Providing the signature look for Pilchuck’s Auction, these eye-popping centerpieces will be available for bidding on Auction evening. Pilchuck sent out a call for proposals; after a jury reviewed 25 beautiful and distinctive designs, it chose the proposal submitted by GREG OWEN. His vases capture perfectly the colorfulness and playfulness of Venice’s Carnivale!

While bright colors and energetic motion are typical of Owen’s art, he took a new approach when designing the 2004 Pilchuck Auction centerpieces. “The incredible diversity of the exotic colors we chose to work with is very exciting. We combined many colors you don’t often see together with very successful results. The single spiral wrap is a cornerstone of my work and, of course, would be the focal point for my design. I wanted to play the wrap up even more, to give it more depth, size and variation in color. The veiled cane wrap brings out some very ‘glassy’ qualities in the centerpieces, which I thought was very appropriate for representing Pilchuck Glass School. I knew I wanted the centerpieces to be very dynamic, bold and unabashed. I wanted nothing rigid or fixed about them.”

SAnd he succeeded, with the help of a group of volunteers who came to Pilchuck during the spring to bring Owen’s design to fruition. He raves about his experience working with these generous artists (dubbed Poleturners Union Local 1201): “I’ve worked in large teams before, but never of the size we assembled for poleturners, and certainly not running the show. Getting the crew organized and flowing in a positive way was one of the best experiences of my adult life. It was wonderful to lead so many great people down the road to good glassblowing techniques, good design skills and, most importantly, good interpersonal skills. I was amazed at the rapid progress of the younger artists and the generosity and stamina of the older ones.”

Greg Owen is a Seattle artist and glassblower. He has participated at Pilchuck in many capacities, including as a staff member and artist’s assistant. In 2002, he was an artist in residence at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, a fellow at the Vermont Studio Center and also spent time at a yoga ashram in India. In 2003, he received a fellowship from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. His work is exhibited extensively throughout Seattle.

Contact: Greg Owen
Email: boss@gregowen.com
Website: www.gregowen.com

The Poleturners Union, Local 1201

Pilchuck Glass School extends its gratitude and special recognition to the members of the Poleturners Union, Local 1201, who worked with designer Greg Owen to complete tonight’s luscious centerpieces.

Tonight’s centerpieces were created and assembled at Pilchuck in May 2004, prior to the opening of the summer sessions. Under the leadership of Chuck Lopez, Project Manager, and with the assistance of professional gaffers Levi Belber and Chuck Vannatta, a team of 20 volunteer glassblowers came together at the Pilchuck hot shop and cold shop to begin the ambitious project.

As in past years, the Poleturners Union, Local 1201, played a key role in the centerpiece project. Current and former students from Canada’s Alberta College of Art, the Poleturners make an annual pilgrimage to Pilchuck to lend their support to the project. The team this year also included glass artists from Oregon, Washington, Colorado, California, Ontario, British Columbia, Denmark, and Sweden! “This year, as ever, the volunteer Poleturners Union consisted of an extraordinarily generous and engergetic bunch of folks from all over the western seaboard, including again, students from Calgary. During the production of the centerpieces this spring, Pilchuck was alive with the spirit of fun, brought about by team work and a sense of accomplishment,” says Interim Artistic Director Ruth King.

2004 Poleturners:

• Greg Owen, Designer
• Chuck Lopez, Project Manager
• Levi Belber, Gaffer
• Chuck Vannatta, Gaffer

Phillip Bandura • Tim Belliveau • Dolores Bender-Graves • Courtney Branam • Paul Brayton • Mathew Dubois • Ryan Fairweather • Diane Hansen • Steve Harrie • Jason Harris • Scott Harris • Joy Jackson • Benji Kikkert • Rhonda Kozan • Irina Lindqvist • Merrilee Moore • TJ Ossola • Michelle Rak • Camilla Rasmussen • Kelly Soderberg