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Double Opening Vessel)
Double Opening VesselLike many other glass artists, John Nickerson originally worked in clay, earning his MFA at the New York State College of Ceramics in Alfred, NY. John is also skilled in sculpture, design, and drawing. He has worked in a variety of settings and media, in both industry and academia, but has viewed himself as a self-employed glass artist in 1977.
Among the institutions where he has trained or taught are the Blenko Glass Company, the Georgian College of Art and Technology, in Canada, and the Cleveland Art Institute. John moved from Cleveland to Western North Carolina in 1999 and, at this point in time, declares his hot shop "nearly done."
Negative space is a hallmark of his glasswork, in series such as the "Recumbent Double Opening Bowl." John tells this story of his passion for precision coldworking of blown pieces. "In the summer of 1989, I visited the famous glass factories of Kosta, Boda, and Orrefors. I was particularly keen on visiting Boda since they had a long tradition of altering blown glass objects by cutting, grinding, and faceting. I was astonished to discover that they no longer did that kind of work. When I asked why, the response was, 'It takes too much time.' On that trip, when I showed slides of my own work, the response was, without exception, 'I wouldn't do that; it takes too much time.'So much for old-world craftsmanship! My work represents the time taken."
