For Immediate Release
Florida CraftArt and the Duncan McClellan Gallery presents:
Clearly Collaborative: Masters of Craft meet a Master of Glass
Exhibition Dates: January 27 to March 11, 2023
Clearly Collaborative is an exhibition of original glass and multi-media sculptures created through an exceptional collaboration between nine multi-media master artists/makers and established glass master Duncan McClellan.
“I think it is important for an artist to give back to the community,” says St. Petersburg’s Duncan McClellan. “I have been fortunate in my career, and many people have shared their inspirations and talents with me along the way. These collaborations are a way in which I can not only offer artists working in other media the chance to explore the magic of glass, but I am also inspired by their abilities, creativity and techniques.”
“Artists must keep growing and expanding their perception, and sometimes this needs to be done by creating a communal opportunity for shared vision. Working with glass is an opportunity to learn about many things. This is why I founded DMG School Project, a multi-faceted program providing opportunities to educate and inspire personal growth through the medium of glass art.” McClellan says.
The exhibit was conceived by David Ramsey who serves as the curator. “As a collector, as well as a Florida CraftArt board member, I am familiar with the diverse types of fine craft and many of the top artists,” he says. “I felt it would be interesting to offer these artists the opportunity to combine their skills and creativity with blown glass. Duncan, Florida CraftArt Executive Director Katie Deits and I selected the artists who are masters of their crafts for the project.”
Each artist has been meeting with McClellan to discuss the design and technical challenges of working with glass. These continuing meetings will include a five-day residency at the Duncan McClellan Gallery. The residency will supply collaborating artists with the glass vessels, blown by McClellan, which will serve as the basis of the collaborative projects, as well as giving the artists access to the commercial sandblasting booth and other tools needed to realize their visions.
The project will culminate in an exhibition at Florida CraftArt, opening on January 27, 2023, and will include a series of artists’ talks and additional educational programming.
Florida CraftArt is excited to participate in this project, citing the need for local, state and national collaboration among artists and arts organizations.
Executive Director Deits states: “As a statewide, member-supported organization, we display outstanding handmade objects, made by some of the best craftspeople in the country. Half of our gallery on Central Avenue features only Florida artists while the exhibition gallery, as well as our annual Florida CraftArt Festival in November, showcase fine craft artists from around the country.”
Artists, media, and studio location in the “Clearly Collaborative” exhibition are: Lucrezia Bieler, Paper, Tallahassee, Florida; Joyce Curvin, Mixed Media, Palm Harbor, Florida; Pamela Fox, Jewelry, Sarasota, Florida; Dominice Gilbert, Metal, St. Petersburg, Florida;Nneka Jones, Painting and Fiber, Tampa, Florida; William Kidd, Ceramics, St. Petersburg, Florida; John Mascoll, Wood, Safety Harbor, Florida; Duncan McClellan, Glass, St. Petersburg, Florida; Charlie Parker, Ceramics, St. Petersburg, Florida; and Sue Shapiro, Ceramics, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Recently, collaborative organizers received news that all 5 of the 9 Clearly Collaborative artist who entered were recognized at the Mainsail Art Festival, which was held April 16-17 at St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park. Pam Fox won an Award of Excellence; William Kidd and John Mascoll received Award of Distinction honors; and Dominice Gilbert earned an Award of Merit at Mainsail. Also from the group, Nanka Jones won Best of Show this year Garparilla Art Festival and Pam Fox won the Mayor’s Award (3rd place). Organizers also got word that jewelry artist Pam Fox won the Juror’s Award at the Mainstreet Art Festival in Fort Worth TX in early April 2022, and both John Mascoll and Lucrezia Bieler exhibited in The Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, DC. in late April 2022.
The Clearly Collaborative exhibition runs from January 27 through March 11, 2023. Docent tours will be available upon request. Further information will be available on www.FloridaCraftArt.org.
Florida CraftArt is located at 501 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida, and is open Monday through Saturday from10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.FloridaCraftArt.org or call (727) 821-7391. Florida CraftArt is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 and headquartered in St. Petersburg. Its mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work. Fine craft art is presented in its 2,500-square-foot Florida Artists’ Gallery and curated exhibitions are featured in its adjacent Exhibition Gallery. Florida CraftArt is the only statewide nonprofit organization offering artists a platform to show and sell their work.
Contact:
David Ramsey, Curator
(727) 560-1379
[email protected]