Chappell Gallery participates in numerous off-site art fairs throughout the year, namely SOFA (Sculptural Objects and Functional Art) in Chicago and New York, PalmBeach3 in Florida and Collectors' Weekend in New Jersey.   Chappell Gallery mounts several shows each year, being the first to have solo exhibitions in the U.S. of many major international artists.
Chappell Gallery is built on a strong foundation of education, the fuel that has driven the art glass movement to its current heights. It mounts several shows each year, being the first to have solo exhibitions in the U.S. of many major international artists.		 Chappell Gallery mounts several shows each year, being the first to have solo exhibitions in the U.S. of many major international artists.
 

We invite you to
visit the Artists section of our website for information on
the work and background of
each artist.

 
 

 

 

Ethan Stern

About the Artist

Artist Gallery

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I began studying ceramics and art in Ithaca NY, where I grew up. Before attending college at Alfred University in Alfred New York I moved to Brisbane Australia where I studied Ceramic art and material science. It was during this time that my investigation of the vessel grew and my interests gravitated towards functional Pottery. The Studio Ceramic movement is still very strong in Australia and it greatly influenced my process and esthetic.

After returning from Australia I attended Alfred to study Sculpture and Ceramics. At this time I began researching the history of the vessel. This strong history continues to have an impact on my work today although I have drifted from ceramics to glass. I was drawn to Greek Vessels because of their dynamic relationship between surface and form. In contrast I was also attracted to Chinese Vessel forms because they have such a powerful presence while remaining so quiet. Also, through the influence of artists such as Peter Voulkos and Robert Turner, the idea of simplicity and abstraction in form overlapped by surface pattern and texture emerged as a crucial element in my work.

My transition from ceramics to glass grew from a need to explore a material with less history as an art medium and a process that is so much more direct. My final years at Alfred became devoted to glass and the investigation of sculpture within that medium. It was not until I started attending Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood Washington that I started investigating engraving and carving glass. This process opened the doors for me to pull together elements of color, form, pattern and texture to create a unique voice within the material. Because cutting glass inherently leaves a matt unpolished surface I began to see a strong connection to the ceramic surface and its relationship to light and color. By removing the glossy shine so recognized as glass I can take the focus of the material and put it on the surface color and design. The matt surface absorbs light while the shiny surface will reflect it. This phenomenon causes colors to become rich and bold, a quality often associated with the ceramic surface whether it be raw or glazed. To bring this surface to glass is to give richness and sensitivity to pattern and color.

The patterns that I create can be repetitive or unique and are often reminiscent of ethnographic textile design. At the same time they become abstract enough to allow me to show a personal mark as if I were drawing. My process is often spontaneous, starting with a vague idea on paper before I move to the object, where process plays a huge role in the overall composition. Cutting the surface can create a line quality that can be graphic or painterly. Just like drawing, my personal mark is apparent. Like ceramics, the evidence of the hand, the subtleties of surface and the creative process are vital to the creation of my work.


EDUCATION
2001-1997 Alfred University, Alfred, N.Y.
New York State School of Ceramics, School of Art and Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Glass, Metal,Ceramics Major
Art History Minor
1997-1995 TAFE College of Ceramics, Brisbane, Australia
Associates of the Arts degree,
Ceramics Major

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  2005-Current   High School Glass Instructor / Production Team Supervisor/ Hilltop Artist in Residence, Tacoma Public School District,Tacoma, WA
  2003-2005   Hot Shop Technician / Artist in Residence Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville, TN
Workshop Instructor: Beginning Glass Blowing, Glass Bead making Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville, TN
  2003   Ceramic sculpture instructor K- 5th grade
Art Goes to School, Grade school art program Sparta Elementary, Sparta, TN
Interim Glass Technician, Pratt Fine Art Center, Seattle, WA

REVIEWS
      Matthew Kangus, Glass Quarterly No. 101, Reviews. Pg.61. Winter ’05-’06
Kurt Shaw, Pittsburgh Tribune Review. "From Texture to Tension" December 23, 2000

PUBLICATIONS
      American Craft Magazine, Gallery, P. 72 August/September 2005
New Glass Review 26,The Corning Museum of Glass Pg. 54 2005
American Style. "News From The Gallery Front." C.K. p.22 Volume 11 #2 December, 2004
Jack Gunther Stanwood/Camano NEWS. "Pilchuck Staff Show at History of the World Gallery". June 24, 2003

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
  2005   "New Drawings" Vetri International Glass, Seattle, WA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
  2006   "Palm Beach 3" Chappell Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL
  2005   "SOFA" rep. Chappell Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Glass Weekend" rep. Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Millville, NJ
"SOFA" rep. Chappell Gallery, New York City, NY
"The Appalachian Center For Craft, The Faculty, The Artists in Residence" Belmont University
The Lue Gallery, Nashville, TN
"Artist In Residence Exhibition" Appalachian Center Craft Gallery, Smithville, TN
"Palm beach 3" SOFA exhibition represented by Chappell Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL
  2004   "November Showcase" Prism Contemporary Glass Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Apercu" Prism Contemporary Glass Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Fall for Glass: 04" Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Pilchuck Glass School Annual Auction, Westin Hotel, Seattle, WA
"Summer Faculty Exhibition" Appalachian Center For Crafts Gallery, Smithville, TN
"Artist In Residence Exhibition" Appalachian Center For Craft Gallery, Smithville, TN
"Capturing Light", two person show, Chappell Gallery, New York, NY
History of the World Gallery, group show, Camino Island, WA
  2003   Emerging Artist showcase, Linda Greene Contemporary Glass, Dallas, TX
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Annual Auction, designed centerpieces, Seattle, WA
"Young Americans", Chappell Gallery, group show. New York City, NY
"Glass Surface", Chappell Gallery, group show, Boston, MA
Pilchuck Glass School, Annual Auction, Westin Hotel, Seattle, WA
Vetri International Glass, consignment, Seattle, WA
History of the World Gallery, group show, Camino Island, WA
  2002   "International Glass" Global Art Venue, group show, Seattle, WA
The Ithaca Commons, permanent sculpture installation, Ithaca, NY
"Art in the Heart of the City", outdoor public sculpture exhibition, Ithaca, NY
Pilchuck Glass School Annual Auction, Westin Hotel, Seattle, WA
Vetri International Glass, consignment, Seattle, WA
History of the World Gallery, group show, Camino Island, WA
  2001   "Walking Bridge Light Exhibition", G.A.S. Conference, Corning, NY
History of the World Gallery, group show, Camino Island, WA
Swallow Gallery, consignment, Brooklyn, NY
  2000   "Fuego de la Forma", Pamil Gallery, group show, San Juan, Puerto Rico
"Two Nuts and a Bolt", Robert Turner Gallery, group show, Alfred, NY

Click here to read a review of Ethan Stern’s work published in the WINTER 2005-06, NUMBER 101 issue of www.glassquarterly.com

 

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 Chappell Gallery is built on a strong foundation of education, the fuel that has driven the art glass movement to its current heights.
Glass art is a global movement; it is far-reaching and speaks many languages.  

In addition to representing artists from the United States, Chappell Gallery's founder, Alice Chappell, has sought out artists from around the world.