Maryland Community Newspapers Online
On Nov. 15, Eric Markow and Thom Norris will fill Weisser Glass Studio & Gallery in Kensington with hand woven glass sculptures that must be touched to be believed. Two weeks before the opening reception, owner Nancy Weisser talks about her passion and the rising art stars about to take over her space. Some pieces take months to complete; this interview is only six questions long.
Jordan Edwards: What's so great about glass art?
JE: Do you think glass art gets the respect it deserves within the art community?
NW: It's getting better. Sometimes it doesn't because there's always that argument between art and craft. I think a lot of artists have brought attention to glass as a medium. There are a lot of high-end galleries that carry glass as their primary focus.
JE: How has glass art changed since you started creating it?
NW: When I first started, there wasn't much going on with kiln forming. It was mostly stained glass or blown glass. In the last 30 years, there's been an explosion in kiln formed glass.
JE: What makes the work of Markow and Norris so special?
NW: I think they have really focused in on something very specific and they try to push it as far as they can push it. I think it offers technical challenges, and their stuff is aesthetically pleasing to look at. It's a great combination of color, design and shape; it's sculptural; it's interesting. It's more than a flat plain, you know?
JE: When someone walks into your space and into the gallery, will they be blown away by what they see?
NW: I believe they'll be blown away. For this exhibition, we're really tearing the place up — even stepping outside the actual gallery space and taking up some of the store space. They're going to have quite a few of their major pieces on display. This is actually their first show in the D.C. area. It's a chance for people to really see what they do.
JE: OK, this is a big one. Markow and Norris — Does it sound more like a law firm or a '70s yacht rock duo?
NW: Markow and Norris? They probably sound more like a law firm.
JE: Good call.
Markow and Norris will kick their show off at Weisser Glass Studio & Gallery, 4080-B Howard Ave., Kensington, with a 5:30 p.m. reception on Sunday, Nov. 15. The exhibit will continue through December 6. Check out more of the artist's work at wovenglass.com and more about the studio at weisserglass.com. Read next week's Scene section in The Gazette for a full preview of the show.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to the title of a piece in a cutline; it is "Sunflower." Also, the photo credit has been changed to Javier Agostinelli.
