Past and Future:
Eric Hopkins-glass drawings: August 2008
Emily Leonard-paintings: Sept 2008
Ben Coombs-Glass: Nov 2008
Tracy Johnson-jewelry: May 2008

Oct 3 - Nov 1, 2008

Martin Kremer: Elliptical Work

Artist Reception: First Friday, Oct 3, 5 - 8 pm

Martin Kremer at Daniel Kany Gallery

New York glass artist Martin Kremer opens his first solo show with Daniel Kany Gallery on October 3rd, from 5 – 8 pm. The title of the exhibition, Elliptical Work, refers to a series of Kremer's fused glass sculptures in which the works are slumped (melted just enough so the glass relaxes into a particular form) so as to maintain a straight edge through the long axis of an elliptical form. Elliptical Work will feature 22 of Kremer's newest sculptures.

Martin Kremer, Evidence (charger), 2" x 20"dia fused & slumped glass, 2008.

Kremer uses a range of techniques to produce his fused (or kiln-formed) sculptures: he combines bits, slices, and chunks of glass through fusing, and from there, he grinds, sandblasts and/or polishes the work. To achieve the complexity of some of his elements, Kremer will often cut, divide, combine and fuse pieces of glass four or even five and six times before using them in the final sculpture.

Martin Kremer, Ellipsis, 4" x 6" x 38" fused & slumped glass, 2008.

"My process takes a great deal of patience," explains the artist, "but over time I have come to achieve pretty much exactly what I set out to do with each piece." In terms of palette and rhythm, Kremer notes he is influenced "primarily by texture and pattern from many sources including Native American fabrics, Italian masonry, classic quilts, and wood marquetry." His sculptural forms shift back and forth between the vessel tradition and architectural structure. "A great deal of work goes into the color/textures; it's exciting and often extremely satisfying when the final fused glass has been slumped into the sculptural form. Of course," reports Kremer, "there is often still a great deal of grinding and polishing to do, but the finishing work is about delivering the sculpture that you have in hand."

Kremer's elliptical works are largely based in architectural forms that feel more related to vaulting (namely barrel vaults) than vessels. The elongated forms read as sculpture but with a deep connection to painting by dint of the relation of unbroken surface to color and design; in fact, many works from the Ellipsis series can be displayed either on a flat surface or with brackets on the wall.

Martin Kremer has won two NICHE Awards for fused glass as well as the First Prize at the 2002 American Craft Council show in Baltimore. His work has been exhibited widely, including at the Museum of American Glass in Wheaton, NJ; the Museum of Fine Arts in Racine (WI); the Katonah Museum of Art (NY); the 2001 national kiln-formed glass competition at Bullseye Connection, Portland (OR); and the 2003 International Craft Biennale Invitational at Cheongju, Korea. Martin Kremer lives and works in Pound Ridge, NY.

Elliptical Work will be on view at the Daniel Kany gallery through November 1, 2008.

For more information and publication-quality images, please contact Daniel Kany.