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Glass by Debora and Benjamin Moore

March 28 - May 23, 2004

 

Glass by Debora and Benjamin Moore

By James Houghton, Muskegon Museum of Art Curator of Collections and Exhibitions

 

Seattle based Debora & Benjamin Moore are among the leading artists working in the studio glass movement today. Both of these artists see glass as a medium to express highly conceptualized ideas.

Looking at their work, it is scarcely necessary to note each has an individualized aesthetic. Benjamin uses severe geometric forms, color, little surface decoration and an acute sense of proportion to make glass that demonstrates qualities of simplicity, symmetry, elegance, and balance. Debora looks to nature for her inspiration, transforming her close study of flowers and plants into extremely detailed and delicate sculpted botanical studies.

The work of each perfectly complements the other: the demanding intellectual classicism of Benjamin's forms is beautifully juxtaposed with the fluid richness of Debora's botanicals.

 

Debora Moore

Artist Statement

Hot glass is an ideal medium for my most recent body of work which are botanical studies including orchids. I am interested in portraying the fundamental design of plants and flowers on a more conceptual and interpretative level. I work the hot glass in a very organic and fluid fashion, which gives these botanical studies a sense of naturalness while not restricting myself to realistic representations. (right: Debora Moore, Blue Lady Slipper Wall Sculpture, blown and sculpted glass. photo by Lynn
Thompson)

 

 

Benjamin Moore

Artist Statement

The fundamental concern and focus of my work is to achieve simplicity, balance and clarity of form. Simple geometric shapes, such as the sphere and cylinder, are often referenced in the execution of my work. I use
color to attract attention to contour, but use very little surface decoration that would take away from the purity of the object's form.
For me the true challenge of creating an object is to give the piece a timeless presence or quality. To achieve this, I focus on the color,
shapes and proportions of the vessels by themselves and in groups, and
the way light interacts with the work. Opacity, translucency and transparency are varied to create different impressions for each series of work. (left: Benjamin Moore, Exterior Fold Grouping: alabaster with Black Spiral Wrap. photo by Russell Johnson)
 

 

Debora and Benjamin Moore will give a talk about their careers as studio glass artists at the Muskegon Museum of Art on Saturday, April 24, 2004.

This exhibition is underwritten in memory of Virginia H. Gerber.

 

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