Preston
Singletary grew up in the Pacific Northwest. In 1982, Preston started working
at a Seattle, Washington glass blowing studio as a night watchman, but his
interest in the art of glass eventually saw him joining one of the studio's
production teams. He learned the art of glass blowing working with artists in
the Seatle area, including Benjamin Moore and Dante Marioni. As a student and
assistant, Preston initially focused on mastering the techniques of the
European tradition.
It was
when Preston began to experiment using designs from his Tlingit cultural heritage
that his work began to take on a new purpose and direction. Over time, his
skill with the material of glass and traditional form line design has
strengthened and evolved, positioning him as a highly influential contemporary
indigenous artist.
Today,
Preston Singletary’s artworks are found in museum collections from The British
Museum in London, UK, The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington,
DC, the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY to the Handelsbanken in
Stockholm, Sweden.
I love
how Preston Singletary's works of glass, revolutionizes the belief that Native
artists are only best when traditional materials are used.
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