Roger Parramore: That Night in Osaka Exhibition Dates: July 1st - 26th, 2009 Artist Reception: Thursday, July 2nd, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Vetri Glass-Seattle is pleased to present flamework glass artist Roger Parramore in his first exhibition with the gallery. Throughout his artistic career, Parramore has examined relationships between objects and the space they occupy as well as how those associations are interpreted. That Night in Osaka brings fresh perspective to that examination through a collection of graceful blown glass vessels drawing on a city as muse. The installation encourages viewers to examine each piece within context to the work around it, including his handmade, curly maple table on which they are presented. Utilizing the traditional Italian technique of incalmo, the process of joining two or more bubbles together to form a larger piece, Parramore emphasizes relationships even within a single piece. Having traveled to Japan on a number of occasions to teach at the Osaka University of Art, Parramore has experienced the staggering self-awareness and intense clarity of instantly becoming an outsider. He was overwhelmed by the sight of ancient Buddhist temples in the midst of a modern cityscape with towering skyscrapers and busy streets. For him, respect for Japanese cultural history was enhanced by the juxtaposition. Similarly, Parramore's new body of work is a grouping of exquisitely crafted blown glass vessels arranged to resemble a modern city skyline - at once respecting the traditional techniques of Italy and incorporating the magnificence of urban landscapes. Parramore has allowed his experiences in Japan to manifest intuitively through his work rather than borrowing imagery to recreate a Japanese style. Roger Parramore lives and works in Asheville, North Carolina. He continues to teach around the world at various art schools including Pratt Fine Arts Center and the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State as well as the Osaka University of Art in Japan. His goblets and vessels are included in collections at the Renwick Gallery and the Niijima Glass Museum among others. In addition to blowing glass, he owns The New Color Company featuring a gorgeous selection of glass color including a unique variety he created especially for flamework called Parasillicate. Located at 1404 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, Gallery hours are Mon- Sat 10 - 6 and Sunday 12 - 5. For more information, call (206) 667-9608 in Seattle or visit www.vetriglass.com.
Comment by Randi Harper on June 16, 2009 at 3:16pm
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