Alfred University Black Glass Artist Series: Episode 1 of video log now available
The inaugural Black Glass Artist Series welcomes three glass artists of color to the Alfred University campus for one-week residencies during the month of February, which is celebrated as Black History Month. The visiting artists present artist talks and give demonstrations of their practice in the Alfred University School of Art and Design’s Hot Glass Shop.
The inaugural Black Glass Artist Series welcomes three glass artists of color to the Alfred University campus for one-week residencies during the month of February, which is celebrated as Black History Month. The visiting artists present artist talks and give demonstrations of their practice in the Alfred University School of Art and Design’s Hot Glass Shop.
The series is the brainchild of third-year B.F.A. student Adeye Jean-Baptist from Scarsdale, NY. Last year, Adeye proposed to host a series of visiting glass artists who hail from the afro diaspora. She led efforts to gain funding to support the series, including organizing an auction. The series is also supported by the School of Art and Design and its Sculpture Dimensional Studies Division, Student Senate, the Institute for Cultural Unity, and Olympic Color, a glassblowing supply company in Seattle, WA.
Youtube video on Black Glass Artist Series at Alfred University
“I am honored that our school community came together at this pivotal moment in our global history to support and raise the voices of Black artists,” said Lauren Lake, dean of the School of Art and Design.
The United Nations declared 2022 the International Year of Glass, and the Black Glass Artist Series is part of the University’s overall efforts to celebrate the occasion.
Artists visiting Alfred University as part of the Black Glass Artist Series are:
- N’Kosi Barber, an illustrator and sculptural glass artist from Chicago’s South Side. Barber is an instructor and peer educator with Project Fire, a program that teaches wounded victims of gunfire the skills of the hot glass shop. He draws inspiration from his Project Fire students and mentors, noting that learning patience and trust have a great deal to do with his perseverance in the art form. (Week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4)
- SaraBeth Post, an interdisciplinary artist primarily utilizing glass in sculpture, utilitarian wares, and jewelry. Post’s studies of pattern and color pave a path to explore human development juxtaposed to spirituality. Her production line is produced under the name Ultra Lit, a pen name coined as a reflection on her navigation in the world as a mixed race light-skinned woman. (Week of Feb. 7-11)
- Cedric Mitchell, a Los-Angeles based glass artist inspired by an eccentric mix of graffiti art, pop culture, mid-century modern and Memphis design. Originally from Oklahoma, Mitchell was an emerging local hip-hop artist in Tulsa when he began creating glass art. Today he creates work that ranges from functional to decorative art, and is a teacher at the Los Angeles Glass Center. (Week of Feb. 21-25)
“As we celebrate the success of this inaugural year, I am excited to move forward to plan programming for future years. I am eager to continue to support the larger glass community to collectively advance the field as well as advancing our strategic goals of inclusion, diversity, equity and access,” she said. “Alfred University’s School of Art and Design is uniquely positioned to help create the dialogue and support artists who have been historically underserved and to remove systematic barriers.”