Bio
Sharp and problematic, ever so fragile, glass has been used through the centuries to bring light and vision from the outside to the inside, a transformation of how we see and our mind’s eye. After years of analyzing data on social, medical, and economic behavior to understand what drove these worlds, and taking photographs that were only capturing a tiny sliver of what I could see in the world. I wanted to work in a new medium that was closer to natural elements and required a precise set of tasks and ingredients, yet could capture what my mind’s eye saw and what I hoped would create a bridge for mutual understanding, meaning, beauty, and community. Working with glass has been the intellectual and creative challenge that I have long sought, from color, design, and technical issues, to the tactile and random kiln events that create new ideas and paths forward.
Starting with making stained glass windows that can frame a view through the piece as much as create beauty in and of itself, I have settled on fusing glass together in a kiln to express myself. These ideas include my interpretation of the natural and biological world, musings on historical and linguistic meanings, and patterns as they occur in color and form.
My experience and training have included stained glass instruction starting in California and then in Maine. I have taken instruction in forming and working with kiln glass at Kremer Glass Studio and Bullseye Glass Company. My studio is in Falmouth, Maine.
Artist Statement
The genomic and natural world inspires my glasswork. I make glass bowls, vessels, trays, plates, and mobiles to create objects that please the eye. My work often takes the form of musings on historical and linguistic meanings and abstract visualizations of patterns and shapes.
I work in a medium known as fused glass—the joining together of glass pieces at high temperatures in a kiln. The process itself, which requires both a high degree of precision and the ability to capitalize on unexpected results, forces creativity. Inspired by visualizations of the genomic and the natural world, as well as words that are ubiquitous in our everyday experience with metaphoric meanings, many of my pieces challenge the observer to engage in their interpretation together with myself and others.
I have also created stained glass windows and hanging panels in the Arts and Crafts style and fantastical interpretations of fish.
Working with glass is the world in the form of a model. You interact with it, and you try to shape and work with it into another more substantial object with a bit of beauty and appeal to others. It is partially in your control and part not, with all the medium's limitations and random effects. Still, it is a process where one creates something of yourself, but ultimately for others, and has a sense of permanency to it as well. Thus working with glass establishes a connection to the world and others in it for me.
Genomics
Computerized renditions of particular genomes, primarily cancer genomic profiles, stimulates my creation of the intersection between the craft of kiln formed art glass and the biological world that we see in novel ways from a combination of bench science discoveries and new imagining techniques. The visual display of complex quantitative information is both beautiful and can communicate many ideas at once.
Rhythms
Maine is a pure wonder and has served many artists over the years as an inspiration. The changing seasons and visions of the natural world continually challenge the artist to capture aspects of its beauty.
Krugerands
Fusing words into the glass is a concept of mine that combines art, language, and meaning. Kruger's conceptual approach provides the stimulation, while the words and objects themselves are the meanings that each of us places on them.
Histories
Paperweights and dishes combine historical and contemporary photography with a functional object. Using everyday pieces containing images from the near and far past is a method for creating a new narrative building on the previous one.
Curriculum Vitae
Joel D. Kallich
Born 1954, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
Lives and works in Falmouth, Maine
Education
1990 Boston University, Doctor of Philosophy
1978 University of Iowa, Master of Arts
1976 University of Iowa, Bachelor of General Studies
2021 Bullseye Glass, Ted Sawyer, Portland, OR
2020 Kremer Glass Studio, Marty Kremer, North Yarmouth, ME
2016 Phoenix Studio, Jane Croteau, Portland, ME
2016 Corning Museum of Glass Studio, Avery Anderson, Corning, NY
2015 Sundancer Stained Glass Studio, Debra Caron-Plourde, Saco, ME
2012 Dragonfly Stained Glass Studio, Larry Joers, Canoga Park, CA
Exhibitions
2020
Open Studio, Organized by Joel Kallich and Sue Jennings, Falmouth, ME
2018
Ridgewood Artisans Show, Ridgewood Condominium Association, Falmouth, ME
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2020
“Genomic Sea,” Reflections, Art and Literature, E. Bergen and J. Kotz, eds., Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, p. 30
Collections
Genomic Pi Private collection, Falmouth, ME
Genomic Ladder Private collection, Scarborough, ME
EAT ME ATE IT Private collection, Pasadena, CA
HER2+ Private collection, Jacksonville, NY