A Visit to Imagine Museum

"Fluctus Radium Temporum" by Jan Exnar 2016

An outing to Imagine Museum is always a treat. And so the Museum was included in my St. Pete outing with Maggie. It had been a while since I'd visited, and it was wonderful to see some exciting new works while checking in on some old favorites. 

"Fluctus Radium Temporum" by Czech artist Jan Exnar grabbed my attention from across the room. From a distance, it looked as if a decaying castle on a hill had been dropped into a glass enclosure to be preserved for the ages. The protrusions at the top of the structure could be flags heralding whatever dynasty was in power, with the lower pieces depicting residents of the town coming to pay homage to their king. Definitely a Game of Thrones kind of vibe. On closer inspection, the form was more abstract, with lots of sharp edges. A sense of danger still prevailed. The work is a big "wow."

Sadly, I haven't been able to find out much about this artist. One gallery describes Exnar's art as a combination of melted glass objects with a perfectly cut surface that, when combined with light, results in permanently changing monumental structures. Another description notes his use of bubbles inspired by cosmic spaces. I'm officially intrigued. To see more of Exnar's work, click here.

"Mazorca" by William Morris (2013)

I fell in love with William Morris' "Mazorca." I wanted to take the little pouting figure home with me. He is just so adorable. (Note: This is how Maggie looked in almost all the pictures from her visit although she swears she was having a good time.) Perhaps he doesn't want to go back out and pick more corn in the field, which seems to be depicted on the round piece to which both the man and the ears of corn are tethered. 

It's hard to believe this sculpture is made of glass. "Mazorca" definitely has a folk art feel to it that I associate with wood. But glass artists can be tricky -- and the artists whose work is on display at Imagine are masters of their craft. 

Morris' early training as a glass artist took place at Dale Chihuly's Pilchuck School. Morris couldn't afford to pay tuition, so he worked as a truck driver for Chihuly in exchange for classes. To further economize, Morris lived in a tree house for ten years. And so it came as no surprise to learn that he feels connected with nature. Morris' work also shows his connection with ancient cultures that lived off the land, from Indigenous people (as shown here) to Egyptian and Asian peoples.

Two books have been written about Morris' work, including "William Morris: Mazorca, Objects of Common Ceremony." Author Isabelle Allende is so taken with Morris' art that she wrote the foreward. For more info about the book, click here. And for a wonderful article about Morris with more images of his work, click here. 

Detail from "Human Rights"
by Bertil Vallien and Trish Duggan (2019)

The entrance to the Museum showcases two collaborative series of works created by Bertil Vallien and Trish Duggan entitled "Human Rights" and "Peace," respectively. Each series is comprised of multiple life-sized plus panels that are populated with more than 20 smaller glass works. Quite an undertaking. 

A panel next to "Human Rights" sets out Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It reads, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." It sounds so simple and yet we all know that's not the way our world works. 

"Human Rights" includes images of people who lived their lives in this spirit and a short description explaining their contributions. This detail shows Mahatma Gandhi and reads, "He brilliantly brought independence to India and became an inspiration for movements of nonviolence, civil rights and freedom across the world." Other people featured include Eleanor Roosevelt, Oskar Schindler and Nelson Mandela. At the center of one of the large panels is a mirrored piece that reads, "The future depends on what you do today." Indeed. 

For more on Vallien's work, click here to read my post about an exhibit of his art previously on display at Imagine. And for more on Vallien's and Duggan's collaborations, click here. 

"Kabuki" by Karen Lamonte (2019)

I'll admit to being surprised when mailings from Imagine highlighted the "Floating World" exhibit featuring the work of Karen Lamonte. After all, it was only 2019 when Lamonte was introduced to visitors to the Museum. That's practically yesterday when taking the pandemic into account. But seeing Lamonte's glass kimonos displayed in a new way was fresh and exciting. And then there's the fact that her creations are spectacular. 

I was particularly taken with this striking work entitled "Kabuki." It is one of three styles of kimonos that Lamonte creates (with the others being Geisha and Odoriku). When I hear the name "Karen Lamonte," the image that comes to mind is a translucent kimono worn by an invisible figure. The effect is ethereal. But Lamonte incorporates different materials to convey different concepts. Iron, used in this "Kabuki," is associated with transience. To read more about the "Floating World" exhibit, click here.  And to read my own blog about the exhibit, click here. The best part of the post is the embedded video in which Lamonte talks about her process and the time she spent in Japan. It is so illuminating about both her intention and her process. 

A smiling Maggie with "Blue Circular Object"
by Daniel Clayman (1957)

As always, I left the Museum in awe of what glass artists can create. But don't trust me on this. Check out Imagine the next time you're in St. Pete. For more info, click here. And if you're in the Sarasota area, don't miss the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion at the Ringling Museum. Entry to this portion of the Ringling is always free, and you can see one of Lamonte's glass kimonos there. Enjoy!