Lifeforms Glass Exhibit
"Glass Lifeforms 2021" will be an exhibition of the best biological glass models made in the spirit of the famous 19th and 20th century models of invertebrates and plants made by the father and son team, Rudolf and Leopold Blaschka for the Harvard University’s Botanical Museum. Models are mandated to be of specific species and rendered as accurately as possible, but artistic presentation and creative contexts are strongly encouraged. Artists working in any glass technique (lampworking, glassblowing, casting, pâte de verre, etc.) are invited to submit an entry (one per artist or collaborative team). The jurying criteria will be based on accuracy in representing the organism, aesthetic beauty, presentation, and originality. 50 pieces will be selected from the work submitted for the show.
Types of Biology acceptable:
Botany models may consist of any recognized plant species. They may be a life-size reproduction or a proportionally scaled (larger or smaller) model. Magnified plant parts may also be included as part of the work or as an individual entry.
Zoology models may include any recognized invertebrate or vertebrate species, including insects and birds. Skeletons or other anatomical features, in part or whole, life-size or proportionally scaled, may also be individually represented.
Scaled models of microorganisms are also acceptable and can include microscopic plants (such as algae), animals (as plankton), fungi, lichens, diatoms, bacteria, and so on.
The juried show will be selected by:
Jennifer Brown became the Collection Manager for the Glass Flowers in 2012. She has worked on many exciting projects since then, which include co-authoring Glass Flowers: Marvels of Art and Science at Harvard (2020), completing the most extensive exhibit renovation in the collection’s history, and co-curating special exhibitions within the Glass Flowers gallery. Jenny’s background in art and library science combined with her experience assisting glass artist Toots Zynsky prepared her to work with this unique collection.
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Ginny Grieb is a research scientist and lab manager that currently studies development of the spinal cord using a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model system at
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Heather McElwee is the Randi & L. Van V. Dauler, Jr. Executive Director of Pittsburgh Glass Center where she has worked since 2001, overseeing educational programming, exhibitions, fundraising and strategic direction for the organization. She has curated numerous shows in PGC’s Hodge Gallery including “Lifeforms”, “Pittsburgh Biennial” and “Turned On: Lighting Hooks Up with Sculpture”. Her own artwork is an investigation of the relationship of vessel to architecture, and has been shown in galleries across the country. Heather has a BFA in glass from College for Creative Studies and a Masters degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University . Heather has been interested in the artists’ role in creative placemaking since she moved to Pittsburgh in 2001. She serves on the board of The Brew House Association whose mission is to provide artists with the support needed to foster invention, creation, & collaboration, & encourage the pursuit of artistic excellence. She is a current board member and the treasurer of the international Glass Art Society.
Astrid Van Giffen is the Associate Conservator at the Corning Museum of Glass, holds a degree in the conservation of glass and ceramics (2007) from the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (
Susan M. Rossi-Wilcox: Before retiring in 2007, Susan curated the Ware Collection of Glass Models of Plants (Glass Flowers) at
There will be both an online catalog and a printed catalog of the “juried”s show. The “open” show will be available online as well.
The show will be open from November 6, 2021 – April 24, 2022 at the Fuller Craft Museum – 455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA 02301 https://fullercraft.org/