Stephen Rolfe Powell : glassmaker

225 Pages·2007·9.231 MB·English

by  Powell, Stephen Rolfe, Powell, Stephen Rolfe

P
O
continued from front flap W $75.00
E
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L STEPHEN ROLFE POWELL
The book’s stunning photographs encourage
the viewer to see Powell’s work from different S T E P H E N R O L F E P O W E L L G L A S S M A K E R
viewpoints, highlighting the unique interactions
S
of transparent, opaque, and translucent glass
T “Color delights us from cradle to grave, it
G L A S S M A K E R
and Powell’s bold color combinations. Stephen
E grooves some optical pleasure zone that seems
Rolfe Powell: Glassmaker vividly portrays the
almost beyond language, and it is everywhere
P
tension and excitement involved in the artist’s
celebrated in the almost irrepressibly vivacious
nontraditional, team approach to working with H
glass sculpture of Stephen Rolfe Powell.”
molten glass.
E
—James Yood, School of the
N
Art Institute of Chicago
R
STEPHEN ROLFE POWELL is a professor A world-class colorist of international standing
at Centre College in Kentucky, where he runs O in modern glass, Stephen Rolfe Powell creates
the glass program. Working with glass has been his work in a quiet outpost of rural Kentucky.
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a full-time obsession with him for more than His art and his life bridge other such divides.
F
two decades. The radiant murrini skins of his glass vessels
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have an old Italian pedigree, yet his making
techniques are radically American in their
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dramatic individuality. He is an award-winning
O
Cover design: Images, Julius Friedman and Carol E. Johnson, classroom professor and a generous ambassa-
Louisville, Kentucky. W dor for glass, yet he is at the same time so
Cover art: MeanderKissyQuiver (2006) Stephen Rolfe Powell.
uncompromising in his dedication to his
Photograph © 2007 David Harpe, Louisville, Kentucky. E
creative work that he stands among modern
Printed in China
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glass’s most nuanced seekers after the eternally
L sensual and elusive mysteries of light and color.
An illustrated chronicle of Powell’s glass-
G blowing career, this book charts the evolution
L of Powell’s remarkable body of work. Dazzling
photographic close-ups detail the luminous
A
murrini patterns that have become Powell’s
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signature and reveal new ways of appreciating
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the complex interplay of color and texture in
M his art. Biographical and analytical essays by
Mark Lucas, Laurie Winters, and James Yood
y
k A
explore such topics as the teamwork that is
c
u K
critical to Powell’s unique glassmaking process;
t
n
E his teaching and learning experiences on the
e
K
R road, from the former Soviet Union to Salt Lake
f
o City during the Olympics; and the two freak
s
s injuries that deeply affected his work and how
e
r
P he thinks about it. Reflections by Kenn Holsten,
y K
Marvin Lipofsky, Dante Marioni, Bonnie Marx,
t
E
i
rs N John Roush, and Lino Tagliapietra further
e
v T supplement the book.
i U
n
U C continued on back flap
e K
h
T Y
S T E P H E N R O L F E P O WE L L
G L A S S M A K E R
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Copyright©2007byStephenRolfePowell
TheUniversityPressofKentucky
ScholarlypublisherfortheCommonwealth,serving
BellarmineUniversity,BereaCollege,CentreCollegeof
Kentucky,EasternKentuckyUniversity,TheFilsonHistorical
Society,GeorgetownCollege,KentuckyHistoricalSociety,
KentuckyStateUniversity,MoreheadStateUniversity,
MurrayStateUniversity,NorthernKentuckyUniversity,
TransylvaniaUniversity,UniversityofKentucky,
UniversityofLouisville,andWesternKentuckyUniversity.
Allrightsreserved.
EditorialandSalesOffices:
TheUniversityPressofKentucky
663SouthLimestoneStreet,
Lexington,Kentucky40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
1110090807 54321
Conceptanddesign:
Images
JuliusFriedmanandCarolE.Johnson
Louisville,Kentucky
Photographscopyright©2007
byDavidHarpe,Louisville,Kentucky
TeaserprocessphotographsbyKatePhilips
MyrtleBeach,SouthCarolina
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData:
StephenRolfePowell:Glassmaker.
p. cm.
ISBN978-0-8131-2464-3(hardcover:alk.paper)
1.Powell,StephenRolfe,1951– 2.Glassart—UnitedStates.
I.Powell,StephenRolfe,1951–
NK5198.P69S742007
748.092—dc22 2007014312
Thisbookisprintedonacid-freepapermeetingthe
requirementsoftheAmericanNationalStandardfor
PermanenceinPaperforPrintedLibraryMaterials.
ManufacturedinChina
MemberoftheAssociationofAmericanUniversityPresses
For my family—
my mother, Anne, for her social grace;
my father, Arnie, for his passion to create;
my sister, Pam, and her husband, John,
for their enduring friendship;
and, most of all, to my wife, Shelly,
and sons, Zachary Hawk and Oliver Blue,
who keep my life in balance
and give me inspiration.
PhotobyM.R.Spoonamore

C O N T E N T S
vii 173
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND
Kenn Holsten
1
ARABESQUES OF COLOR 174
James Yood A FEW DAYS IN KENTUCKY
Marvin Lipofsky
5
TEASERS 177
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND
69 John Roush
WHACKOS
181
109 COLOR AND SWEAT:
SCREAMERS AN ANECDOTAL BIOGRAPHY OF
STEPHEN ROLFE POWELL
157 Mark Lucas
GENESIS AND THE VITREOUS SINGULARITY
Laurie Winters 198
BIOGRAPHY
165
ROAD TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS 205
Dante Marioni SELECT PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
169 206
IN LOVE WITH GLASS EARLY WORK
Lino Tagliapietra
208
170 CHECKLIST
AN EXTRAORDINARY MAVERICK
Bonnie Marx 213
CONTRIBUTORS

AC K N OW L E D G M E N T S
First, this book would not have in Danville, Kentucky; Corhart Refractories Mitzi Elliott
been possible without my old friend Julius in Louisville, Kentucky; and General Stephen Finney
Friedman, who brought confidence and Electric in Somerset, Kentucky. Alysia Fischer
integrity to the creation of the book, and Special support for the Centre facilities Richard Garvey
my long-time best friend Mark “Looney” and visiting artist programs has come from Josh Harris
Lucas, who has experienced the ups and John Schiff and the Skyler Foundation, Paul Hugues
downs of life with me and has tied the Ray Hazard, Jim and Laurie Seabury, Rob Ted Jeckering
book together with sincerity and humor. and Kim Rosenstein, Adele and Leonard Adam Kenney
Special thanks to David Harpe for his Leight, Robert and Judy Ayotte, George Patrick Martin
hard work and outstanding photographic and Nawanna Privett, Chuck and Carol D. H. McNabb
vision. Also, thanks to William Butler for Campbell, Ken Enos, Steve Tucker, Mike Ryan Montgomery
the impetus to make the book in the first Geralds, Chuck Tyler, and David Smith. McKinley Moore
place. In addition, thanks to Kate Philips A warm thank you to Lino Tagliapietra Paul Nelson
for her photographic contributions. for enhancing my academic, professional, Peter Palmqvist
I would like to thank James Yood and personal life. Brian Pavloff
and Laurie Winters for their interest in my Also, a special thank you to Morton Duncan Pitchford
work and their ability to put into words Kasdan and Mack Jackson for putting my Ché Rhodes
what it is I do and why I do it. I am arm back together and for their friendship. Amy Roush
deeply indebted to Kenn Holsten, Marvin The greatest thank you goes to my Anne Rushing
Lipofsky, Dante Marioni, Bonnie Marx, assistants over the years, with particular Harry Schwartzrock
John Roush, and Lino Tagliapietra for the note of the enduring presence of Chris Brent Sommerhauser
generous reflections they have contributed Bohach, Richard Garvey, Brook White, Tommy Spake
to this book. I sometimes wondered whom Paul Hugues, Ché Rhodes, and Patrick John Stokes
they were talking about. Martin. It has been truly a team effort, and Naomi Stuecker
I would like to acknowledge the I hope all my crew members past and Jonathon Swanz
terrific relationship that I have with Centre present realize how much I appreciate Shane Urquart
College. I owe much as a teacher and their loyalty and hard work. Kurt Waechter
artist to the support of David and Marlene Laura Ward
Grissom, John and Susie Roush, Richard ASSISTANTS David Watkins
Trollinger, John Ward, Michael Adams, Billy Anderson Nathan Watson
Leonard DiLillo, Karin Ciholas, Milton Lauren Arnold Brook White
Reigelman, Richard Morrill, and Rick Nahm. Perry Biddle Stuart Worobetz
Since starting the Centre College glass Chris Bohach Ying Wu
program in 1985, I have had generous Jon Capps
support from Corning Glassworks in Matthew Cummings
Harrodsburg, Kentucky; Philips Lighting Jennifer Carswell Daniel
vii