My work captures and animates liminal moments, revealing a world in which objects, beings and places are interconnected and in flux. I re-appropriate objects that exist in the world as a device to lure and engage a universal audience. Through spatial configuration, context and material I use the information connected with them as objects to bring about an extended dialogue.
I predominantly use glass in my sculpture to induce reflection, both physically and metaphorically, in the viewer. It is the transparency of glass, a solid state of atmosphere that simultaneously reveals yet barricades, that I find most compelling. Through the intrinsic material properties and associations of glass I use the medium to create installations that speak of human emotion, memory, and the passage of time.
I make intuitively, however, the technical ramifications of my chosen mediums propel me to a systematic way of working. This results in a seamless rendering of surface, that appears free from human touch.
Artist Biography
Joanna Manousis holds an MFA in Sculpture from Alfred University, NY, and a BFA in Glass from The University of Wolverhampton, England. She has worked, studied and taught in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States and has received a number of scholarships and awards for her blown and kiln cast sculpture. These include a Bombay Sapphire nomination, the Frabel award for ‘Best Artist’, and a finalist entry in ‘E-Merge’, 2010. Currently Manousis resides in the United States, and is teaching at Alfred University, NY.
http://www.joannamanousis.com/
Philadelphia (607) 661 8132
Education
2008 – 2010 Alfred University, Alfred, New York, USA
Master of Fine Arts: Sculpture
2004 – 2008 Wolverhampton University, Wolverhampton, England
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Glass – First Class Honor
2003 – 2004 Yale College, Wrexham, Wales
Art/Design Foundation Diploma – Distinction
2000 – 2002 Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, Shrewsbury, England
A-level: Art, Human Biology, and, Classical Civilization
Teaching
2010-2011 Instructor: Alfred University, New York, USA
‘Introduction to Glass’: blowing, casting, and cold working glass methodologies.
‘Intermediate Glass Casting’: lost wax / sand casting / kiln forming.
‘Senior Studio’: Advisor
‘Issue and Debates in Contemporary Art’: Sophomore Art History
2010 Visiting Lecturer: University of Miami, Florida, USA
Kiln cast glass workshop and slideshow
2008-2010 Graduate Teaching Fellow: Alfred University, New York, USA
Assist with instructing freshman foundation sculpture and painting studios, as well as sophomore and junior level glass majors in kiln casting and blowing techniques.
2009 Visiting Lecturer: Toyama Glass Institute, Toyama, Japan
Glass blowing demonstration and slide show
2009 Visiting Lecturer: Aichi University, Aichi, Japan
Glass blowing demonstration and slide show
2008 Visiting Lecturer: University of Miami, Florida, USA
Glass painting and kiln forming workshop
Professional Experience
2009 Designer Assistant: Ruben and Isabel Toledo
Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA
Collaborated with the two designers, helping them to realize their work in the medium of glass.
Carried out various glass working methodologies to fabricate the Toledo’s designs.
Worked alongside other glass professionals to make glass components from two- dimensions drawings.
2007 Artist Assistant: Karen Willenbrink/Jenny & Sabrina Pohlman Knowles
Seattle, WA, USA
Assisted glass sculptors as part of a team at The Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle. Carried out cold working duties, and assembly of glass sculptures for exhibition. Maintained the daily care of hot shop and cold working facilities.
2005 Production Glass Assistant: Hot Soup Glass Studio, Philadelphia, USA Assisted gaffer as part of a team within a production studio environment. Maintained equipment and daily care of hot shop and cold working facilities. Responsible for customer care and queries within the studio gallery.
2004 Artist’s Assistant: Annual Ceramics Biennale, Aberwryswth, Wales
Assisted Ceramics artists through visual demonstrations, kiln building and lectures.
2003 Sculpture Installation Assistant: Anthony Gormley
‘Field for the British Isles’, St. Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury, UK
Assisted in the assemblage of sculptural installations for the Arts Council of England symposium.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 Southern Tier Biennial, Olean, NY
2011 Urban Glass MFA Show, Manhattan, NY
2011 Contemporary Glass, Exhibit A, Corning, NY
2011 – 12 Breath Taking, Crafts Council, London, UK
2010 E-Merge, Bullseye Glass Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Domesticity: How We Live, Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, PA, USA
Home, Glass Museum at Broadfield House, Stourbridge, UK
2009 Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, (Permanent collection) Ebeltoft, Denmark
The Feast, Pittsburgh University Gallery, Kansas, USA
2008 Pilchuck Glass Auction, Seattle, USA
Origin, Somerset House, London, UK
Beautifully Crafted, 10th Year Anniversary, The National Glass Museum, UK
Glass Routes, Bilston Craft Gallery, UK
The British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, UK
The Bombay Sapphire Awards, Via Tortona, Milan, Italy
2007 New Designers, Business Design Center, London, UK
Pearson’s Glass Awards, Cardiff, Wales
2006 Annual Goblet Show, Snyderman Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2010 A Reflection of Time, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Alfred, NY, USA
2009 The Hans Frabel Glass Awards, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2007 Ladies and Lace, Bilston Craft Gallery, UK
BA Thesis Exhibition, Wolverhampton University, UK
Awards / Scholarships
2010 Emerge, ‘Finalist’, Bullseye Glass, Portland, OR, USA
2009 Hans Frabel Glass Awards, ‘Excellence and Innovation’, Atlanta, GA, USA
2008 Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship Ben Moore/Boyd Sugiki Class
2008 Bombay Sapphire Glass Awards, ‘Nominee’, Milan, Italy
2007 Pearson’s Glass Award, ‘Emerging Artist’, Cardiff, Wales, UK
2007 Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship, Mel George, Jeremy Lepisto Class
2007 GAS, ‘International Student Award’, Pittsburgh, PA
2006 Corning Glass Award Nomination, Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA
2006 Pilchuck Glass School, Study Scholarship, Thor Bueno Class
2005 Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Study Scholarship, Karen Willenbrink
Publications
2011 New Glass Review 32, Corning Glass Publication, NY
2011 Breath Taking, Innovation in British Glass Blowing, Crafts Council, London
2010 E-Merge 2010, Bullseye Glass, Portland, Oregon
2009 Glass Arts Society International Newsletter, Frabel Award Winner March/October Editions
Beads and Beyond, Feature Artist Profile, April Edition
The Lace Guild, ‘Feature Artist’, Issue 133, January Edition
2008 British Glass Biennale, Ruskin Glass Center, England
2007 Glass Review 28, Corning Glass Publication, NY
2006 Glass Arts Society International Newsletter, ‘Student Profile’, November Edition
Professional Organisations
CAA / College Art Association
CGS / Contemporary Glass Society of America
British Glass Society
Permanent Collections
2009 Ebeltoft Glass Museet, Denmark
2008 David & Joyce Price, Seattle, USA
Skills
Glass-working Blowing: vessels, color application, grails, cast inclusions, incalmo, Vanetian cane, murrine, hot blow molds. Casting: lost wax, negative inner core, open face, pate de verre, hot sand casting, slumping, fusing. Cold-working: lathe, diamond/grit wheel, hand lapping, belt sanding, engraving, diamond cutting, press drill, UV glue/Htal bonding, sand blasting, Rayzist, acid etching.
Mold Making Plaster/silica open face, hand-built, cup pate de verre, negative inner core molds, ZerCar, resin bond two-part and loose sand molds, plaster gauze, rubber, silicon, alginate
Casting Glass, pate de verre, metal, resin, plaster/silica, other materials (sugar, chocolate, cement, etc)
Foundry Resin bonded sand molds, hollow and solid form bronze, aluminum casting. Centrifugal semi-precious metal casting
Woodworking General wood fabrication techniques using common wood shop power tools
Ceramics Hand-building, wheel, electric kiln firing
Photography Digital, manual, medium format, developing/printing black and white film
Graphic Design Adobe Photoshop
Drawing /Painting Pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, acrylic, oil, watercolor
Printmaking Acid etching, linoleum cut, wood block, screen printing