While visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum, it was hard to pass by Darren Goodman’s new glass exhibit, Trial by Fire. When viewing his glass blown creations it is hard not to appreciate the forms throughout his work. As a Bowling Green State graduate, known for his glasswork, Darren does not disappoint. He enjoys using teamwork to create his pieces, and thinks that is something pivotal even outside of the art world. This shows in his piece “Tears of Joy” from which he used a group of people to create it. The piece is a large installation of elongated glass vases that droop down at various lengths. It is a beautiful piece and the fact that multiple people worked on it gives each piece something special. This was the work that stood out to me the most because it was dynamic, relatable, and enjoyable to look at.
Darren Goodman entered Bowling Green State University as a musician. However he got hooked on glass blowing after taking it for the first time. The class inspired him to work harder and learn as much as he could to create a successful work of art through glass blowing. When talking about his work he likes to compare it to things people do, or should do, in the world everyday. He states, “What we accomplish in glass, we can take into our day-to-day lives.”1 In 2005 Goodman created a studio of his own in Waynesville, Ohio. He put together this studio only one year before completing his BFA. Goodman is a great inspiration to aspiring artists who are passionate about the medium they work with and/or the artwork they create. He also conducts classes in elementary and high schools. Goodman commented on this by saying he likes to work with children because they “… constantly remind me of the main reason why I continue to blow glass –‘because it’s fun.’”2 It is nice to see a successful artist working with younger students to show his ideas and techniques. This allows them to express themselves, and helps them learn how to portray their ideas with help from an expert. Another way he has become so inspiring, is that he has become successful so early on in his career.
After Graduating, Darren was commissioned for many public and private works of art. In 2009 he was asked to create trophies for the Ferrari Challenge by Ferrari North America. This organization asked him to create “…more than 100 pieces for Ferrari within a span of roughly six months…”3 They were very impressed with his work and happy that he used a traditional style from Venice, Italy in respect to the cars being works of art. In September of 2009 he was commissioned to create a work of art for an attorney at the “Light into the Future” event. This was in honor of the attorney providing security for Holocaust survivors.4 Along with other commissioned pieces he has said that he has sent 500 to 750 pieces to buyers around the world.5 This just shows how he has proven himself to the art world right out of the gate, or at least to collectors. After making these pieces that the purpose is to award people with an artistic trophy, he moves on to expand on formalistic pieces with some expressionism for his exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Trial by Fire, the work I went to see at the Cincinnati Art Museum is a combination of works from Darren Goodman. This artwork/installation piece is quite large and so he uses a team of glass blowers at his studio to work on his pieces. One of Goodman’s works shown is formalistic. On one wall he had numerous red vases. These pieces are a trademark of his; the form is similar to a lot of pieces he makes for awards or trophies. They are mainly red; some have stripes of various colors going through them. They are enjoyable to look at because they have different indentions in them and the colors create nice, varied rhythms. They can make you feel different emotions looking at them due to the colors and postures. However, when you observe these pieces you can tell that the artist really concentrated on making an interesting form and color variation for each on. Even though this was a good example of formalism, Goodman is also great at expressionism.
Another work shown is an installation piece called “Tears of Joy”. This piece he worked on with a group of students. There are various sized vases that droop down; they are blue, white, clear, or a combination of the three. This piece is interesting because of how delicate it looks due to how thin the top of the vase is. When looking at the piece you could get the idea of formalism. The “tears” do give you a feeling of joy rather than sadness. In my eyes the joy is portrayed through the fact that the blues used to color some of the tears are lighter, and the tears are hanging over a box of sand. This is why I believe this work shows expressionism. Goodman enjoyed this piece because it used teamwork to create it and he feels like that needs to be used in the world everyday. Doing this adds a nice touch because the tears are each a little different, because they are created by other people. However they all resemble the same form.
I found that I really enjoyed Darren Goodman’s exhibit. I tend to enjoy work that deals with formalism with a hint of expressionism, and I feel that his work definitely portrays this. The way he manipulates the glass into certain postures and the way the colors work together is just great. Doing this makes you appreciate the forms he has created, and the combination of form, color, and design can make you feel a certain way. For example, “Tears of Joy” is made up of multiple elongated vases that are different lengths and color combinations from crystal to light blue. While looking at the work you appreciate how it is dynamic, the forms are daring because how thin the tops are with this bulbous bottom. Then again you get the feeling that is playful due to the sand, and cheerful because of the coloring. I can see why he has become so popular right out of the gate. My interpretation of the exhibit was the idea of strength in numbers. He does this by including more than one glass piece for each of his works. The one piece with all of the different red vases on the wall shows this, because instead of just making one vase with an interesting posture and color, he created numerous versions. This shows his hard work, dedication, and enjoyment of working with glass. The strong point of the exhibit was the different postures in all of the pieces. “Tears of Joy” was strong because the way the tears drooped and the how they were all different lengths. In a way I wanted to interact with them, because they were kind of playful and inviting. On the other hand, I did not want to because they looked delicate and as if they could break at any second. Overall the exhibit was inspiring, intriguing and enjoyable to look through. It made me want to find a medium I love to work with to create enjoyable works of art.
Darren Goodman is a very inspirational artist. He shows that in art you need to work hard, find a medium that inspires you, and stay true to your beliefs. Two beliefs noticed in this exhibit would be teamwork and having fun with art. On the other hand he has created pieces with great form, color schemes, and design. After learning about Goodman and his work, I would love to keep tabs on his future creations. His work is fun to see and be around. In a way I think that is what art should be. During a time when the world is based so much on personal opinion, one-upping and conflict, his work is refreshing, showing what beauty teamwork can accomplish. I also enjoy the fact that he takes time to work with students to share his ideas and techniques. I feel more artists should do this to show why people should respect the art world. His exhibit is beautiful, an enjoyable place to be, and deserving of the 4th Floor Award from the Cincinnati Art Museum. Be sure to check it out before January 1, 2011 or you will definitely be missing out.
1 Cincinnati Art Museum, "4th Floor Award: Trial by Fire: New Glass Work by Darren Goodman, Sept. 24, 2011 – Jan. 1, 2012." Last modified September 24, 2011. Accessed September 26, 2011. http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/absolutenm/templates/ArtTempNews.aspx?articleid=1098&zoneid=90.
2 Goodman, Darren. "Hand Blown Glass by: Darren Goodman." Last modified 2011. Accessed September 25, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/news.htm.
3 Prevish, Val. Enquirer, "Artist Finds Success A Piece At A Time." Last modified June 13, 2009. Accessed September 26, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/enquirer061409.htm.
4 Goodman, Darren. "Hand Blown Glass by: Darren Goodman." Last modified 2011. Accessed September 25, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/news.htm.
5 Prevish, Val. Enquirer, "Artist Finds Success A Piece At A Time." Last modified June 13, 2009. Accessed September 26, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/enquirer061409.htm.
[1] Goodman, Darren. "Hand Blown Glass by: Darren Goodman." Last modified 2011. Accessed September 25, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/trialbyfire.htm.
[2] Goodman, Darren. "Hand Blown Glass by: Darren Goodman." Last modified 2011. Accessed September 25, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/trialbyfire.htm.
[3] Goodman, Darren. "Hand Blown Glass by: Darren Goodman." Last modified 2011. Accessed September 25, 2011. http://www.darrengoodman.net/trialbyfire.htm.
youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivEWhK7d4s
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