Artist Statement
My work stems from traditional glass techniques in the height of our car culture. Living in the Americas, born and raised in South Africa, I see progression and primitiveness in one life. This, in turn, makes me search for simplicity and the spirit of humanity, which is complicated in this reality. Whether my work is conscious, subconscious, or both does not matter. Creativity is of no particular religion or ideal
Love to play
Artist Bio
I started glass blowing at Palomar College in Southern California summer of 1987 – Val Sanders / Barry Reed
Attended Pilchuck Glass school 1988 – Thurman Statom
Assistant to John Barber, Glass Studio 1988- 1989
Cal State Fullerton 1990/1991 – Jon Stokesbery / Don Petty
The first tribal dolls were started at this time, an inspiration from the Indebele tribal people.
I played with the enameling process from the beginning and made the first doll at the Sawdust festival in Laguna Beach, with Don Petty. My assignment at Fullerton was to explore these tribal sculptures further for criticism. The animals were secondary to the tribal dolls, but this had created its own theme or style and allowed us just to play.
This line of work had arrived, Heath Art Glass was on! I was approached by a young artist from Czech “Republic Bohdana Marasova, wanting to assist me in enameling. That was over 30 years ago, we are still making art, what a blessing. We are only as good as the people around us. Others I will mention in gratitude for past and present assistance, Jerome Underwood, Luis Ibabol, Paul Counts, and John Glass.