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For man can’t live on bread
alone,
This is for Love Not Money! In the vast and crowded arena of the world wide web, you could be forgiven to think that you are going through an ancient bazaar at some exotic location somewhere, with so many vying for your attention and perhaps few sales, But every now and then you come across a spot that will draw you like a magnet with so little effort, you stay, look and enjoy then leave, a lot richer for the experience, somehow! This issue’s “ In Profile “ visits such a place, a place that has beauty, intellect and inspiration for any artist! Amazing, how this artist describes the material he uses “ It is a most seductive material. Idiosyncratic in it's behaviour, it is a solid which behaves like a liquid, mysterious and alluring. It is therefore a most appropriate material with which to respond artistically to the inspiration provided by the natural, social and mythological environment of this ancient and beautiful land ”...... surely this is sheer poetry describing a long love affair! The Australian artist we are visiting is * Marc Grunseit * at www.MarcGrunseit.com.au , and the beautiful description above is how he sees the medium of glass, the love of his life! This is an astonishing story of someone that was a fully qualified and practising medical doctor who gave away such an esteemed career with it’s potential of big earnings to do what he loved most.... Glass Art. Many an artist fantasises about living the dream and going full time but lacks the moral courage to overcome the inherited risks, but here, we see all the hard yards and perseverance has paid off unsparingly! This website is functionally constructed to show the myriad of beautiful pieces that are, no doubt, a result of Marc’s mastery of his craft, something that takes years to accomplish. Two main sections dedicated to stained glass architectural panels and the kiln fired smaller objects, both reflecting wide influence of style that ranges between the classical to the modern, something that shows a diverse artistic background and the strong intellectual underpinning that is evident right through the site. Many of the pieces on show are products of fusion between the Australian environment with it’s many native and multicultural elements and contemporary theories and themes. The best way to describe this is , as Marc says, “ a combination of the natural and cultural history of my environment with the designs being eclectic but are employed to interpret the natural, social, cultural and mythological Australian environment into unique pieces of glass art “.
The site
also contains many other areas dealing with the many works that he comments on and it shows a good layout that makes the surfing easy and logical. I have found also, that the many pages of text explaining what is behind the various pieces very enlightening and helpful especially when dealing with abstract designs that have, in fact, been inspired by something that is not abstract at all like a " song of the magpie dawn". Now for a bit about Marc’s biography : Born in Sydney in 1952, developed great interest in art and craft during his school years, with extensive involvement complementing a formal education, went on to study medicine and graduated in 1977, then he has practised as a doctor for five years, until he quit to pursue his art on a full time basis in 1982. Marc has developed since then a brilliant career with numerous commissions and exhibitions to his name worldwide. His work is represented in public, private and corporate collections worldwide, and has been the elected National President of the Australian Association of Glass Artists from 1989-1990. The scope of his work ranges from huge architectural installations to delicate pieces of kiln formed glass which fit into the palm of the hand.
So, for a fantastic journey into the world
of
this ancient craft, visit :
www.MarcGrunseit.com.au
and feast your eyes on this beautiful art of glass! |