Arts&Life
art
32 | JUNE 25 • 2020
A New Light
& Color
Experience
The essence of studio
glass goes digital in
Glass 48: Habatat Direct.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
F
ascination with works of art formed
from glass has brought artists and
collectors from around the world to
Habatat Galleries in Royal Oak.
For 47 years, going back to Habatat’
s
presence in Southfield, an annual event
has showcased new work. The Annual
International Glass Invitational, held each
spring, also has offered programs for attend-
ing artists and collectors.
COVID-19 was not about to stop Habatat
owner Aaron Schey from putting on the
largest and oldest international glass art
show, which was founded 49 years ago by
his father, Ferdinand Hampson. The pan-
demic would just move his efforts in a digi-
tal direction.
Some 100 artists will be showing and
discussing their works and studios through
video presentations enabled by Glass 48:
Habatat Direct (glass48.com). Schey also
arranged for an introductory documentary
video by Harvey Littleton, the father of the
modern glass movement.
“When I was talking to the artists who
were expressing their fears about the future
of their work, it inspired me to create this
new type of online gallery experience and
make it as exciting as possible,
” said Schey.
“By creating this virtual experience, we
are able to bring the latest in the world
of studio glass, not only to collectors and
museum creators, but also to a whole new
audience — an even broader audience.
Light and color are the essence of glass art,
and we think Glass 48: Habatat Direct offers
light and inspiration in this moment of
darkness.
”
Three artists of Jewish heritage, each par-
ticipating in the annual glass invitational for
more than 20 years, readily discussed their
new projects and the impact of the digital
presentations.
Irene Frolic, based in Toronto, is pre-
senting a work entitled “She Loves Us Still:
Water.
” Frolic wanted to express that “even
though we are nature’
s errant children, wast-
ing our bounty, [nature] loves us still and is
laboring hard to protect us.
”
This piece is an example of how Frolic
can explore the human condition, hopes
and fears. It is made through kiln casting,
which has her starting with clay, building
a mold around the clay, emptying the clay
and filling the mold with recycled plate glass
before heating, melting and cooling.
“[This work] describes our place in the
human experience and our longing to expe-
rience and be part of existence,
” explained
Frolic, who wasn’
t able to provide a video
of her studio, which she describes as “the
humblest.
”
Frolic, who misses the essence of celebra-
tion experienced in attending the annual
event, was born in Poland in 1941 and “con-
siders it a miracle that she is here almost 80
years later.
” That has been at the core of her
questioning and making.
Steve Linn, who is based in France, focus-
es on people who have brought great art and
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HABATAT GALLERIES
Laura Donefer’
s
“Rainbow Amulet”
Laura Donefer’
s
“Little Joy Amulet”