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Heart of Glass - Blenko Glass

Blenko Glass is a West Virginia treasure that spans generations. Nothing symbolizes the state of West Virginia better or more beautifully than Blenko Glass. We will discuss current and former craftsmen and designers and how important it is that Blenko and West Virginia glass be appreciated and valued by the younger generation.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Readers Question - Who is Arlon Bayliss, Blenko Designer

Photos of Bayliss and Team installing glass in Indianapolis Airport.
Heart of Glass will have photos of BAYLISS' 2009 WV Birthday design later this week!








Hilary
Who is this arlin bayliss the designer of WV Birthday piece why not ask Wayne Husted to do this?
Sally P.
Sally,
While I would agree Wayne Husted was Blenko's most popular and is an excellent designer, he is a part of Blenko's past and the current designer is Arlon Bayliss. The following information was available from searching the net. Bayliss has been responsible for the last 2 WV Birthday Vase (if you collect this series you'll know these vases are unique, the size is right, the colors are excellent, they stand out in this collection) I'm anxious to see the prototype for 2009. Bayliss and Team never disappoint.
Hillary
Arlon Bayliss, Professor of Art and co-chair for the Department of Art + Design, recently returned from an annual trip with glass majors and fellow glass students to Corning, New York.
Included during the trip were visits to The Corning Museum of Glass (more than 45,000 objects trace 3,500 years of glassmaking history at Corning), The Rakow Research Library (the world’s library of record and the finest collection of research materials related to the art, history, craft and technology of glass), and The Studio (a comprehensive educational glass workshop for visiting artists, summer classes, and visitors).
At The Corning Museum of Glass, glass isn’t just for looking at or looking through. At the Museum, you can explore, research, touch, work with, and interact with glass.
This is the 19th year for the one-week field trip. According to Bayliss, the Corning Museum of Glass holds the largest and best collection of glass in the world. The art department’s Glass History course uses many examples from the museum. When Bayliss takes students to Corning, there are many scholars from other countries that have come to Corning to study and research.
“I think Arlon is a wonderful teacher and a wonderful artist, and I look forward to his yearly trip to Corning,” said Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass at Corning. “In spite of the fact that Arlon has been here many times, he is always excited to be here, and he is so engaging.”
In 1990, AU wanted to provide art students with a glass-making major for the first time. Bayliss relocated from London to help start the program with professor Ken Ryden. They were able to connect Jerry Child, who at the time was a scientific projects worker at Corning. Child was able to supply AU with 20 tons of glass making equipment including a kiln, a glass furnace, a mechanical press, optic molds and numerous other furniture and equipment. Bayliss commented much of the original donations from Corning are still used today.
A glass piece created by an AU student was offered by Steuben Glass in 2006. The work created by Melissa Taylor (BA ’07) entitled “The Nutcracker” marked the first time that Steuben had offered a piece created by an undergraduate university glass student. The piece was featured on the front cover of the Steuben Christmas catalog in 2006. [Pictured on the left.]
Four students made the trip with Bayliss this year though in the past, Bayliss has been able to fill two vans full of students.
“Next year, we except a larger number of students going because of the freshman glass cohort waiting in the wings,” said Bayliss. “That specific cohort is working on foundations this year and will be in Intermediate Glass this time next year for the trip.”
Bayliss stated that Corning is a vital part of the glass curriculum. Students do research projects in writing and glass making based on the work they see on the trip. The program puts a lot of emphasis on historical research and analysis generally in AU Art and Design.
“It’s so gratifying to hear the museums staff time and time again say how much they enjoy working with our students,” said Bayliss. “They say it’s refreshing to see their enthusiasm for historical objects.”
Three AU majors have completed internships at the museum: Michael Frazier, Joy Jackson and Shawn Matson.
“The Museum welcomes students from all areas of study, and especially art students,” said Oldknow. “I love to see undergraduates as well as graduate students at the Museum: everyone has a good idea to share.”
This year, alum David Schnuckel (BA ’03) was able to join the AU students for a day. He has his masters in glass from R.I.T. and is teaching glass classes at Alfred University in New York. [Pictured on the right.]
Offering majors in fine arts studio, studio glass, graphic design, general studies in art and art education, Anderson University’s Department of Art + Design challenges and prepares students to bring their best contributions to their chosen field. Students accomplish this through scholarly research, intensive studio practice, professional work experience and working closely with skilled faculty of artists and designers.
A new sculpture created by Arlon Bayliss, professor of Art at Anderson University, and artist Mary Jo Kramb Bayliss will be permanently featured when the new Indianapolis International Airport opens on November 12, 2008. The collaborative creation, a glass wall entitled “Flightwave,” is located in the heart of the new airport on the east side of the Civic Plaza within the facility.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity to create a piece for the new Indianapolis Airport. It’s certainly an honor. I can’t wait to show it to my students. I also loved collaborating with Mary Jo. It improved the work. I can’t wait for the next project we’ll do together,” said Bayliss.
“I am delighted that Prof. Bayliss’ glass sculpture will be permanently featured in such an important facility as the new airport terminal in Indianapolis. This work will be seen by countless numbers of people from around the world who make their way through the airport, and it is sure to have a significant impact on their travel experience and their impressions of Indianapolis. This accomplishment speaks to the high level of artistry embodied in our art and design faculty, and to the wonderful education they provide for our students here at Anderson University. We are all celebrating this amazing accomplishment,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wright, dean of the College of the Arts.
The glass wall separates screened from unscreened passengers and incorporates simplified chevron shapes made from dichroic glass to resemble a flock of sparkling birds. These elements create delicately colored light as both natural and artificial light plays across them, and the colors shift and change as viewers pass the wall. The imagery calls to mind the joy and freedom inherent in experiencing flight.
Bayliss received his B.A. in Ceramics (1st class with honors) from Bristol Polytechnic in England in 1978 and his M.A. in Glass from the Royal College of Art in 1981. As an independent artist in England, he designed glass for Rosenthal Glas und Porzellan in Germany, for E.O.S. Toscany in Italy, for Stephens and Williams Royal Brierly Crystal and Wedgwood Glass in England, and at the Snogebaek Glashytte in Denmark. Since 1990 Bayliss has been a professor of art and the director of the glass program at Anderson University.
Mary Jo Kramb Bayliss was born in Ventura, California in 1962; however, she grew up on the East Coast. She received her BFA in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995, and her MFA in sculpture from University of Colorado, Boulder in 1999. She has shown her work in South America and across the United States. Her three sons are Matthew (23), Daniel (22) and Sam (15).
Bayliss’ public projects include sculptures for Anderson University, the City of Anderson and the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library in Indianapolis. In 1993 he designed the annual Governor’s Arts Award for the state of Indiana. Bayliss is an elected Diploma Member of the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers.
Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,750 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology. hjh

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

2 things I know for certain
Cheeseburger can never be Kosher
and Husted will never design a WV Birthday Vase.
a.

susan said...

Did anyone get to the Vandalia Festival?
How was it?
Did Blenko have a booth?

Anonymous said...

Perhaps I'll start to collect Bayliss and Team.
Can you do more photos of his work?

Anonymous said...

Impressive
E.T.