Alison Berger Glassworks

Before viewing the Design Life Now exhibition at the ICA I had a chance to scan through the book in class. Of coarse being a glass artist, I was instantly drawn to the blown glass. The glass vessels of Alison Berger Glassworks are simple in their form and color(or lack of color). My immediate response was to the simplicity of the classically shaped vessels and the weight they seem to have with the solid mass that occurs in most of them.

The vessels are displayed in a group of six. They are all blown of clear glass which allows the light to reflect and sparkle off of them. They vary in height from 10"-15". My favorite one is a solid sphere of glass at the bottom with a hollow neck of approximately the same length. The clear glass lets the small air bubbles and imperfection to show.

I feel that the variety of vessels work together and seem to form a single work of art. They all share similar traits yet no two are alike. The glass is left in its natural smooth texture. The lack color allows the light to add the colors reflected. The emphasis seems to be on the weighted bottoms which add balance.

I feel that Berger's designs directly relate to the history of glass blowing. A lot of the vessel shapes are directly taken from classic design. She took these classical shapes and added her touch on them without losing the strength of the original design.