VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Hooks-Epstein Galleries is proud to present a glass exhibition featuring the sculptures of José Chardiet and Paul Schwieder. The exhibitions open Saturday, February 21, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. A reception for the artists will follow from 6 - 8 p.m.

José Chardiet designs and creates his glass sculptures by using blowing and casting processes. His ideas stem from various topics rnging from Spanish still-life painting to African Art. Chardiet's goal is to create sculptures imbued with a spiritual and inner life.

José Chardiet received his BA in 1980 from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. He received his MFA in 1983 from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. José has taught at Penland School of Crafts, Pilchuck Glass School and Haystack Mountain School in Crafts. From 1991-2000 he was the Professor of Glass and Sculpture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His work is included in numerous private and public collections such as the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, Museum of Art and Design, New York and the Yokohama Museum of Art in Yokohama, Japan. Since 2000, he has maintained a studio in Providence, Rhode Island.

Paul Schwieder likes to blow pieces of unique character and beauty. He then uses a sandblaster to enhance or deny the original qualities that he tried to instill in the form. The result, when it's successful, is a piece that draws the viewer to it while simultaneously forcing the viewer to consider how intimate a relationship they are capable of maintaining with such an object.

Paul Schwieder attended the Sheridan College, School of Craft and Design in Mississauga, Ontario from 1984-87. From 1987-88 he attended Orrefors Glass School in Orrefors, Sweden and in 1992 he attended the University of West Bohemia in Plzn, Czech Republic. Schwieder has had a number of solo and group exhibitions. He also has work in public collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Schwieder resides in Switzerland where he has a studio.

The exhibitions will continue through March 21, 2009.

NOTE:  José  Chardiet will also be giving a demonstration of his techniques at the Houston Studio Glass at 610 Jackson Hill, on Sunday Feb. 22 at 2 pm.

Pictured:  Paul Schwieder, Uranium Tricuspid,  2007, handblown/sandblasted.