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Tide Pool)
Cast Bowl FormAs a ceramics major at San Francisco State University, Mark Abildgaard was intrigued by Raku firing. The spontaneity of that process led him to experiment with hot glass, and then to incorporate glassblowing into his graduate work at the University of Hawaii (MFA, 1983). Mark was first exposed to the pate de verre process as a visiting artist in Japan.
During a subsequent fellowship at the Creative Glass Center of America (Millville, NJ), he decided to redirect his career to concentrate on casting solid sculptural pieces. "I realized that the only economically feasible way for me to pursue my work as a studio artist was to develop a simple technique for fusing glass investment molds in an electric kiln. I began using clay to sculpt my images, and found a bronze casting investment that would work as a mold material." After building his first electric kiln in a rented garage in Davis, CA, Mark started to work with fusing crushed glass.
Fourteen years later, as a well-established glass artist, he is still exploring the seemingly unlimited potential of this basic technique. Much of Mark's imagery derives from Polynesian culture, with references also to ancient Western and oriental traditions. "I want to create sculpture that portrays a life force or spiritual energy. I have used images of figures, boats, and totems to try to express these ideas. I continue to be inspired by the art of many cultures around the world that express the power of the spirit."
