By Betsy DiJulio 

With all of Hampton Roads swimming in a beautiful sea of glass under the encompassing reach of Art of Glass 2, The Selden Gallery, one of the official affiliate sites, is to be commended for taking a conceptual risk with Transparent-Apparent.   Playing with the word “transparency,” a characteristic often associated with glass—not to mention a buzz word associated with the Obama administration—the show includes pieces by artists who work in the medium, but also those who explore or exploit notions of “transparency” and “apparency” in other media. 

Two striking features are immediately evident in the glass art of Stephen Rolfe Powell: the vibrant colors and the sheer size. Most of his work, exhibited as Bubbling Pools of Color at d’Art Center, stretches four-feet in height.

Regional efforts makes Art of Glass 2 a smashing success

By Betsy DiJulio

With few exceptions—the “The Godfather” perhaps being one of them—sequels are rarely as good as the original and are most often forgettable if not downright unfortunate.    So if you were involved, even as a visitor, in the first Art of Glass in 1999, initial murmurings about a “part two” may have caused a blip on your skepticism radar.  However, initial conversations with curators at the two anchor institutions suggest that “Son of Art of Glass” will surpass its parent.

            Portlock Galleries at SoNo

            “1, 2, 3 Glass” April 17 - May 31, 2009

            3815 Bainbridge Blvd., Ph. 757-502-4901