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Judy Chicago
Chicago in Glass

For the past 3 1/2 years, Norm and Ruth Dobbins have been collaborating with internationally recognized artist Judy Chicago to create new expressions of Judy's work in glass. That effort is about to come to fruition in their first showing, at LewAllen Contemporary gallery in Santa Fe from November 3 through December 31.

The show will feature over 30 works that include glass that has been fused in multiple color layers, then carved, painted and fired in a kiln and glass that has been cast, then carved, painted and fired.

The focus of the show will be gesture, and how emotion and meaning can be conveyed through simple gestures. Hands are used as the conveyors of the gestures and most of the finished pieces are hands in one form or another. Glass is the primary medium because its transparency or translucence allows you to see what is under the surface of the "skin". This allows the artist to convey meaning both through the gesture itself and what she allows you to see under the skin.

The pieces in the show are the result of almost 4 years of experimentation and pushing the limits of how glass has been used in the past. This applies both to the painting and firing techniques used by Judy and Ruth and to the carving techniques employed by Norm to create the shapes for painting.

Ms. Chicago is well known for expressing her art through projects in a wide variety of media besides painting. The Dinner Party, the project that catapulted her to international recognition in the late 1970's, featured ceramic plates, Later works included quilts, bronzes and pyrotechnics. She included a large stained glass installation in her Holocaust Project several years ago.

The installation, Rainbow Shabbat, was 4 1/2 feet high by 16 feet wide. The glass painting on the installation was created for the project by well known stained glass artist Dorothy Maddy, prior to Maddy's passing in 1991. This installation will also be a part of the show at the Lewallen gallery.

More information will be added here in a few days.

NORM & RUTH DOBBINS

Norm and Ruth Dobbins, owners of Professional Glass Consultants, Aliento Glass School and Dobbins' Studios, have been involved in the art glass business for over 30 years. Their expertise includes etched and carved glass, fused and slumped glass and stained glass. They have written several books, authored videos and have taught internationally attended classes and seminars on glass etching for 30 years. They own the EtchMaster(R) line of glass etching equipment and supplies.

Aliento Glass School and Dobbins Studios

In the past few years, Norm and Ruth have pursued their studio work, but primarily in the form of private and public commissions from individuals, businesses and institutions. They are now involved in large scale production of glass windscreens for the new light rail system just introduced in New Mexico.

Studies carved, painted and fired on fused glass.

For more information about how Judy met and began working with Norm & Ruth, please bookmark and return to this page in a few days.

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To learn more about the work,
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To read articles about the work and the artists,
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