Summer Emerging Artist Series

Our Emerging Artist Series features glassblowers at the beginning of their career who we think are really fantastic. They will be demonstrating Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9:30pm.

Emerging Artist Schedule:

July 6th: Emma Salamon 

Emma was born in France where she spent her early childhood, then moved to New York, then Italy, and finished high school in Argentina. She came to the States for college and received her B.F.A. from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she was introduced to glass.

Emma continued her study of glass at Pilchuck School of Glass in Seattle, Washington, and "The Studio" in Corning, NY; She has assisted teaching at Penland School of Crafts and The University of the Arts and worked for multiple glass artists within the Philadelphia area. She has showed around the Philadelphia area and has performed as a member of the Burnt Asphalt Family at Urban Glass and Corning. She is currently the Glass Shop Supervisor and Technician at The University of the Arts.

Emma's work consists of multiple parts using different glass techniques combined with other mediums, drawings, and found manipulated objects. She creates installations and works that deal with personal experience, psychological and symbolic content.

July 13th: Nikolaj Christensen

Nikolaj  Christensen graduated in 2002 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri with a B.S. Architecture, Cum Laude. Following his creative passions, he has worked with glass for many years. Nikolaj has assisted Muranese maestros like Elio Quarisa. Additionally, he has assisted others at Penland School of Crafts. In 2007 he was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship. A five-month grant to study glassblowing techniques and methodology in Denmark with three internationally recognized Danish glassworkers. He is currently Director of East Falls Glassworks, acting as hot shop technician, in-house designer and glassblowing instructor.

July 20th: Daniel White

Daniel White’s hot sculpted pieces are inspired by Grafitti art. His figures are at once grotesque and approachable. Watching him work is really exciting since he uses his hands, protected by only newspaper, to literally sculpt the glass.

July 27th: Annie Shepard

Annie Shepherd was born and raised in the outskirts of Lincoln. Her undergraduate education includes direction in glass studies at Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska and obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in glass art from Alfred University. She has attended craft schools and residencies nationwide in various capacities including staff and as a scholarship recipient.

Her most recent work focuses on various realms of cartography, displayed on abstract blown glass forms. She hopes to continue to focus on her love of maps and explore more refined sculptural forms in her glass work. Currently, Shepherd resides in Beacon, NY and is employed by a modern lighting company.  

August 3rd: Nicholas “Skitch” Manion

Skitch’s work has always focused on combining form and process. Having devoted himself to glass for over a decade, he has had the opportunity to develop as an artist and craftsman assisting artists from all over the world in the creation of their visions in glass and other mediums.

Skitch strives to create works that allow the viewer to interact and connect with his pieces. His current series creates an environment which aims to draw the viewer in. “I hope the audience can connect with the forms and gain a sense of the relationship between the pieces and their own lives.”

Skitch’s work reflects the intricacies of relationships, focusing on the gestures and the expressions that people use when communicating with one another. As Skitch works toward the creation of more site-specific installations, he hopes to expand and explore these ideas more thoroughly so that the audience becomes a fundamental part of the work.

August 10: Drew Smith

Drew Smith was born in Nurnberg, Germany, and recently graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he received his BFA in glass sculpture. Although Drew has explored many glass-making techniques, his most recent work involves cast components and found objects, which act together to form small collections describing individual personalities.

August 17th: Kathleen Anderson

Kathleen Anderson has a passion for color. Classically trained as a painter, Kathleen learned to fuse her painting skills into glass. The scenes Anderson depicts are atmospheric, usually referencing architecture, landscapes, and historical images. The images are first painted onto small glass bubbles with great detail and attention to proportion. Next they are blown out into bigger vessels and forms, abstracting the paintings. Although the exact images may become distorted, the preservation of vibrant, bold color is what remains crucial.

August 24th: Alexandra Lozier

Alexandra Lozier recently graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Crafts, concentration in metals and glass.  She has been a studio monitor and teaching assistant at both the University of the Arts and Crefeld High School glass departments. Her work analyzes the ephemeral in an attempt to preserve it. She has received scholarships to attend Pilchuck Glass School, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and this year’s Glass Art Society Conference in Louisville, KY.  She is currently working in a metalsmithing/jewelry studio in New York as an artist assistant for Biba Schutz.