Bullseye Glass Company Emerge/Evolve At BAM

From BAM: A selection of works from Emerge/Evolve 2018, Bullseye Project’s most recent international biennial of rising talent in kiln-glass (or kilnformed glass), will travel to Bellevue Arts Museum in August, 2019. Bullseye Glass Company started the Emergecompetition eighteen years ago in order to support and promote the vision of artists working in kiln-glass.

Emerge 2018 is the tenth in Bullseye's biennial series of exhibitions and is the third to be featured at Bellevue Arts Museum after Emerge/Evolve 2014 and Emerge/Evolve 2016. The 43 finalists—representing 12 countries—were evaluated on their creativity, craftsmanship, and design by a panel of three jurors. Emerge/Evolve 2018 at Bellevue Arts Museum will feature award winners and select finalists from the Emerge 2018competition alongside new works from former Emerge finalists, showcasing the evolution of their talent.

The exhibition is accompanied by a full-color catalog featuring artist statements and biographies, interviews with the Emerge 2018 jurors, and an introduction by Director of Bullseye Projects, Lani McGregor.

Images: Clare Peters, In Honour of Seeking, In Honour of Knowing, In Honour of Wisdom. Photo: Greg Piper; Saman Kalantari, Still Life. Photo: Courtesy of Bullseye Glass Co.; Kalina Bańka, Noise. Photo: Courtesy of Bullseye Glass Co.

What is kiln-glass?
In glassblowing, the artist works quickly to inflate the glass by means of a blowpipe, shaping the glass by rotating the pipe, swinging it, and controlling the temperature of the piece while he or she blows. In contrast, kiln-forming uses a kiln to bind and shape layers or particles (frit) of glass. Kiln-forming methods include fusing, slumping, kiln-casting, and other kiln related techniques in which control over the glass medium and the conditions of its manipulation are equally tantamount. Pushing the limits of different kiln-forming techniques, the selected artists showcase their skill for creating a diversity of objects with unexpected textures and forms. Their work challenges the possibilities of the medium while encouraging further growth in the field.

Emerge/Evolve 2018 at BAM features:

EVOLVE ARTISTS
Cobi Cockburn
(Emerge 2006)
Joanna Manousis
(Emerge 2010)
Cassandra Straubing
(Emerge 2010)

Kathryn Wightman
(Emerge 2014)

EMERGE 2018 AWARD WINNERS
Gold Award
Saman Kalantari
Silver Award
Clare Peters
Bronze Award
Dagmara Bielecka

Crossover Award
Allison Leigh Holt

Gold Academic
Joshua Kerley
Silver Academic
Rose-Mary Faulkner
Bronze Academic
Jade Tapson
EMERGE 2018 FINALISTS
Honorable Mention
Evelyn Gottschall Baker
Honorable Mention
Kalina Bańka
Honorable Mention
Andy Plummer