Hot Glass Workshops to heat up University of Miami 

BY NICOLE FRIEDLAND

The University of Miami Department of Art and Art History will be fired up this winter as it presents Miami Hot Studio Glass Workshops, a series of three-day workshops held in a special glass arts facility on UM's Coral Gables campus. The glass workshops are sponsored by UM's Department of Art and Art History, the Art Glass Founders Society, and the Hot Glass Guild.

"The Miami Hot Studio Glass Workshops are designed to further promote the glass medium and enhance the University of Miami's curriculum which provides education in this art form," said Marcilene K. Wittmer, chairman of UM's Department of Art and Art History. "We are thrilled to offer the community a chance to work with such distinguished visiting artists."

The first workshop, which features Dante Marioni and Janusz Poszniak, will take place Jan. 21-23. Marioni is an internationally recognized glass master who has created works of technical virtuosity and highly refined aesthetic character. Marioni has conducted workshops internationally and is represented locally by the Coplan Gallery in Boca Raton. The workshop will include demonstrations by the artists and time for students to work on their own projects.

To kick off the Workshops, Dante Marioni will deliver a free public slide lecture on Friday, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m., in room 508 of the George W. Jenkins Building, 5250 University Dr., Coral Gables campus.

The second workshop features Therman Statom and will be Feb. 4-6. Statom, who is an innovative glass assemblage and installation artist, will conduct a workshop demonstrating the use of glass for mixed media constructions.
The third workshop featuring Fritz Dreisbach will be Mar. 10-12.

Dreisbach, who is a legendary pioneer of studio glass, will teach a class introducing a comprehensive array of glass working techniques. Participants will learn the fundamental techniques of glass blowing skills needed to create a variety of pieces from molten glass.

The Art Glass program at UM was established in the Department of Art and Art History in 1985 as part of the ceramics area and is currently supported by the generosity of the members of the Art Glass Founders Society.

Each workshop costs $300 and is open to the public. Limited space is available.

For more information, call the UM Art Department at 305-284-2542.