York City, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, the Toledo Museum of Art and Mint Museum of Arts in Charlotte, N.C., to name a very few.

Likewise, his list of awards, grants and honors is too long to give here. Virtually every major art glass society, museum, school or affiliation has at some time either recognized him with an award or has invited him to guest lecture, teach or exhibit.

Here’s what is on the schedule during Dreisbach’s visit at SIUC:

Friday, Oct. 29

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Glass demonstrations, Pulliam Hall

Saturday, Oct. 30

9 a.m.-noon -- Fritz Dreisbach, “Ticks with Fritz” workshop, Pulliam Hall

12:30-1:30 p.m. -- Roundtable Alumni Studio Talk, University Museum

5-8 p.m. -- Glass at 40 exhibit reception, University Museum

6-7 p.m. -- “Weaving Two Retrospectives, Studio Glass Origins + Fritz Dreisbach’s Career,” discussion by Fritz Dreisbach.