Image courtesy of Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville, New Jersey.

Therman Statom

Washington, D.C.–native Therman Statom (1953– ) initially studied ceramics at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) but switched media following a glassblowing session with Dale Chihuly. Statom earned a BFA from RISD (1974) and a MFA from Pratt Institute (1978); he was also an early student at Pilchuck Glass School. Statom is best known for work created from painted glass plate, blown glass, found objects, and plywood, including life-sized glass ladders, chairs, and tables; small-scale houses; and site-specific installations. Now based in Omaha, Nebraska, Statom has focused much of his later career on educational efforts for underresourced communities and on engaging individuals in art to spark social change.

Works

Clearly Oranges, 1998. Float glass, paint, mixed media. Overall H: 115.4 cm, W: 115.4 cm, D: 11.8 cm. Collection of The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York. Gift of the Sidney J. Marx family and Ken Saunders family (2003.4.110).

Color Field, 1997. Float glass, paint, mixed media. Overall H: about 79 cm, W: about 45.5 cm, D: about 51 cm. Collection of The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York. Gift of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser (2012.4.164).

Six Voyages, installation for Ebeltoff Glass Museum, Ebeltoff, Denmark, 2012. Image courtesy of Therman Statom.

Media

Toots Zynsky and Therman Statom reflect on their work, collaborating with each other, and their time at RISD with Dale Chihuly. They also discuss their community engagement projects.