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Work of World-Renowned Hot Glass Artist Stephen Rolfe Powell On Exhibit in Cadiz

Janice Mason Art Museum - JMAM, Facebook

On Sounds Good, Tracy Ross speaks with world-renowned hot glass artist Stephen Rolfe Powell about his exhibit “Light Lunacy” currently on display at the Janice Mason Art Museum in Cadiz.

 

Powell discovered the art of glassblowing at the age of 28 and says it was love at first sight. The transparent quality of glass offered him a deeper level at which to explore his fascination with color. He says it is appropriate that his work is being exhibited in Cadiz during the solar eclipse as his work focuses around light and how it affects the color of his pieces.

Powell’s work separated into four chronological categories: Teasers, Whackos, Screamers, and Echoes. The symmetrical Teasers were influenced by the human body and represent his earliest work. During the American Studio Glass Movement, during which artists were developing their own techniques, Powell experimented with his technique to create the animal-influenced Whackos. He strayed from traditional glass blowing to explore asymmetry in this collection. The Screamers continued in the asymmetrical fashion. Powell continued experimenting with his technique for this collection, blowing the pieces partially upside down. Finally, Powell returned to traditional glass blowing techniques with the Echoes. He says the bowl pieces were the most difficult to make. Each has a pedestal designed to allow light to show through the bowl, focusing attention on the colors of refracted light.

 

The glass works will be displayed at the Janice Mason Art Museum through August 26th. Powell will attend a reception at the museum on August 26th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Samples of Powell’s work can also be viewed online at stephenrolfepowell.com.

 

Tracy started working for WKMS in 1994 while attending Murray State University. After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from MSU he was hired as Operations/Web/Sports Director in 2000. Tracy hosted All Things Considered from 2004-2012 and has served as host/producer of several music shows including Cafe Jazz, and Jazz Horizons. In 2001, Tracy revived Beyond The Edge, a legacy alternative music program that had been on hiatus for several years. Tracy was named Program Director in 2011 and created the midday music and conversation program Sounds Good in 2012 which he hosts Monday-Thursday. Tracy lives in Murray with his wife, son and daughter.
A proud native of Murray, Kentucky, Allison grew up roaming the forests of western Kentucky and visiting national parks across the country. She graduated in 2014 from Murray State University where she studied Environmental Sustainability, Television Production, and Spanish. She loves meeting new people, questioning everything, and dancing through the sun and the rain. She hopes to make a positive impact in this world several endeavors at a time.
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