Two Brothers, One Love

JCC gallery spotlights glass talents.

Elizabeth Applebaum

March 29 - April 5, 2008

at the Detroit Opera House

Special to the Jewish News

A

n artist, Picasso said, is "a
receptacle for emotions that
come from all over the place:
from the sky, from the earth, from a
scrap of paper, from a passing shape,
from a spider's weV
Now imagine those emotions
— fiery hatred, compassion, a broken
heart, terror, unending loneliness, hope,
joy — brought to a fragile substance
like glass.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27,
the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit's Janice Charach
Gallery will host the opening of "Mad
About Glass: New Works from Old
Friends and Brothers:' featuring cre-
ations by brothers Andrew and Robert
Madvin, along with students and grad-
uates of the College for Creative Studies
in Detroit.
"The gallery will highlight works of
such perfect form and color its hard
to believe you are actually looking at
pieces of glass': says Janice Charach
Gallery Director Terri Steam. "In the
art world, a fabulous glass artist is hard
to come by. I've been lucky enough to
find two such artists — and brothers,
to top that!"
The Madvins' passion for glass began
with Andrew, 30, of Birmingham.
Andrew and Robert were raised in
Royal Oak in a home where "freedom,
exploration and creativity" were part of
everyday life.
The boys attended Birmingham
Groves High School, "where each of us
took up a strong interest in metals and
jewelry making," Andrew recalls. The
two loved the physical aspect of the
work, "the creating with the hands — it
seemed natural for us both."
Andrew next studied at the Center
for Creative Studies, where he began
working with glass. He loved it "instant-
ly" Working on a project one day,
Andrew needed a bit of help; he asked

The Madvins' Stacked Stones.

his brother to lend a hand. Robert, now
25 and a resident of Royal Oak, was
"hooked from that day on:'
Working in glass means spending
weeks creating a work of art that could,
in an instant, shatter and be destroyed.
But Andrew Madvin finds glass "seduc-
tive."
"The fragile nature of glass presents
challenges unlike any other material:'
he says. "Glass provides the opportunity
to endlessly explore the relationships
possible between the maker and the
material. Tension is always present
— upsetting and/or harmonizing."
Glass also offers, "enormous chal-
lenges with the heat, razor-sharp edges
and the force of gravity with liquid."
But then, "I am a bit of an adrenaline
junkie," Andrew says. "I'm attracted to
daredevil-type activities: scuba, kite-
boarding, snow-boarding, biking, kaya-
king, wake-boarding. The outdoors and
glass fit right in:'
So, too, does the brothers' relation-
ship when working together. According
to Andrew, "Robert and I have a lot in
common. We often can anticipate each
other's thoughts, aesthetics and moves
in the glass shop when we wor1C ❑

Elizabeth Applebaum is a marketing spe-
cialist for the Detroit JCC.

The Janice Charach Gallery, located in the Jewish Community Center
in West Bloomfield, presents "Mad About Glass: New Works from Old
Friends and Brothers," March 27-May 15. Opening reception: 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 27. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays
and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. (248) 432-5579.

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