Glass as an art form has an ancient
tradition; the archaeological record suggests that artisans in Egypt and
Mesopotamia were fabricating glass vessels and ornaments during the
fourth millennium BCE. Its durable nature, range of colours,
malleability, and most of all, its optical transparency are qualities
that have made glass a premiere art medium. Over a lifetime, Frederick
Birkhill has explored the unique qualities of glass and the numerous
techniques and intricacies of working with it. The result of these
decades of study is a body of work that is extraordinary in scope,
technical expertise, and sheer virtuosity. This book, from The Artist
Book Foundation honours this gifted artist.
From his time in
England at Burleighfield House, the studio of stained-glass artist
Patrick Reyntiens, to his unprecedented visit to Lauscha, the village in
East Germany famous for both its art and scientific glass production,
and his subsequent career as an explorer, teacher, and master of the
glass arts, Birkhill has devoted himself to furthering the appreciation
of the medium and sharing his vast experience with colleagues,
collectors, and students. His works appear in numerous museum
collections, including those of The Corning Museum of Glass, the Museum
of Arts and Design, the Mint Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and
the Smithsonian.
Complementing the scholarly contributions by
authors with significant backgrounds in the glass arts, the book
features in its extensive plate section the lavish photography of Henry
Leutwyler, which offers readers an opportunity to examine the complex
details and artistic mastery of Birkhill's oeuvre. In addition, the
monograph offers a glossary of glass-art terms, a detailed chronology of
the artist's life, his extensive exhibition history, and a list of the
numerous awards he has received. For those who are passionate about the
glass arts, this monograph will be a feast for the eyes.
Contributions by: Samantha Tillio, Dedo Kerssenbrock-Krosigk, Amy Schwartz, Stuart Reid, Doreen Balabanoff
