Synopses & Reviews
In the mid-20th century, ceramics evolved from a utilitarian craft or therapeutic hobby into a well-recognized fine art that continues to occupy a place in todayandrsquo;s art world. In this pioneering study, leading scholar Martha Drexler Lynn explores how and why this shift occurred by examining the pivotal period for the maturation of American studio ceramics. Lynn traces critical developments in ceramics education, exhibition, patronage, and technology from 1940 to 1979, as magazines dedicated to the practice appeared, institutional support flourished, audiences grew, and star artists emerged.
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The most in-depth history of American studio ceramics to date, this book is the first to fully explore the works of art alongside the societal trends that shaped them and the organizations that propelled the movement. Lynn considers the movementandrsquo;s fluctuation across geographic regions as well as stylistic responses to advances in technology and cultural influences from across the United States and abroad. and#160;Key patrons and practitioners such as Aileen Osborn Webb, Glen Lukens, Peter Voulkos, and Robert Arneson are featured alongside lesser-known figures.and#160; This groundbreaking volume illustrates how studio ceramics came to define itself and challenged the boundaries between fine art and craft.and#160; It will be a definitive resource on the movement for years to come.
Synopsis
This fully illustrated volume explores the dilemma facing American studio glass after World War II: Can art be fashioned out of glass, or do the utilitarian associations embedded within the medium preclude it from being considered as an acceptable art medium?
Synopsis
A unique exploration of the question, can art be fashioned out of glass? Analysis of the philosophical and circumstantial factors that reveal the early history of the movement, and the clash of ambitions and power that marked the relationship between the worlds of so-called crafts and high art.
Synopsis
Strikingly illustrated, American Studio Glass 1960-1990 is the first to explore the results of this question, revealing both the early history of the movement and the clash of ambitions and power that marked the relationship between the worlds of so-called crafts and high art. Martha Drexler Lynn's precise analysis of the philosophical and circumstantial factors that shaped studio glass, the state of glassmaking practice before the proto-studio glassmakers, and the emergence of pioneering artisans creates a living picture of the movement's struggle for respect and acceptance in America. In the fifteen years between 1975 and 1990, the patronage for American studio glass expanded exponentially, and that interest continues today. American Studio Glass catalogues this evolution with vivid photographs and a comprehensive interpretation of a uniquely beautiful art form. Martha Drexler Lynn received her Ph.D. in art history from the University of Southern California and is a former associate curator in the Decorative Arts Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Synopsis
A landmark survey of the formative years of American studio ceramics and the constellation of people, institutions, and events that propelled it from craft to fine art
Synopsis
This landmark book explores the formative years of the American studio ceramics movement and offers the most in-depth history to date of the people, institutions, and events that shaped it.
About the Author
Martha Drexler Lynn is an independent scholar and former associate curator of decorative arts at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.