Steven Hagan

In the visual language of glass, murrini techniques and patterning are my preferred vocabulary. Murrini are made by layering different colors of molten glass around a core, which is then heated and stretched to form a glass pattern rod. When cool, the rod is sliced into cross-sections with each slice possessing the same pattern as the others. My attraction to this process is likely rooted in my early education as a printmaker. Now, instead of reproducing multiples of a two-dimensional image, I design and create repeatable murrini structures with colored and clear glass.

My love affair with glass is only matched with food. Raised by a professional cook, I spent my childhood in the kitchen. The colors, aromas, textures, and tastes of food thrill me. And so, it is not surprising that over the past eight years, I have been developing and working with murrini patterns that reference food – citrus fruit to be precise. Their basic, bright, and beautiful forms are composed of pith, pulp, and rind. In glass, they reflect and transmit light in a way that captures my awe of their natural perfection.

I used this residency to further explore murrini techniques, to dig deeper into this vocabulary, pushing beyond my comfort zone. Though much of the work I made here still employs the structure of citrus fruit, I have tested new ways of making these patterns. I’ve also expanded my references to include other fruit (kiwi) as well as sea life.