Josh Simpson - New Work

Many in the glass world know Josh Simpson. You easily recognize his extraordinary “planets”, and Blue New Mexico glass. His work and name are associated with many fine museums and galleries worldwide. What you may not know about Josh is his fascination with space. Incidentally he is married to Cady Coleman, a space astronaut with an extensive biography of shuttle trips and adventures. Together they intrigue me because they appear to be so down to earth (couldn’t resist), so approachable and willing to invite you into their lives by detailing their passions through several video productions.

As an artist Josh likes to challenge himself and will come up with new work each year or have a project to undertake. From his staff you get the impression he has a great sense of humor and studio days are sometimes full of surprises.

His new glass this year is “Corona”. Josh has stated that he likes to translate some of the wonder of the Universe into his work. That is exactly what the new Corona pieces do. When we received our latest order for planets and vases, we received a Corona platter and bowl accompanied by a photo from the Hubble satellite that undoubtedly inspired Josh. The rich color distribution with earthy hues and then a splash of vibrant purple blended and swirled expertly allows you to view it as a piece of the universe only a few get to see close up.

Customers will always find a large selection of Josh's inhabited planets, gravitrons, and vessels here at Crescent Moon. It is something personal to pick up and hold, touch and then gravitate to the certain piece that captivates you. You will be captivated!

Rick Satava - New Work

Most of our customers know that Rick Satava's jellyfish are one of the favorite pieces of our glass art for many who visit. I've blogged about them early on and commented that people bring relatives in just to show them our shelf of jellies. We do keep an impressive amount on display, I must say. Now the one wish of many has come true. Rick is producing "mini" jellies that stand 4.5" tall and retail for $260. Previously the smallest available was a 6.5" jelly retailing at $440-$480. The small stature does not take away from any of the qualities of jellyfish. The translucency of the jelly "domes" and the three-D affects of the "legs" are maintained. It is such a wonderful addition to his line and perfect for our customers who have longed to own a Satava "jelly". We already have orders for the mini Blue Moon and Pacific colors. Speaking of colors, Rick has added a Ribbed Purple to his colors. We haven't seen it yet and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival.

BRRRRRR

Friday night was the coldest night we ever spent on the boat. But it was pretty cozy in our aft cabin with the zoned heating on. Just a little frosty in the aft head if you happened to need to visit it in the middle of the night! Avoiding cold nights and months in New Jersey while living on our boat was the main reason we came south in the fall of 2005. Sure looking forward to the Carolina spring time.

NC Coastal Person of The Year Awards

Paige Somervell, Marketing Manager for Wilmington Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, wandered in one day last week and seemed to me to be on a mission. It turned out I was right. She was given the task to find something that would represent the coast and would serve as an award to be presented to three very active "Persons of The Year" who promote the coast for their region. An inscribed plate needed to be attached commemorating this honor in each of their names. Paige was immediately drawn to one of our local artists, Richard Bunting's, conch shells that are solid glass blown pieces in rich vibrant colors and range in petite size to extra large size. This choice fit for many reasons because of it's a shell representing the coastal waters and Richard being a local artist. Now the task was to find a way to make it into an award presentation piece. Paige and I brainstormed, first considering mounting the piece on a low acrylic base and soon discarding that idea. I thought of using clear stained glass that would give the base a "water" look. Mike works in stained glass and had just the right pieces in his studio. After cutting them and placing the silver inscribed plates on them, the shells are perfect as an award. We were so pleased to work with Paige, and have learned that Richard's shells will be used again next year. Richard and Mike, his assistant in the studio, will work on a one-piece sculpture incorporating the base for next year.

The recipients are Al Delia, Kim Hufham, and Penny Leary. Congratulations to each from Mike and I. Enjoy your beautiful art glass shell