Daniel Clayman: Shifting Scale
Daniel Clayman: Shifting Scale
MAY 3, 2013 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2013
PHILADELPHIA- Wexler Gallery will feature Shifting Scale, an exhibition of new works by Rhode Island based glass artist Daniel Clayman. The show will run from May 3rd through June 30th, 2013. An Opening Reception will take place on First Friday, May 3rd from 5 – 8pm.
Daniel Clayman utilizes a vocabulary of simple forms and muted colors to create architectural glass sculptures. Shifting Scale will feature a selection of new works by the artist, which explore a variation of proportion, ranging from small to large scale. Although minimalist in aesthetic, Clayman’s pieces are created using a labor-intensive casting method. This process allows for his medium to take on a foggy and textured quality with a sense of depth, while still maintaining its translucency. The artist carefully uses light and shadow to accentuate subtle details in the glass, creating the illusion of mass in forms that are often hollow, describing volume in space.
According to the artist:
“Some of the pieces are easily identifiable as vessels and may allude to holding volumes of water. Others are pure abstraction holding only quantities of air and space. By taking away any real solid mass, I am left with just the skins of glass, bronze or graphite that defines a measure of capacity. Other objects are identifiable as a ramp that divides space with a simple line or as a wheel that makes the center volume of air as important as the white structure itself.”
Originally trained as a theater and modern dance lighting designer, Clayman has been involved in the visual and performing arts since the mid 1970’s. He began “sculpting with light” as a lighting design student and then as a visiting Lighting Designer for the Dance Department at Connecticut College in 1977. In 1983, Clayman enrolled in the Glass Program at the Rhode Island School of Design, embarking on a challenging new artistic path.
Clayman’s work has shown at galleries and museums on a national level. Recent highlights include solo exhibitions at the Mint Museum of Art and Design in Charlotte, NC and the Fuller Craft Museum in the Brockton, MA. His work can be found in the permanent collections of esteemed private and public intuitions, including The Museums of Fine Arts in San Francisco, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. Clayman has also given numerous artist demos and lectures at universities and workshops around the country. The artist currently lives and works in Providence, RI.
Fascinated by the notion of challenging the traditional labels that categorize art, Wexler Gallery exhibits work that can coexist in the worlds of design, fine art, decorative art and craft. By questioning and challenging the boundaries of these fields, we aim to present functional and non-functional work that consistently celebrates innovation. Unified by a commitment to excellent craftsmanship and true dedication to their art, we are proud to showcase some of the world’s most esteemed artists working in their areas of pursuit.