Turned On Artist: Carmen Lozar and Matthew Urban
Have you created sculptural lighting before? No
What is inspiring your piece for this show? We were inspired by the way textured surfaces in glass can amplify and distort light. In the chandelier we designed we have combined a variety of glass techniques from furnace to fusing, flameworking, and even mosaic. The end result of each of these methods transmit and reflect light differently, yet they are all the same material, glass.
What do you think is the greatest challenge in creating the piece for this show? The greatest challenge was pairing our ideas down to one. We started with huge ideas (a life-sized rhino, a snail you could crawl inside of and take a nap) and realized that because of time and resources we must narrow it down using our individual strengths. Mine in the flameshop and Matt as a designer in the hot shop and metal studio. It was also hard to reign the ideas in because there are so many possibilities to explore with lighting and such a rich history to draw from. I loved the Black Forest lighting made from antlers and hand carved mermaids while Matthew is strongly influenced by Barovier and Toso lighting design catalogs.
If you participated in a residency here at PGC, how did that impact your process for creating this piece? We were too busy to come but would love to defer to another year!
Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) flips the switch on June 3 to present a new lighting exhibition called, “Turned On: Lighting Hooks Up with Sculpture,” co-curated by PGC Executive Director Heather McElwee and artist Susan Taylor Glasgow. The exhibition will be on view until September 11, 2016.
Join us for a free opening reception on June 3 from 6-9pm! Many of the artists will be in attendance!