By Jon Simpson

The members of AGASC were honored to be given the opportunity to see a preview of recent works by artist Walter Zimmerman at HB Punto Experimental the day before the show opened and to hear a talk by the artist.  We wish to thank Hugo Heredia, owner of the gallery, for giving the AGASC this special preview. 

 

The visual arts were not Walter's first calling.  He went to New York City to become an actor on Broadway, which explains his booming baritone voice.  When that didn't pan out, he turned to the visual arts; glass and mixed media.  He is a collector of odd objects, getting much of what he uses in his sculptures from garage sales.  He said he once bought a large box of vacuum cleaner hoses.  If you look closely at his sculptures, you can see how he incorporates the hoses.  They make great bones and entrails.  One of his series of sculptures was inspired by Lady Gaga's hit video, "Bad Romance".  One look at them and it's not hard to see the videos influence.

Coming from a broken home, he said that when he is stuck on a sculpture, he remembers his family life and the work simply flows forth.  When he looks at certain pieces he can see his brothers, mother and father in them.  His sculptural pieces are dark, grotesque yet powerful.  He said that he just produces the art and it is up to the viewer to interpret it. 

One of his stories in his talk was about an art show in NYC he was asked to be in with Dale Chihuly and others.   At the reception, he was standing off to the side of the room and up walks Chihuly and introduces himself.  They talk and Chihuly tells him he likes his work and he would like to buy a few pieces.  One of the pieces was later donated by Chihuly to the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. 

He told a story of blowing glass and the glass never would come out looking pretty, it was always ugly, like a diseased lung. He decided then, that he would be the glass blower who makes ugly pieces.  There are enough glass blowers making "pretty" things.  And we are we glad he did.

 

By Susan Hirsch

The Contemporary Fine Art Gallery in La Jolla held an Artist reception on Mothers Day for Four AGASC Glass Artists:  Tom Marosz, Nic McGuire, Jack Wade and Susan Hirsch. Tom and Susan regularly exhibit with the Gallery, but Jack and Nic were invited to present their work in this group show. The gallery features mostly paintings and Metal sculpture so this was a unique opportunity to display a variety of Glass. Friends of the artists and gallery clients enjoyed refreshments and music throughout the afternoon.