Distinguished Craft Artists:
Marc Petrovic, Larder
Marc Petrovic and Kari Russell-Pool
Marc Petrovic and Kari Russell-Pool, who met in 1987 at the Cleveland Institute of Art, have worked closely for years, while at the same time maintaining a certain independence that allows them to produce distinctive objects. Russell-Pool’s pieces are predominantly flame-worked, while Petrovic’s are primarily blown and combined with wood, metal or found elements. The couple does occasionally collaborate, and they depend on each other’s opinions and insight. The couple was selected to be guest artists at Glass Weekend 2009 at Wheaton Arts Center in Millville, NJ. Their works are represented in the permanent collection of major museums.
Kari Russell-Pool, My Funny Valentine
12” x 12” x 2.5”
Somewhat unique to flame working, Kari melts and pulls her own glass rods from the same glass furnace that Marc sculpts his pieces. Her overall approach is one of a watercolor. Coloring with glass powders and pulling her own glass rods allows her an extraordinary control over color.
For Marc, glass is one of few materials where you can work with form and color simultaneously. His approach is to blow parts from sketches. He often makes extra parts that he them uses in future still unknown sculptures, as handmade found objects. The repetitions become a series of works that explore a number of ideas or raise a set of questions. While Petrovic's pieces ask a lot of questions, they attempt to answer none. They simply serve as a way to contain and continue a dialogue. At the nucleus of each sculpture is an idea around which the piece grows.
On January 2010 Petrovic and Russell-Pool were honored guests as part of the JRA's Distinguished Artist Series. They gave a workshop at the DC Glassworks in Edmonton. They also gave an illustrated lecture at the Renwick Gallery.
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