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Artist information:
Nadine Saylor
Bowling Green, Ohio
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Nadine Saylor is showing at:
The Old Federal Building The Old Federal Building
155 N Division Ave
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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Nadine Saylor
Artist bio: Nadine Saylor graduated from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2007 with an MFA in sculpture dimensional studies. She was an adjunct professor there to teach introductory glass casting and glassblowing. In 2008, she was an artist-in-residence at Sculpture Space in Utica, NY. Following that, she joined Bowling Green State University where she currently teaches glassblowing and glass casting. She has taught workshops at The Studio in Corning, Penland School of Crafts, and the Pittsburg Glass Center. Her 2009 solo show was exhibited at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance in Narrowsburg, NY.
Artist statement: My work sheds light on long lost objects showcasing them in a way that gives them a new life. I empower the viewer by sharing my thoughts and providing the possibility for them to recollect their own precious memories. My work evokes my imagination as a child and the speculation of life before my time.

My works are representational, as vestiges that signify the fragility of womanhood and femininity. They denote attractiveness. They accentuate female identity. They speak of historical portraiture and the absurdity of women’s physical and social constraints. The glass corset’s inherent fragility embraces the constrictive nature of the actual corset on the body while the color and pattern mimics lace. This fragility also becomes my way of denoting my own self-consciousness. Although this work examines the serious issues of social roles, I approach each piece with a whimsical attitude in order to expose the fallacy of these obsessions.
About the work:
Title: 10,000 Breaths

Art form: 3-D

Medium: blown and irridized glass

Year created: 2007

Description of work: “10,000 Breaths” is an installation of thinly blown glass that is iridized to resemble soap bubbles. As a formation of glass bubbles they accentuate the floor in the corner against the walls as if they were a puddle. They glisten and shimmer in the same way as soap bubbles that one might find in the bath or at the end of a child’s bubble-blowing wand. The array of different sizes forms jagged lines with a nice curve at the front reminiscent of a wave like motion creating conscious energy in a fleeting moment. A single bubble might disappear on its own because it has a certain invisibility being made of a material that is clear to the eye. As an accumulation they create a carpet that one may be tempted to walk through. The topographical floor created becomes an inflated version of watery wetness. Rainbows of color radiate from each one like a prism making perception difficult. Each one has a glowing presence of different luster and color than the one it is sitting next to.

Work statement: "10,000 Breaths" creates a sense of joy for the viewer. These elusive forms are highly reflective, encapsulating everything around them. They bear a convex lens on the outside and a concave lens on the inside so a double image is reflected. The image on the inside is flipped upside-down, while the exterior image is right side up. Their inherent visibility creates mystery since I am giving permanence to something that would normally be visible for only a few seconds.

The bubbles are made of thinly blown glass, making them seem extremely fragile. However, because of their spherical structure, they are actually very strong. Glass adds fragility and permanence to this installation, creating an interesting dichotomy that is not apparent in a true soap bubble. Both fragility and permanence correspond with the human experience of life. The breath is the most important factor in both the soap bubble and the body. Once the air is gone the subject has vanished with it.


Technical details:
Work width: 180 inches
Work height: 5 inches
Work depth: 84 inches
Required venue ceiling: n/a
Required venue door height: n/a
Required venue door width: n/a
Required wall linear footage: n/a
Required venue square footage: n/a
Additional considerations:
Audio/video needed: No
Electrical needed: No
Lighting needed: Yes
Internet access needed: No
Ground floor access needed: No
Indoor space needed: Yes
Outdoor space needed: No

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