We view this exhibition as an installation of intimate portrait, portraits of memory, mourning, nostalgia and joy. In order to create these works, we use photography, photoshop, screen-printing of glass enamels, glass in many ways (blowing, kiln-firing, sandblasting, polishing, mirroring), welding and painting. - Jenny Pohlman & Sabrina Knowles
Front Cover: “Framed Mural - Birds & Trees” detail view original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown, mirrored and sandblasted glass, steel, paint 71.5” x 28” x 4” 2023
“Framed Mural - Birds & Trees” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown, mirrored and sandblasted glass, steel, paint 71.5” x 28” x 4” 2023
Birds and trees have been a constant within our narrative vocabulary. Birds are more obvious but trees have been present in our Head Pot series and our Shaman series. The image in the two bird wheel frames is a photograph of our Wheel of Remembering, 2009. Our heron bird form represents our philosophy of restoring ancient memory, returning to our primordial purpose of reciprocating support of all living things. Also appearing in Framed Mural are Cape Gannets in pearled (mirrored) glass forms, our nod to seers. A Cottonwood tree residing in Santa Fe is repeated as is a Big-Leaf Maple near our studios in Seattle. Moon Tree pictures a Buckeye. Also framed are park benches sharing a morning beneath Buckeyes and a fading Cottonwood with an early Pohlman writing: As a child I climbed the tree As a poet I became the tree As an enterpriser I felled the tree I felled me
Witnessing environmental change, smokey skies over Puget Sound and an aging Madrone are showcased.
“Clouds, Witness series” original images, giclée print, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown, mirrored and sandblasted glass, steel 26.5” x 16.5” x 3” 2022
“Untitled, Witness series” original images, giclée print, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown, mirrored and sandblasted glass, steel 26.5” x 16.5” x 3” 2023
A further study integrating photography and image in blown glass conjures another early Pohlman writing: Oh great hawk above me circling see for me what I cannot see teach me with the wisdom of your vision teach me what I have forgotten “Hawk” original images, giclée print, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown and sandblasted glass, steel 16” x 16” x 3” 2023
We anthropomorphize benches sharing a morning beneath a Buckeye.
“Benches” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown, mirrored glass, steel, paint 11.5” x 11.5” x 4” 2021
See notes from Framed Mural.
“Cottonwood with Wheel of Remembering” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown and polished glass, steel, paint 11.5” x 11.5” x 4” 2022
Sabrina walking down a wooded path in Winter.
“Geode with Traveler” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown and polished glass, steel, paint 12” x 12” x 4” 2021
Our bird wheel burst in photoshop. Imagine a flower of primordial memory, framed. This image required 6 printings and kiln-firings before taking the flat glass into the hot glass studio to blow the orb.
“Burst” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown glass, steel, paint 16.5” x 16.5” x 5” 2023
A dying sunflower nourishes, challenging our culture’s terror of aging and treatment of elders.
“Defiance” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown glass, steel, paint 16.5” x 16.5” x 5” 2023
Jenny Pohlman & Sabrina Knowles Pohlman and Knowles began their collaboration in 1992, beginning a body of work including hot-sculpted glass, various metal works, found objects and beads. Drawing inspiration from an extensive list of international scholar visits, they use their experience to create sculptures that embody mythological stories in glass. “From our earliest collaborative efforts we have explored the feminine fruity, curvature, strength and plasticity inherent in glass. The innate three-dimensionality of molten glass assists with our design visions and we often see new forms emerging from the forms we are working on in the hot shop. These glimpses into the next possibility fuel our enthusiasm and the direction of our designs.” - Artist Statement Education - Jenny Pohlman 1993-96 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, Teaching Asst. for Hank Murta Adams 1992-99 Pratt Fine Art Center, Seattle, WA 1982 BS, Journalism, Ohio University, Athens, OH Education - Sabrina Knowles 1993-96 Pilchuck Glass School, Studied with Dante Marioni, Lino Tagliapietra 1988-89 Pratt Fine Art Center, Seattle, WA 1986-88 Liberal Arts, S.C.C.C., Seattle, WA Selected Exhibitions 2023 Duane Reed Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2022 Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, WA Muskegon Museum, Muskegon, MI Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA Intersect Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery 2020 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery Chihuly Collection, St. Petersburg, FL 2019 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery 2018 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Bainbridge Island, WA 2017 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery 2016 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery Duane Reed Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2015 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery 2014 SOFA Chicago, Duane Reed Gallery Art Palm Beach, Duane Reed Gallery 2013 Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Bainbridge Island, WA Art Palm Springs, Duane Reed Gallery
Selected Collections Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA Cancer Care Alliance Center, Seattle, WA Anne Gould Hauberg Collection, Seattle, WA Allen & Kathleen Shoup Collection, Seattle, WA Jon & Mary Shirley Collection, Seattle, WA Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
Back Cover:: “Framed Mural - Birds & Trees” original images, screen-printed and kiln-fired enamels, blown, mirrored and sandblasted glass, steel, paint 71.5” x 28” x 4” 2023