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Double Glassblowing. William Bernstein, artist.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cBilly Bernstein and his wife, Katie, have been members of Toe River Arts since the \u201870s and have been instrumental in helping to shape our organization,\u201d says exhibition manager Kathryn Andree. \u201cWe are honored to coordinate this exhibit and celebrate Billy\u2019s distinguished career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernstein has lived most of his professional life in the rural Celo community in Yancey County. The exhibition provides viewers an opportunity to imagine a life surrounded by art. As a retrospective, it creates a visual summary of the separate elements of Bernstein\u2019s art over time\u2014his motives, goals and achievements\u2014and captures his ability to work simultaneously in diverse mediums.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest difference between hot glass and painting is really one of time\u2014glass is an immediate medium, with the piece created in one blowing session whereas a painting allows the artist to return to his work over and over,\u201d says Bernstein. \u201cI often work the same concepts in both glass and painting in an attempt to make the most of each medium\u2019s advantages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Approximately 40 sculptural works and 20 wall pieces spanning his career of more than 50 years will be on display. Bernstein\u2019s unique style of incorporating images on glass is mirrored stylistically in his two-dimensional paintings. His work and family life are evident in his art forms that include portraits of the people, pets and environs that surround him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel I have remained true to my artistic intent which is closely linked to a sort of diary of my experience,\u201d says Bernstein. \u201cIt is my hope that viewers of this show will be touched in a positive way by my work and that they might relate my world to experiences in their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
The exhibition coincides with the United Nations\u2019 declaration of the Year 2022 as the \u201cYear of Glass,\u201d and the 60th Anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement.<\/p>\n