FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WOVEN AND FOLDED GLASS BREAKS NEW GROUND
Artists Markow & Norris Debut New Series Inspired by Japanese Origami Falls Church, VA. February 2008: Some people say that in Japan, beauty is appreciated almost at the level of truth and goodness. This is a sentiment that resonates deeply with Eric Markow and Thom Norris, the renowned artists behind the Markow & Norris woven glass sculptures.
Taking a departure from the seductive curves which have characterized much of their work, these new sculptures make a bold statement with their dramatic angles and with weaves that change direction with each fold. There is a sophisticated and cool beauty to this new line, inspired by the artist’s fondness for Japanese design and art. “We fell in love with Japanese culture both new and traditional. Today’s style is very cool and sleek and the traditional aesthetic is very calming and beautiful yet stimulating at the same time – as we intend our work to be” says Norris.
It is easy to understand why Markow & Norris would be drawn to the ancient art of origami. The paper shapes created by the hands of skilled origami artisans are enigmatic, complex and layered — attributes often used to describe the work of Markow & Norris, who are internationally known for their tightly woven and vividly colorful technique, which has yet to be replicated in the highly competitive glass world.
The pièce de résistance of the new collection is the two foot tall and almost four foot wide white Peace Crane. Constructed of 5 separate pieces of woven glass in multiple shades of white and weighing 35 lbs, this is the artists’ first hanging sculpture and their first fully three-dimensional work. The paper crane is an international symbol of peace, and the most popular and recognized origami shape. Markow & Norris’ white crane is the first in a series of Peace Cranes that they plan to create in 2008 and 2009.
Equally seductive highlights of the new line include Cocoa Azure, Red, Pink Lotus, Ancient Bamboo, Box of Koi, Yin Yang and Eastern Sunset. Cocoa Azure, meaning “Chocolate Blue,” is the first piece the artists created in the new series. It features dramatic folds and a fringe edge on all sides. It is woven in four different directions, all converging in the middle. Red 赤 is the artists’ largest and most dramatic single piece of sculpture weighing in at 10 lbs. Cleverly embedded into some of the red and black strips of glass is the Japanese Kanji symbol for the color red – 赤.
Ancient Bamboo features a color palette of charcoal gray, amber and blue. Conceived by the artists after being inspired by petrified bamboo, or “pet-boo” in the geology world, Ancient Bamboo is woven in three different directions and resembles a piece of folded paper that has been unfolded and exposed.
Pink Lotus, another popular yet complex origami shape, is the second flower in the Markow & Norris flower series – Red Poppy debuted in 2007. The 6 pointed lotus flower is created by layering two separate 3 pointed sculptures, resulting in another level of dimensionality.
Box of Koi is a testament to the artists’ continuing fascination with Koi ponds (the Real McKoi debuted in 2005 and Goldfish Pond in 2007). Box of Koi is shaped as a box with its four flaps opened up to reveal the 9 koi fish woven into the sculpture’s bottom. Each koi fish is handmade by the artists and represents the texture and colors distinctive to different species of Japanese koi.
Eastern Sunset’s inspiration comes from kaleidoscopes, which are extremely popular and well loved in Japan. This 6 wedged sculpture with its 3 dramatic points, contains over 75 newly made colors representing the full spectrum of an Eastern Sunset from dusk till dark.
Yin Yang marks the spot where the “Southwest meets the Far East.” As Yin and Yang represent the opposite principles one finds in the universe, Markow & Norris re-visited their favorite color palette, and offset the Eastern symbol with the turquoise and adobe colors of the Southwest. This sculpture also celebrates the five material agents of Yin Yang: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal; represented by 5 sharp folds around the edge of this round sculpture.
Finally, the five dramatic Anime Feathers mark the culmination of years of work and inspiration. After the positive reaction to their stunning bright blue Hyacinth feather in 2006, the artists decided to test the boundaries of their skills with the feather shape, and are now introducing the Anime collection, ideal for custom wall installations. Each feather is 55″ long including a 36″ brushed aluminum quill. Styled after Japanese Anime drawings with straight lines, sharp points and dramatic folds, the feathers’ color palettes are drawn from the plumage of beautifully colored parrots. These giant feathers conveniently can be hung in any orientation.
Markow & Norris are the premiere woven glass artists in the world, with a proprietary and distinctive tightly woven technique. Every Markow & Norris piece is rare, handmade in the artists’ Virginia studio to be a one of a kind heirloom. For more information on Markow & Norris, their unique woven glass art or to request collector’s information please visit www.wovenglass.com or call 1-888-282-7081.
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Marcy Clark
Yellow Sky Agency
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Marcy@nullyellowskyagency.com
