Category Archives: News

SAN FRAN SCENE: Ai Weiwei @ Alcatraz; Haring @ de Young

Ai Weiwei’s “With Wind” writhes suspended, about
60′ long, in Alcatraz’s New Industries Building.

“Trace”   Lego portraits of 176 “non-violent people who have lost their freedom simply because they expressed
their ideas …. in truth, they are heroes of our time” -Ai Weiwei

Lego portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar opposition leader, New Industries Building, Alcatraz.

“With Wind” and “Trace” are two of five exhibits in @Large:  Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz.  Each exhibit is an absolute experience – in a prison environment – and together they comprise the ironic whole of this show about liberty and freedom of expression by an artist whose studio was bulldozed and whose passport was taken by his own government in an effort to stifle his freedom of speech.  The atmosphere of the Alcatraz compound alone is haunting, reflective.  Combined with Ai Weiwei’s visual voice the five-hour experience mesmerized us, left us altered.  @Large sponsored by FOR-SITE  in conjunction with National Park Service and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.  Through April 16,2015.

Next day we immersed ourselves in “Keith Haring:  The Political Line,”  at de Young Museum.  We stood in the main room and heard every note of his paintbrush, felt an understanding not before experienced.  The simplicity and the strength.  The confusion and the concern.  The joy and the anger.  But mostly the storytelling and the song.  We would go back for more, for sure.  And the exhibition book is fabulous.  Organized by Fines Arts Museums of San Francisco.  Through February 16,2015.

Stayed at Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre hotel on Sutter in the Tender Nob district.  Highly recommended.

“Keith Haring: The Political Line” de Young Museum

AACG Auction @ SOFA

As the honored artists at the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass’s annual awards ceremony held at SOFA each year, we are pleased to have raised $12,000 to support the organization through our donation of a triple set of carved spears. These spears are for us symbols of liberation and freedom from oppression, and are our response to personal experiences during our travels in Zimbabwe, 1997.

The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to further the development and appreciation of art made from glass.  Learn more about the organization here.

 

Thank you Olivia, Larry and Amy for this fantastic presentation!
Photo credit: Ellie Pohlman – Thank you!

 

Carving detail.  Materials:  sculpted, carved glass, forged steel, copper, beads.

 

Pohlman Knowles @ SOFA Chicago, Nov. 7 – 9

Celadon Himba
Original photography; screen-printed, kiln-fired, blown, sand-carved glass; steel
18 x 13 x 3.5

Cottonwood with Corvid
Original photography; screen-printed, kiln-fired, blown, sculpted glass; steel
24 x 14 x 3.5

Memory’s Ghost
Original photography; screen-printed, kiln-fired, blown, glass;  steel
16 x 16 x 4

If you are heading to SOFA Chicago as we are, we invite you to visit The Duane Reed Gallery and view the work manifested from our Museum of Glass residency in August, 2014.  Hope to see you there!

 

Pohlman Knowles at the Museum of Glass – Results!

Great work by the hot shop team and hearty preparation by us resulted in an exciting and successful residency earlier in August at Museum of Glass.  Big thanks to the team led by Niko Dimitrijevic and to our residency sponsor Becky Moores.


Also a shout out to filmmaker Derek Klein:   “A common misconception – when talking about the works of Jenny Pohlman & Sabrina Knowles – is that the work focuses solely on Africa.  Working closely with the the artists over a full week, I was able to hear directly from the source.  I see these two as journalists, with a writing style of ‘choose your own adventure.’  Truly inspiring people.”  Back at you, Derek, and big thanks.

Check out his documentary short assembled during our residency & look for our finished new works during SOFA Chicago at Duane Reed Gallery.

Happy September & hope to see you in Chicago!

 

 

 

Museum of Glass Residency, 8/13 -17

Orb Totem 2014
Blown, sculpted, mirrored & sand-carved glass with screen print image, metals.
48″H x 9″W x 7″D

Orb Totem 2014
Blown & sand-carved glass, screen print image, metals.
50″H x 9″W x 6″D

What an opportunity we have during the week of August 13, to work with the exceptional gaffers at Museum of Glass, Tacoma!

Join us as we explore and discover forms and formats incorporating screen printed images selected from our personal photo library.  We’d love to see you and don’t be shy, make sure we know when you’re in the stands!

If you’re curious but cannot get to the museum you can watch us live!

Our residency is supported by Fuel Their Fire, so special thanks to Museum of Glass and our sponsor, Becky Moores, for this dynamic residency!

Sabrina screen printing

 

“First Light” BIMA show ends Sept. 29th

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

If you have yet to ferry out to Bainbridge Island Museum of Art you have four more days to view “First Light,” the museum’s inaugural show which includes two of our works of art along with works by many notable regional artists in various mediums.  In addition to “First Light” you will have the opportunity to view the show of Heikki Seppa, master metalsmith.  During this weekend BIMA presents the Manhattan Short Film Festival at 4 p.m.  In addition to great shows, the architecture of this new regional museum is award-winning.

BIMA’s admission is by donation: pay what you can afford or enjoy the museum for free.  It’s a short walk from the ferry and and within a block or two you are in the midst of shops and eateries all offering delectables: enjoy island life on foot and leave your car in Seattle.  It’s a perfect Autumn day trip!

Jenny Joins Pratt Fine Arts Center Board

Pratt Fine Arts Center Announces New Trustees to Board of Trustees
 
Seattle, WA – On August 31, 2013 Pratt Fine Arts Center welcomed four new trustees to its board: Piper O’Neill, Jenny Pohlman, Sarah Traver, and Katherine Wax.

“The Pratt Board of Trustees continues to enjoy amazing talent. Pratt has a steady tradition of engaged and qualified individuals on its board and this new group continues and benefits from that pattern. We are excited to welcome four extraordinary and unique individuals: two renowned artists, Piper O’Neill, an NEA recipient in printmaking and Jenny Pohlman, a nationally exhibited artist in glass/mixed media and recipient of the Pratt Fine Arts Service Award. Sarah Traver, of the Traver Gallery, brings her knowledge of community building and curatorial expertise and Katherine Wax a land use attorney with Perkins Coie, who’s legal experience is a perfect fit for our upcoming Pratt Place Project. We cannot be more fortunate to have such art-focused leadership to keep Pratt focused on its mission and the exceptional council to keep us on track in this stage of growth here at Pratt.” 
–Bob Swain, Board President

“I walked through Pratt’s doors in Autumn 1989 and have been a student, renter and advocate ever since.  I am honored to accept a position on the board and ready to engage in this era of Pratt’s new growth.  Sabrina and I have always said that every city needs a Pratt Fine Arts Center; it’s a true Seattle treasure.”
–Jenny Pohlman, New Board Member