Debra May
American Glass Artist
ARTIST STATEMENT...
“Since my introduction to glass, it has become the main passion in my life. I am constantly in awe of its beauty and potential. This has manifested itself as an intense desire to continue my exploration of its limits.
The approach to my work has always been one of control and refinement of the vessel. Certain shapes entice me, so I strive to perfect that shape before moving on to other forms or techniques.
Presently I am relaxing my approach to the vessel form through transformation-blowing that "perfect shape", then manipulating the surface by sand-carving and cutting on the diamond saw. It is a way of liberating the form and adding spontaneity. This is something I search for in my expression of love for glass as well as something I seek in myself.
I combine I variety of techniques to achieve certain results: overlay, blowing through colors, use of exotic color palette, sandblasting, sand carving, diamond cutting, and acid etching. My work revolves and changes as new challenges present themselves to me.
My work reflects the mood of the southwest both in form and imagery. I am particularly influenced by North American Indian Art as well as symmetrical and geometric design.” — Debra May
EDUCATION
1998 Penland School of Crafts - Penland, NC
Teaching Assistant, summer session with Laura Donefer
and Tom Philabaum.
1991 Pilchuck Glass School - Stanwood, Washington
Teaching Assistant, summer session for Curtiss Brock and Jan Mares.
1989 Penland School of Crafts - Penland, NC
Scholarship Student for Spring Concentration Study;
Studied with Rob Levin and William Lequier.
1986 Penland School of Crafts - Penland, NC
Summer Glass Workshop; studied with Art Reed.
WORKING EXPERIENCE
1996 - Present Self-employed studio glass artist
1987 - 1995 Philabaum Glass Studio - Tuscon, AZ
Gaffer; Hot Shop Manager and assistant to Tom Philabaum. Instructor
for beginning and intermediate glassblowing workshops.
1983 - 1987 Maytum Studios - Boulder, Colordo.
Glassblower; hot shop manager; assistant to Brian Maytum.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
1998
"Deep Relief" Philabaum Glass Gallery, Southwest Glass
Invitational
"Vistas", Center of the Earth Gallery, Group Show Invitational
"Glass for the Mind and Soul" - Phoenix Rising Gallery
"A Gathering of Glass"- Sable V Gallery
"A Gathering of Glass" - Carlyn Galerie
"Art Detour" - Phoenix, Arizona
1997
"Vistas", Center of the Earth Gallery, Group Show Invitational
"Glass for the Mind and Soul" - Phoenix Rising Gallery
"A Gathering of Glass"- Sable V Gallery
"A Gathering of Glass" - Carlyn Galerie
"Art Detour" - Phoenix, Arizona
Art Festival Beth-El - St. Petersburg ,FL
"Harbor Glass Invitational" - Phoenix International Airport
"Arizona Glass Invitaional" - Tubac Center for the Arts-
Tubac, Arizona
"Tucson International Airport" - Arizona Glass Exhibition
1996
"Glass for the Mind and Soul" - Phoenix Rising Gallery
"A Gathering of Glass"- Sable V Gallery
"Art Detour" - Phoenix, Arizona
Art Festival Beth-El - St. Petersburg ,FL
"Oxidation Burial Project "- Collaborative Mixed Media
Installation with Metalsmith, Thomas Mann
"Sandscript", The Lanquage of Glass, Ariana Gallery,
Group Show Invitational
"Emerging Artist Show", Bel Vetro Gallery, Miami, FL;
Group Show Invitational
"Art Glass '96" - Hansen Artsource - Knoxville, Tennesee
1995
"Art Detour" - Phoenix, Arizona
“World Women’s Online” - http://www.asu.edu/wwol
"Desert Heat" - Philabaum Glass Gallery
"Better Then Chocolate" - Phoenix Rising Gallery - Featured
Artsist
"A Gathering of Glass" - Carlyn Galerie
"Reflections on a Higher Plane"- Charlotte-Douglas International
Airport, Featured Aritst
"Gems '95" - Obsidian Gallery
“The International Exhibition of Glass” - Kanazawa,
Japan
"A Gathering of Glass"- Sable V Gallery
1994
"A Gathering of Glass" - Carlyn Galerie
"Post Pilchuck-Beyond the Glory Hole " - Phoenix Rising
Gallery
“Southwest Glass Invitational VII” - Philabaum Glass
Gallery
“Vessel-Makers Invitational” - Philabaum Glass Gallery
“Annual Invitational Opening” - Naples Art Gallery
"A Gathering of Glass"- Sable V Gallery
1993
"A Gathering of Glass"- Sable V Gallery
“Vessel-Makers Invitational” - Philabaum Glass Gallery
"Truth in Glass” Glass Lovers Weekend - Creative Glass
Center of America, Mindscape Gallery
“Glass Invitational” - Ariana Gallery
“Annual Invitational Opening” - Naples Art Gallery
“Gather of Glass” - Mindscape Gallery
1992
“The International Exhibition of Glass” - Kanazawa,
Japan
“Glass Invitational” - Ariana Gallery
“Annual Invitational Opening” - Naples Art Gallery
“Gather of Glass” - Mindscape Gallery
“Pilchuck Glass Exhibit” - Port of Seattle - Tacoma
International Airport
“Southwest Glass Invitational V” Philabaum Gallery
1991
“Glass Invitational” - Ariana Gallery
“Gather of Glass” - Mindscape Gallery
“Annual Craft Invitational” - Tubac Center of the Arts
“Tuscon Glass” - Obsidian Gallery
“Tuscon Glass Artists” - Philabaum Gallery
1990
“Gather of Glass” - Mindscape Gallery
“The International Exhibition of Glass” - Kanazawa,
Japan
“Berkley Gallery Glass Show” - Berkley Gallery
“Tuscon Museum of Art” - House Showcase
“Southwest Glass Invitational III” - Philabaum Gallery
1989
“Tuscon Museum of Art” - Craft Gallery - Featured Craftsman
“Southwest Glass Invitational II” - Philabaum Gallery
“Tuscon Glass” - Obsidian Gallery
1988
“Southwest Glass Invitational I” - Philabaum Gallery
SELECTED GALLERIES
Adam Whitney Gallery - Omaha, Nebraska
Ariana Gallery - Birmingham, Michigan
Ausi Gallery - Tubac, Arizona
Carlyn Galerie - Dallas, Texas
Center of the Earth Gallery - Charlotte, North Carolina
Galleria Silecchia - Sarasota, Florida
Kuivato - Sedona, Arizona
Naples Art Gallery - Naples, Florida
New Orleans School of Glass - New Orleans, Louisiana
Obsidian Gallery - Tuscon, Arizona
Petri's - Causalito, California
Philabaum Glass Gallery - Tuscon, Arizona
Phoenix Rising Gallery - Seattle, Washington
Pismo Gallery - Denver Colorado
Reflections Gallery - Geneva, Switzerland
Sable V Gallery - Wimberly, Texas
Silica Gallery - Cape Porpoise, Maine
Seekers Gallery - Cambria, California
Somerhill Gallery - Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Tesque Glassworks - Sante Fe, New Mexico
Vitrum Galerie - Asheville, North Carolina
PRINTED ARTICLES
"4th Dimension, Objects to Covet", Southwest Art, August
1991,
Page 28
'Intricate Art Form, Glass Blowing’ - Coming of Age in Tuscon
-
“Frees Creative Spirit", The Arizona Daily Star, January
27, 1992, Section B - Page 1
AFFILIATIONS
Glass Art Society, Member, 1994 to present
COMMISSIONS
Rockwell International Corporation - commissioned work for main
reception area ; International Head-quarters, Costa Mesa, California
Contact
Galleria Silecchia for more information on the glass of Debra May.
Prices and availability
are subject to change.
The artist reserves all reproduction
and copyrights.
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