BIGG Artist: Elizabeth Perkins
Artist Statement
Recently, I have been thinking of myself not only as a maker but also as an archivist and narrator. While I reference many handcrafted objects and heirlooms in my work I typically archive them in glass. My investigations frequently include the interpretations of fiber and textile based objects. The glass objects I make and the environments that I often surround them in serve as activators, and preservations that speak about identity, history, memory, and tradition. I am interested in values and traditions; how they evolve and linger. I strive to create works of art that act as a resuscitator between old and new, while sometimes challenging and “marrying” the processes of manipulating glass. My characterizations, plots, and settings, emerge from family traditions, dead relatives, living things, heirlooms, recipes, relationships, visits, and by frequent wandering, collecting, and recording.
Biography
Elizabeth Ware Perkins was born and raised in a rural farming community in Virginia by an agriculturalist and a high school science teacher. On a third grade field trip to the Jamestown Glasshouse, she became enamored with glass blowing. After earning her BFA in sculpture from the Atlanta College of Art and studying glass at the California College of Arts and Crafts, she returned to the Jamestown Glasshouse to study as an apprentice. Following this glass apprenticeship, she began assisting other artists who worked with the material. She received her MFA in crafts and material studies, glass from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been an Artist in Residence at the Studio of the Corning Museum, a Fellow at The Creative Glass Center of America and an Emerging Artist in Residence at Pilchuck Glass School. She is currently an adjunct professor of Space Research and Glass Materials at VCU and teaches glass blowing class at The Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Her works have been published and reviewed in New Glass Review. She has exhibited in group and solo shows including those at the Virginia Center for Architecture, Friesen Gallery, the Gallery of Fine Craft at Wheaton Village, Pilchuck Gallery, This Century Gallery, Anderson Gallery, and the Charles Taylor Arts Center. She has been an adjunct glass professor in Crafts and Material Studies, Glass at Virginia Commonwealth University and headed the glass program at Tidewater Community College during the spring semester of 2005. She has also studied and received scholarships from Penland School of Crafts. She has studied with Jack Wax, Boyd Sugiki, Lisa Zerkowitz, and Therman Statom. She makes work in Lab 307, a collective artist studio with other recent MFA graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Resume
Education
2004 Master of Fine Arts, Craft and Material Studies, Glass; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
2003 and 2005 Summer Sessions; Penland School, Penland, NC.
2003 and 2004 Welding; Paul D Camp Community College, Franklin, VA.
1997 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture; Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta, GA
1996 Mobility Program in Crafts; California College of Arts. Oakland, CA; Glass Intercession, 1997
Hot Shop Equipment Building Workshop with HUB;.More Fire Glass, Rochester, NY.
Professional Experience
2006 - Present Studio Glass Artist. Richmond, VA
Glass Assistant. Kiara Pelissier, Richmond, VA. http://kiarapelissierglass.com
2009 Adjunct Professor, Space Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Adjunct Professor, Craft Material Studies, Glass, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Instructor, Beginning and Intermediate Glassblowing. Visual Arts Center, Richmond, VA.
2008 Instructor, Beginning Glassblowing. Visual Arts Center, Richmond, VA.
Assistant to Partner, ECO Supply Center, Richmond, VA.
Artist Assistantship, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA.
2007 Adjunct Professor, Space Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
2006 Art Educator, Kiln Forming, Teacher Workshop, Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond, VA.
Art Educator, Kiln Forming, Teacher Workshop, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Leonardtown. MD.
Art Educator, Kiln Forming Workshop, Liberty Town, Fredricksburg, VA.
Artists Assistant, Neptune Limited Edition Projec, Paul Dipasquale, Sculptor. Richmond, VA.
2005 Production Assistant, Plasterer, John Adams, HBO Mini Series.
Adjunct Professor, Acting Head of Glass. Visual Arts Center, Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, VA.
2004 Art Educator, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA.
2003 Visiting Artist, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Glass Department, Honolulu, HI.
Adjunct Professor: Glass I, Summer. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Art Educator, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA.
2002 Interim Director, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA.
Visitor Services Coordinator, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
2001 Studio Art School Art Educator, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA.
Glass Assistant, Pantera Glass, Norfolk, VA.
2000 Visitor Services Assistant, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA.
1997 - 1998 Glass Apprentice, Jamestown Glasshouse, Jamestown, VA.
1996 - 1994 Gallery Assistant, Atlanta College of Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
1995 Gallery Assistant, New Visions Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
Volunteer Artist, Atlanta Arts Festival, Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA.
1994 Volunteer Art Educator, Art in Atlanta Project, Atlanta, GA.
Selected Exhibitions
2011 Manifying Glass; Bringing American Women Glass Workers to the “Near Point”, Curator. Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA. March. Including artists Kait Rhoads, Amy Rueffert, Erika Rosenfeld, Virginia Griswold, Laura Ward, and Elizabeth Perkins.
2010 Be Mine; works by Elizabeth Perkins. Quirk Gallery, Retail Space. Richmond, VA. February.
2009 Virginia Glass Now. Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA. April.
2008 Sleight of Hand, Gallery 5, Richmond, VA. Jurors, Kathy Emerson, Steven Glass, Natalya Pinchuk
Group Exhibition, Second Floor, Reynolds Gallery, Richmond, VA. http://www.reynoldsgallery.com/
Searchlight Artist’s: American Craft Council Show, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.
2007 Palimpsest Studio Opening, Bumpass, VA.
2006 One Monument Avenue Exhibition, 1 Monument Ave, Richmond, VA.
2005 Pilchuck: The 15th Year of Emerging Artists in Residence Friesen Gallery, Seattle, WA.
Fellows Exhibition, The Gallery of Fine Craft At Wheaton Village, Millville, NJ.
James Warwick Jones and Elizabeth Perkins, This Century Gallery, Williamsburg, VA.
2004 Artists Working at Pilchuck, Fall 2004, Pilchuck Gallery, Stanwood, WA.
Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA.
2003 Elizabeth Perkins: Recollections, Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA.
Wo(a)nder: Megan Biddle, Elizabeth Perkins, Sayaka Suzuki, Tim Wagner. Bradford Gallery, Richmond, VA.
Graduate Candidacy Exhibition, Polka Dot Gallery, Richmond, VA.
2002 16th Peninsula Glass Guild Juried Exhibition, Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA. Juror Ruth Summers.
First Year Graduate Exhibition, Bradford Gallery, Richmond, VA.
2001 Small Works By Virginia Artists, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
15th Peninsula Glass Guild Exhibition, Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA. Juror, Lucartha Kohler.
Glass Oddesey, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA. Juror, Kat Allison.
2000 Peninsula Glass Guild Exhibition, Towne Bank, VA Beach, VA.
Glass Invitational, Crystallo, Williamsburg, VA.
14th Peninsula Glass Guild Exhibition, Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA. Juror, Gale Marie Levine.
1998 Isle of Wight Arts League Exhibition, The Collage Gallery and Artists Studios, Smithfield, VA.
1997 Degrees of Excellence, Colony Square, Atlanta, GA.
Erotikos, The Old Highland Bakery, Alternative Space, Atlanta, GA.
Emergence: Danielle Paz and Elizabeth Perkins, Gallery 100, Atlanta, GA.
1996 200x200, New Visions Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
Raw, Gallery 100, Atlanta, GA.
Atlanta College of Art Student Juried Exhibition, Atlanta, GA. Juror Teresa Bramlette, Nexus Contemporary, Atlanta.
Commissions and Collections
2009 Limited Production Bud Vases, used as in kind gifts for The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA
Illuminated Curiosities,Rabbit Couple, Keith Kissee, Richmond, VA.
2008 Lighting Pendants, Historical Restoration, Riddick House, Virginia Commonwealth University
Illuminated Glass Lighting Fixtures, Residential, Richmond, VA. Corina Shirlip and Anthony Brozna,
2005 Cast Glass and Mixed Media, Private Collector, Fairfax, VA. Elizabeth Mears
Sculpture/Site Specific Installation, Residential, Richmond, VA, Connie Carol,
Commissions and Collections, continued
2001 Forged Steel and Blown Glass, Private Collector, VA Beach, VA, Amy Evans
Blown Glass and Forged Steel Lamp, Residential, Suffolk, VA, Jennifer Atkins
Illuminated Curiosities, Suzanne, Joyner, Private Collector, NY, NY
Cuckoo Passage Shelter component, Mary Bullock, Los Angeles, CA
Awards and Honors
2008 Artist in Residence, Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
2006 Fellow, Creative Glass Center of America at Wheaton Village, Millville, NJ
2005 Emerging Artist In Residence, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
2003, 2004 Partial Tuition Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA
Partial Tuition Scholarship, Penland School. Penland, NC
2003 Travel Grant, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Richmond, VA
2001 Best In Show, Peninsula Glass Guild Juried Exhibition, Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
1996 Honorable Mention, ACA Student Juried Exhibition.Atlanta College of Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1993 -1996 Artistic Merit Scholarship, Atlanta College of Art. Atlanta, GA
Lectures
2008 Lecture, The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
2005 Lecture and Glass Blowing Demonstration, Creative Glass Center of America, Millville, NJ
2003 Lecture, Glass Department, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
2003 Lecture, Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
Publications and Reviews
Pilchuck Glass School 27th & 28th Annual Auction Catalogs. Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA. 2005-06 & 08.
Roadside Scholar: Stuff I Found on the Highway of Life, blog spot, 2008, http://www.roadsidescholar.com/2008/03/27/elizabeth-perkins-glass-art-sc...
Hillbilly Savants: Red Eyes, blog spot, 2008, http://hillbillysavants.blogspot.com/2007/12/red-eyes.html
Uniform Studio Journal, blog spot, 2008, http://www.uniform-studio.com/journal/index.php?s=inspiration
We Bees Buzz, blog spot, 2008, http://webeesbuzz.blogspot.com/2008/02/acc-baltimore-show-roundup-1-of-2...
Gosh Darn Knit, blog spot, 2008, http://goshdarnknit.blogspot.com/
Urban Glass Auction Catalog, Urban Glass, NY, 2008.
Artist as Catalyst. Essay, Robin Rice. Creative Glass Center of America, Milville, NJ, 2006, http://www.wheatonarts.org/creativeglasscenteramerica/criticresidency/ro...
New Glass Review 26. Corning Museum, Corning, NY, 2005.
New Glass Review 25. Corning Museum, Corning, NY, 2004.
MFA Thesis Exhibition Catalog. Essay, Gregory Volk of Sculpture Magazine. Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2004.
Style Weekly, “16th Peninsula Glass Guild Exhibition”, Linda McGreevy, January, 2004.
Diversions, “Elizabeth Perkins: Recollections”, Nicole Benson, January/February, 2004.
Diversions, “16th PGG Exhibition & Elizabeth Perkins”, Nicole Benson, November/December, 2003.
Diversions, “Bravo!”, Deborah Barell, Janurary/Feburary, 2003.
Daily Press, “Cinderella’s Among Us”, Mark St. John Ericson, December, 2001.
