The Art of the Cup

Variations on Cups from RAM’s Collection
January 27 – August 7, 2021

I have been curated into a show at the Racine Art Museum located in Racine, Wisconsin, a historic community on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is home to the largest contemporary craft collection in North America, and the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts.  They are running an exhibit featuring fun and exotic takes on the “Cup.” One of the most intimate vessels known to our species. We use cups every day, measuring, drinking, even holding ones tooth brush.

 

The Art of the Cup: Variations on Cups from RAM’s Collection

Unlike the teapot, whose functionality and meaning has been challenged or reframed repeatedly, the cup has not been the source of as many philosophical investigations within the field of contemporary craft. This does not mean it has been marginalized or avoided. In fact, handmade cups are ever popular as serving ware and the cup as a subject continues to be an organizing theme for numerous exhibitions in galleries and museums.-RAM

MORE ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Exhibition Notes
Press Room

ARTISTS IN THE EXHIBITION
Wesley Anderegg, Robert Arneson, Jeri Au, Karl F. Borgeson, Cynthia Bringle, Alan Caiger-Smith, Nadeige Choplet, Eugene Deutch, Oliver Doriss, Jack Earl, Lea Embree, Léopold L. Foulem, Willem Gebben, Katherine Gray, Erik Gronborg, Jon Groth, Melanie Guernsey-Leppla, Dorothy Hafner, Tony Hepburn, Steven Hill, Martha A. Holt, Margaret Ponce Israel, Georg Jensen, Geo Lastomirsky, John Leach, Zachery Lechtenberg, Robert Levin, James Makins, Paul Mathieu, Richard Milette, Ron Nagle, Matt Nolen, Donovan Palmquist, Nichibei Potters, Ken Price, Douglass Rankin, ROY (Rosemary Gialamas), Will Ruggles, Judith Salomon, Michael J. Schunke, Yoko Sekino-Bové, Andy Shaw, Peter Shire, Anna Silver, Judith Strong, Toshiko Takaezu, Akio Takamori, Susan Thayer, Rosalyn Tyge, Kurt Wallstab, Patti Warashina, Kurt Weiser, John Whitney, and Irina Zaytceva.

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I love Pagans!

Of all the religious belief structures it turns out I have a soft spot for pagans. Is it their sense of style? Is their inclusiveness, lack of judging others? Nope! It’s their light hearted sense of humor!

This photo was sent to me by A regular collector of Fulcrum Gallery who purchased this and another of the pieces from my Trophy Series. Personally I loved making this series, the creativity, and the technical challenge of producing these small works. Read more about this body of work here and the available pieces in this collection. -Oliver Doriss

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Holidaze Bizaah!

At The Mix

This Saturday from 12-9 join me and the other hearty souls at The Mix in Tacoma for a Holiday Pop Up Bazaar. Snacks, drinks, gifts and other holiday treasures will be available for purchase as well as my eclectic glass designs. Get out and do some social distancing with the fam! See you there!

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A New World, GlassEarth

I have produced two runs of the “GlassEarth” this year. Just like any hand crafted product there is a substantial prep-work and development that goes into each piece. Since this line is still in it’s infancy every time I go into the studio there is growth. I learn a little bit more about my process, shapes, timing, detail. After grinding and polished my most recent run, and I must admit I am very happy with the direction things are going. Also during this last run I took the time to document the steps involved in the creation of these pieces. You too can check out the process here on the GlassEarth page.

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Your Black Friday Invitation

We are still coming together this year, just not as close. I love Tacoma for it’s fierce brand of local pride and civic unity. It is something I feel that is something communities strive for yet is not often realized. As Tacomans this bond manifests in our fashion, our events and our local shopping habits. This is why you are invited to this weekends festivities.

This weekend, 12-7pm Friday Saturday & Sunday we are hosting a safe social distanced “Pop Up” at The Flea on 6th ave in Tacoma. I will be there with some new designs of contemporary glass ware. A fresh selection of Baby Head Cups©, drinking glasses and assorted sculpture. As well I will be joined by some of your local favorites in Tacoma styles.

Join me, Never Heard, X.PRESS.10, and Northwest Dirtbag for your local fashions and contemporary wares.

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Fresh Picked

Fall is in the air and the Autumnal Equinox  is around the corner, it must be harvest time. For me I have just finished a fresh batch of delicious pumpkins, and now it’s time to find loving homes for them.  This years fall season is bound to be different. With the recent limitations of social interaction the on-line market place has become more important than ever. We are seeing new trends and creative ways of social interaction. Just as the incredibly popular app Tic Toc has revolutionized short format movie bits. Online shopping and food delivery has become an essential service. All of these elements existed before lock down yet now have matured and become integrated into our daily existence. Moving forward will require much creativity and growth from each of us. I spend a good portion of my day growing my online presence and streamlining my retail platforms. This is especially important coming into the fall retail season. So from now until October 31st I am offering free shipping on my Pumpkin Heads with the “shipfree” coupon on my Fulcrum Gallery site

I use an optic mold to create the vertical ribs in each design.

Everyone loves a big glamorous stem!

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The Flea

Join me and my friends this Saturday 12pm @ The Flea.


The Flea is a Tacoma gem, a diamond in the rough and a needle in a haystack all at the same time. Tucked in between The Alley Cat Lounge and Emerald leaves Dispensary on 6th Ave. This may be the smallest retail venue art gallery in the city by far. The inside has the square footage of a Volkswagen bus, just big enough for a dedicated patron, and the limited capacity is perfect for today’s social distancing requirements.

What truly makes this venue so unique is its accessibility for both for the artist and the citizens of Tacoma. It’s an eternal “Pop Up” of talent constantly showcasing local artists on a day to day basis, you never know what you might find. Whether presenting paintings, prints, sculpture or Tacoma fashions the steady rotation of artists and designers embody the spirit and identity of our city.

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Market of the Beast

As our world shifts in unpredictable ways artists and culture adapt and populate new technologies. Welcome to Market of the Beast a traveling dark art market for the weird, wild, macabre, occult, and obscure. This organization has supported artists in unique “Pop Up” shows for years and now they are launching their first “Virtual Art Market” featuring 50 curated artists from around the region. I have created a discount on my site specifically for Market of the Beast shoppers. Type MTOB10 coupon code for a 10% discount on all purchases in my web store. Additionally I am listing many products however not all goodies wind up online so feel free to contact me about a virtual studio tour Sunday May 31st. Happy quarantine, happy shopping! – Oliver Doriss

Virtual Market of The Beast
May 29th – May 31st
12pm-11:59pm (pst)

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Aqua Alto

Although the water has receded, the damage has been done. Aqua Alto meaning The High Tide is a seasonal occurrence that grows worse every year. As a young glass worker I was lucky enough to have been indoctrinated into the Venetian tradition. One of my mentors and friend Maestro Davidé Fuin is a native of the small island of Murano just located off of Venice Italy. It is on this very Island where modern glassblowing has taken shape. Through my years of working and teaching with Davidé in Italy I have developed many friends and family that live and work in the Venetian Lagoon.

This years the Aqua Alto flooded the Venetian Islands 5ft. above the normal level. Many of the local businesses and shops were affected. I reached out to Davidé to see how his furnace faired through the flooding.


“No problem for me fortunately, but all Murano is on the knees, so I started a “gofundme” to support the glassblower community.” -Fuin

Support local Murano glassblowers to rebuild furnaces and studios after high water flood damage. The collected funds will be shared with those who have suffered severe damage and lost weeks of production. Please help us stand again!!
Read more – https://gf.me/u/wrmngw
Donate directly here: https://gf.me/u/wrmngy

If you can help financially great! Also these funds will go directly to the glassblowing community ,side stepping any parasitic political bureaucracy. Please forward this message to help us reach this campaign goal! -Oliver

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