artist statement
Kristen Marie Weber
I am an emerging artist who embeds figurative and animistic imagery into kilnformed glass. I am drawn to glass because of its ability to embody so many contradictions that make up physical humanness, self-concept and soul: Completely rigid and immovable versus malleable and freely flowing in different conditions; fragile and delicate versus well-tempered and remarkably durable; able to transmit incredible light or obscure it completely.
Seeking balance forms a constant thread throughout my work. It is woven throughout most human lives in one aspect or another, just as it is woven into the exquisite relationships between all living entities and their external environment. Capturing a fleeting glimpse of that shifting equilibrium is a strong motivation behind my choice of materials, form, and imagery. The pieces' ice-like texture and fragility reflect the tenuous nature of the state of being. They offer a chance to contemplate the intricate balance of the world within and about us. Throughout my work, various vessel and visual forms serve as a metaphor for “body as soul or spirit holder.” The vessels hold, nest and sometimes obscure what is above or below. Layers of interactions and conditions behind relationships are reflected in layered vessels, color, and texture.
Much of the resulting work is as delicate as insects' wings or a thin layer of ice separating winter air and dark, frigid water. Many of the pieces can be held, but given their delicate nature, force the viewer to cradle the piece in his or her hands – much the same way one would cradle a bird, a butterfly, a shard of ice, or a bit of someone else’s soul that has been revealed for safe keeping.
