The piece you are currently viewing is:
Large Pacific Series Sculpture
Artist: James Nowak
Signed: Nowak / PS2L7 (serial number)
Size: 22" x 8" x 15"
Shipping: 250.00
Please note the shipping reflects the amount of time and care it takes to properly crate such a complex piece, as well as the weight of shipping.
No chips, cracks, or other flaws evident.

A fantastic new variation and direction in the Pacific Series of marine inspired glass works by James Nowak. Verre d`Art Gallery is pleased to be able to present Nowak's ever-changing vision in this amazing tour de force.

It can be truthfully stated, that while the photos are very good representation of the physical work, they do not begin to convey the complexity of the elements and they fail to capture the true magic this fantastical fantasy evokes when viewed in person.

The construction process actually comprises a centuries old Italian technique. The base armature is shaped of heavy solid glass, with decorative elements introduced to the molten material, which is then worked and shaped much like a large batch of sugar candy, as it stiffens and begins to harden, eventually being formed into the serpentine shape. Balance in the shaping is critical here, ensuring that there will be a sturdy structure for the multitude of decorative elements which will be added later.
Once completed, the structure is reheated, as are all of the many applied decorative elements that have been produced as separate components. When all of these have reached the same critical temperature, they are attached with additional hot glass with both precision and care. A delicate technique, where one small error can ruin the whole piece....not a task for the faint of heart, but in the hands of a master like Nowak, the result is pure unadulterated magic!

No matter how large or broad a current collection of art glass is....it likely contains nothing that even remotely approaches this incredible example of the glassblowers art. This is an absolutely top of the line example of the work of James Nowak. The asking price is exceptionally low, in comparison what this piece would bring if offered in a more traditional retail setting.

A NOTE ABOUT PAYMENT AND SHIPPING. We prefer to have payment by check or money orders, to keep our costs as low as possible for you. The shipping and handling amount quoted is for US shipping only. We are unable to offer International shipping at this time. Please understand these items take time to pack and ship properly.

James Nowak is an awesomely inspired, amazingly creative, and technically astute artist. Among the finest contemporary art glass artists working today, he has the potential, as career and vision unfold, to become one of the few artists to reach the very pinnacle of this medium.
This might be hyperbole...but is, in fact, the simple truth.
Creating pieces across a range of glass styles and techniques, Nowak is as comfortable working in a very traditional Murano type process as he is standing on the cutting edge next to such icons as Chihuly. Perhaps Nowak is at his most amazing however, when he deftly blends many influences -- all within the same piece. His works project a synthesis and inimitable imprint that is the essence and vision of the exceptional James Nowak.

Watching this artist at work is a treat beyond description.

Within his studio, all components for his pieces are handmade. In the Murano tradition, millefiore canes are built, stretched, and sliced. All of the discs, ribbons, and murini that blend together so incredibly in the finished works are each a minor masterpiece in their own right. These tiny wonders are combined with Nowak's artistic vision, and built around a core of glowing molten glass. Additional elements such as iridescent and dichroic glass, in shards or crushed, further increase the complexity and depth of a piece.
As the work continues, the synthesis of layers is gradually revealed, yet the final direction of the piece is still only within the mind of the artist. The radiant orb of glass, affixed at the end of a long metal tube may then be introduced to a mold to give ridges, or have further shaping done, as it is slowly blown and inflated by the careful mouth of the artist. Constantly twirling, rolling, and shaping, the artist tracks a thousand and one things that could ruin the piece instantaneously if something went awry. The piece is then reversed, so the base is attached to the rod...for additional shaping work and finishing.
Then, perhaps the most delicate dance of the entire operation happens. The piece, still barely one step from glowing orange with heat, is released from its metal umbilical cord. For a brief second it falls free, into the well insulated arms of a trusted assistant, who places the piece into a heated annealing oven. Slowly, very slowly, the safe coccoon of the oven cools the piece and keeps it safe as the metamorphisis from shapeless molten blob to timeless creation completes itself. Then a whole range of final finishing operations can commence. Suffice to say, glass is one of the most intensely personal of the creative arts...a medium that not only shows the hand of the artist, but his life breath and strength as well.
Powerful or delicate, massive or barely there, glass can be any of those things. In the hands of an exceptional artist like James Nowak, it can be ALL of those things...at once.

Some Additional Information about the artist: Mr. Nowak has both studied and taught in connection with some of the most respected and exciting names in the art glass world including Pilchuck, Chihuly, Maroni/Corning, and Pratt to name a few.

Born:
December 7, 1956 - Wisconsin
Education:
Pilchuck Glass Center
1983: Pilchuck scholarship student
1984: Dale Chihuly's winter glass blowing team
1984: Summer staff
1985: Advanced Glass Blowing - Lino Tagliapietra & Benjamine Moore
1990: Surface decoration - Dan Daily
1991: Solid off-hand glass sculpture - Loredano Rosin

Works by Mr. Nowak are included in significant private collections, corporate collections, and public institutions. Further information about his background, artistic vision, and photos of additional pieces can be found on his website: james-nowak.com