A Sculpture of Monumental Proportions
by Teresa Annas, THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Bill Tiernan Photos/ The Virginian-Pilot
On Thursday in a gallery near the Oceanfront, New Orleans artist Gene Koss reached nearly 12 feet high to touch up the paint on his six-ton glass-and-aluminum sculpture. To manage that, he duct-taped a paintbrush to a broom handle.
It was the sort of innovative strategy that characterizes his work, which goes on view today at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. The artist will attend a free reception at 7 p.m.
Koss, 61 whose cast glass sparkles like melting ice, is an early sign of spring, when Hampton Roads arts venues will be glistening with shows by glass artists from all over the world. “Art of Glass 2” will take place from April to June.
Koss said he is part of the third generation of glass artists in the American studio glass movement, which in the 1960s shifted glassmaking out of large factories and into personal studios. Rather than making vases and tiles, he chose to make monumental sculptures.
“There’s nobody else working on this scale with glass,” he said, matter-of-factly. The muscular look of his work relates more to his upbringing on a Wisconsin dairy farm than to the academic atmosphere at Tulane University, where he founded the glass art program 32 years ago and still teaches. Growing up on a farm, he developed a strong work ethic. His work often resembles old farm equipment. “I give credit to the people who work the land,” he said.
The massive work before him, “Lake Neshonoc,” was inspired by a sacred spot from his youth in Wisconsin, he said. The tripod support suggests a church. The six-ton “lake” dangles inches above the floor from steel cables and consists of cast-glass pieces that look like frozen water.
He gripped one edge of his lake spun it around. Koss said he likes to instill movement in his work, and all that tonnage kept it spinning.
New Orleans artist Gene Koss peers at his sculpture "Tower," at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. Bill Tiernan Photos/ The Virginian-Pilot
Koss has numerous works inside the center and three pieces outdoors as part of the new Jessica Glasser and Larry Mednick Sculpture Garden at the center’s entrance. The garden is named for two creative locals who died in 1996 and is being partly funded by Richard and Martha Mednick Glasser of Virginia Beach.
The largest outdoor piece, “Bridge,” is three tons of glass and two tons of steel. Waterfront Marine Construction, owned by Randy Sutton, the center’s board chairman, restored the piece for the show.
Since the sculpture garden will feature rotating works, Koss’ outdoor pieces will remain on display for 18 to 24 months, Sutton said.
“Bridge” consists of a glassdraped I-beam dangling from an arched steel support, with light running through the glass. At night, it glows.
Koss is drawn to the most raw, everyday, materials. “Most of the glass I make, it’s like cutting hay with a sickle, and the hay falls down, and oh, it’s such a beautiful material,” he said.
“I call it blue-collar directness.”