Sea Ice Moves in Spring - Arthur Harbor, Western Antarctic Peninsula

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Sea Ice Moves in Spring - Arthur Harbor, Western Antarctic Peninsula

Artist April Surgent (American, born 1982)

Date2015

Dimensions18 11/16 × 28 9/16 in. (47.5 × 72.5 cm)

MediumFused layers of opaque white over translucent topaz and charcoal gray glass; cameo-engraved glass

ClassificationGlass

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

2016.1A-C

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 04

Label TextApril Surgent translates her own photographs into fused glass panels using the ancient technique of cameo carving. She carves back the top layer of glass to reveal the layers of color beneath to create an image. Surgent’s fascination with the dialogue between art and science has led her to a focus on human impact on vulnerable ecosystems. The photograph of the floating sea ice that served as the basis for this work was taken during Surgent’s residency sponsored by the American Science Foundation at the Palmer Station in Antarctica. Her atmospheric triptych captures the layered translucency of snow-covered fields of ice floating in a blue-black sea. The perspective also makes it feel as if viewers are visually wading in these frigid waters.Published ReferencesNew Glass Review 38, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, 2017. p. 124, repr. (col.)Exhibition HistoryNew York, Heller Gallery, Life On Ice, September 10th - October 8th, 2015.

Wichita, Whichita Art Museum, Charlotte Potter and April Surgent: Cameo Glass in Context, June 9-September 30, 2018.