Glass House - MoCAF

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Text: Therese Atienza Layout Design: Carlo Abello Cover: Noy Bedaña

GLASS HOUSE

RAISA LUZ is a Filipino glass sculptor born in San Francisco, California.

She is the daughter of esteemed glass sculptor Marge Organo, having shared a familial bond with the art of sculpting glass. Following her mother’s footsteps, she was taught how to sculpt coldworked glass in 2017, then later studied at the Bullseye Glass Company and Corning Museum of Glass in the United States to further learn and hone her craft in kiln forming glass. Her works comprise exceptional variations of layering, melting, and laminating kiln-formed glass – enterprising an oeuvre of opalescent and transparent glass pieces in an assortment of shapes and forms that arise a diverse selection of designs.

Pixie

Dust

33 x 20.5 x 6.5 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

The art of glass sculpting dates back to the ancient period, with the earliest trace of evidence found around 3,500 B.C. in Egypt. Since then, glass has been transformed in various practices to create fascinating and functional art pieces: from stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals to illustrious sculptures in prominent galleries and museums.

To

Have

and to Hold 29 x 16.7 x 9.7 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

As

Lava

Flows

33 x 20.5 x 6.5 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

Pristine

Tower

28.5 x 12.5 x 5 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

Luck

in

Threes

33.4 x 15.5 x 11 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

Depth

Arise 31 x 10 x 7.5 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

Drift in Opulence 31.9 x 15 x 8 cm Fused Glass Raisa Luz

MARGE ORGANO Focusing first on the rudiments of painting, visual artist Marge Organo then moved to figurative sculpture using resin and bronze as her earlier media. Organo then continued to pursue studies in glass sculpture at the prestigious and internationally renowned Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, where she was awarded a scholarship at her 2nd year of study in that prestigious institution.

After the artist’s stint at Corning, she was accepted at the Kamenicky Senov, the oldest glass making school in the world located in the Czech Republic where she learned glass casting under the tutelage of topnotch Czech artists. Taking various techniques, Marge Organo has learned from these leading institutions and from her own practice, continuously honing the craftsmanship and elevating her methods to a masterly extent.

Sto

Nino

L

59 x 28 x 12 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

This year, MoCAF celebrates the renowned masterpieces of homegrown talents – gathered self-expressions through the magnificence of iridescent glass. “Glass House” brings together works by the country’s pioneer glass sculptor and Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee Ramon Orlina, and famed icon in gynocentric glass works, Marge Organo. Joined by the acclaimed masters are their respective offspring as well as emerging names in the prestigious field, namely Anna Orlina, Michael Orlina, and Raisa Luz.

Sto Nino XLVIII 45.5 x 26.1 x 11.5 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

Sto

Nino

XLIX

49.8 x 27.2 x 14 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

Sto Nino XLVIII 45.5 x 26.1 x 11.5 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

Belle Femme (Douloureux XVII) 31.7 x 15.5 x 9.2 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

Belle Femme (Douloureux XVIII) 32.8 x 17.2 x 9.5 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

Belle Femme (Douloureux XVI) 29 x 17 x 9.5 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

Mother’s Treasure 29 x 17 x 9.5 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

The

Patriot 29 x 17 x 9.5 cm Fused Glass Marge Organo

ANNA ORLINA has been exposed to the art world ever since she was a child.

Glass as an art medium is not only one that she chose, but one that she was also born into. Her father, Ramon Orlina, has been a self-taught coldworking glass sculptor since 1975. He is even considered as the “Father of Philippine Glass Sculpture”.

The special exhibition is a stunning display of pure brilliance, with differing concepts and methods that shed magnificent luminations in every reflection and refraction it encompasses within a confined space.

Life is an Adventure 57 x 34 x 19 cm Laminated Coldworked Glass Anna Orlina

Ang ni

Lihim Victoria

45 x 28 x 19 cm Laminated Coldworked Glass Anna Orlina

High

Places

31 x 23 x 17 cm Laminated Coldworked Glass Anna Orlina

MICHAEL ORLINA

Airborne 33 x 28 x 17 cm Carved Green Glass Michael Orlina

Upon stepping into the exhibit, waves of kaleidoscopic visions meet the eye of the viewer, as the artists’ renditions of light-bending sculptures are brazenly presented, meant to exude a sense of majestic essence.

As masters and noteworthy talents of the art form, rudiments of artistry, architecture, and engineering are transformed into methods of glass sculpting – whether coldworked, cast, carved, or fused, artistic expressions emerge and excel in their final form.

Battlescars 34 x 39 x 24 cm Carved Green Glass Michael Orlina

RAMON ORLINA

is a Filipino glass sculptor born in Manila, Philippines. After completing his architectural degree at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, he practiced architecture until 1974. He then began his career in art painting, eventually turning to sculpture. Drawing from his experience as an architect, Orlina chose to create sculptures from glass which he felt at that time had most potential in expressing his visual imagery.

Exploring forms though glass cullets or crystal blocks, he continued to exploit the translucent quality and smooth finish produced from months of reshaping and grinding.

Fluidity 34 x 39 x 24 cm Carved Green Glass Ramon Orlina

Messenger of Joy 38 x 29 x 24 cm Carved Mediterranean Blue Glass Ramon Orlina

You are Sunlight and I Moon 58 x 28 x 8 cm Carved Pink Crystal Ramon Orlina

Limeston Hills of El Nido 25 x 67 x 26 cm Carved Green Glass Ramon Orlina

Radiating rays of light in all vantage points, the exhibit is a powerhouse of revolutionary concepts and practices that one can admire, observe, and bask in all their excellence.

“Glass House” is, to date, the first group exhibition in the country to showcase an all-glass series of works. The inaugural series will be showcased at the second year of Modern and Contemporary Art Festival (MoCAF), at Fairmont, Makati.

Ice, Ice, Baby 61 x 26 x 26 cm Carved Clear Optical Glass Ramon Orlina