"Illuminating Surfaces: Bisazza and the Art of Mosaic"
2004-03-01 until 2004-05-31
Urban Glass, Robert Lehman Gallery
Brooklyn, NY, USA United States of America

lass mosaics—the history, the innovation, the contemporary uses—is the subject of an exhibition being mounted by UrbanGlass, the country’s foremost access center for glass art designers and artists. Due to open at the center’s prestigious Robert Lehman Gallery, March 1 and continuing through May 31, “Illuminating Surfaces: Bisazza and the Art of Mosaic” steadies its focus primarily on Bisazza Mosaico. Considered to be the world’s leading producer of glass mosaics, Bisazza, which is based in Vicenza, Italy, also is unrivaled in its artistic commitment, endlessly supporting architectural and aesthetic explorations of the possible uses for the material.

“We are thrilled to be able to partner with Bisazza to present this dynamic show,” said Dawn Bennett, executive director of UrbanGlass, “In the realm of Italian glass mosaic art, Bisazza has distinguished itself globally not only for producing the finest glass mosaics, but also for pioneering inventive and revolutionary applications for this ancient art form in the 21st century. The company represents a successful marriage between the revered techniques of Venetian glassmaking and the latest technology and innovations. The exhibit underscores this phenomenon and brings to light some of the most interesting projects and collaborations undertaken by the company in its 47 year history.”

 More than a dozen pieces of art and furnishings by such design luminaries as architects Alessandro Mendini and Michael Graves, fashion designer Romeo Gigli, and painters Mimmo Rotella and Anna Gili are featured in the Brooklyn show. Art historian and glass scholar Dara Metz is curator.

 According to Bennett, UrbanGlass also has fashioned special instructional and event programming with a “mosaic” theme that is scheduled during the exhibit period. Included are weeklong intensives and weekend workshops taught by mosaic artist Brad Teasdale. One class series being offered will feature creation of a mosaic tabletop incorporating Bisazza tiles. Another of Teasdale’s classes is  “Three-Dimensional Mosaic Design” focusing on the use of Bisazza tiles in the design of functional and art objects.

Additionally, UrbanGlass plans to host a series of special group-led tours of the exhibit and also to interesting public installations of mosaic tiles throughout the city, culminating at at Bisazza’s new showroom in SoHo at 43 Greene Street, designed by Milanese architect Fabio Novembre. The space, more a fantasy trip into the multi-dimensional and artful application of mosaics than a selling showroom, it reflects how far the imagination can be stretched in working with the material.     

 “It is an incredible honor to be singled out for feature by UrbanGlass for this exhibition on Italian Glass Mosaics,” said Piero Bisazza, whose father founded the company he now heads. “Though we are in the business of producing the mosaics, we always have had an abiding respect for our artistic and cultural roots. It fuels our passion for creativity and nourishes our need to continually seek new and even more innovative uses for the mosaics.”

IMAGE
Interior of at Bisazza’s new showroom in SoHo
Architect Fabio Novembre

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of New York

Other Important Exhibitions in Brooklyn