Seattle, WA – August 13, 2007 - Six young artists were selected to participate in Pilchuck Glass School’s Emerging Artists-in-Residence (EAiRs) Program. Representing three countries those selected are Elissa Batchley, Caitlin Johnston, Yasuko Miyazaki, Sean O’Neill, Lada Semecka, and C. Matthew Szösz. They will live and create work at Pilchuck’s Stanwood campus for six weeks this fall, from September 17 through November 9.

Founded in 1990, this residency offers a group of six artists in the early stages of their careers fi nancial support, time, and a unique environment in which to focus on creating with glass. The residency supports six individuals and lends itself to collaboration and exchange of ideas. EAiRs have full access to Pilchuck’s kilns, flameworking torches, coldworking equipment, and printmaking studio along with studio space, living accommodations, technical assistance, a $1,000 stipend, and a significant period of time in which to experiment, pursue special projects, or finish a body of work.

A jury comprised of thirteen members of Pilchuck’s International Advisory Council selected the recipients from a pool of # applications. Images of the applicants’ work and a statement of intent were reviewed for originality, visual intelligence, and well-developed demonstrations of formal intent or aesthetic expression. Pilchuck Glass School’s Emerging Artist-in-Residence Program is supported in part by the Italo Scanga Endowment, a fund established in tribute to the late Italo Scanga.


ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Elissa Batchley / Chico, CA A recent recipient of a BFA from California State University, Chico, Elissa probes industrial materials to create pieces that are an analogy of social interaction and a physical manifestation of emotions. During her residency Batchley will use industrial lighting to explore emotional reactions to the play of light and transparency.

Caitlin Johnson / Providence, RI A studio artist who creates jewelry that incorporates glass components, Caitlin will focus on creating a new body of one of a kind kiln cast sculptures while in residence at Pilchuck. Taking influence from architectural structures above water, Caitlin will investigate how bridges provide both physical and metaphorical connections between people and communities.

Yasuko Miyazaki / Yokkaichi-shi, Japan Yasuko creates “glass landscapes” that attempt to capture the vitality of nature through the expressive energy of glass phenomena such as cracking or slumping. While at Pilchuck she will continue to develop this idea through the creation of test pieces that experiment with slumping and fusing.

Sean O’Neill / Seattle, WA Sean’s work references the tenuous balance of the dizzying pace of today’s society and natural processes such as meteorological, geological and astronomical phenomena. He plans to scrutinize his working habits and style while in residence at Pilchuck; to contemplate and synthesize work that addresses factors both natural and man-made.

Lada Semecka / Teplice, Czech Republic Lada’s work centers on the deformation of cast and cut forms to create planar shapes and landscape objects in an attempt to capture a moment of change. During her residency she will develop this direction into more forms that reflect the power of plants, gravity, layers of the earth and the circulation of water.

C. Matthew Szösz / Foster, RI Using glass and clouds as a material sources, much of Szösz’s work stems from experimentation with modes of manipulation. He is interested in developing new ways of transforming sheet glass when it is at fusing/casting temperatures to capture the tactile quality and the complex curves the material achieves when heated.