Aug 26, 2016
www.wyzguymedia.com/123
Episode 123- Jeremy Grant-Levine AKA Germ and 1000 glass cranes
Germ (Jeremy Grant-Levine) is a Philadelphia based glass artist and teacher. His parents are both artists and encouraged him to experiment with all materials from a very young age. Germ has a degree in Scientific glassblowing and spent several years working in the scientific glass industry, before returning to making art full time. He has traveled extensively, collaborating and learning from some of the best glassblowers in the country. He has been teaching in studios around the US and internationally for the past few years.
Germs work is always in flux. One series of work could
focus on the sea and his New England up bringing (Smoke on the
Water, 2015) and the next could reference eastern spiritual
practices and communal ritual (Tools for Enlightenment,
2016). For many years he experimented with traditional German
glassblowing techniques and tried to give them a more contemporary
feel.
Currently he is starting a project called 1000 glass
cranes. He seeks to follow the ancient Japanese tradition
of Senbazuru, folding 1000
origami cranes. The legend is that if you fold 1000 cranes in
a year, you are granted good fortune, health, luck, or a
wish. His vision is to do this but with glass
1000 Glass
Cranes
The modern world is moving too fast and we are always onto the
next task before we can even finish or evaluate the
last. 1000 Glass Cranes is a project focused on
spending a full year on one large idea. One artist, without
assistance, on a quest for balance. This project is about creating
an immersive experience for the artist throughout the year and also
the audience as participants during the final exhibit. Once the
year and thousand cranes are complete, they will all be displayed
at Ruckus Gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a massive
installation.
Jeremy Grant-Levine AKA Germ has been blowing glass for 13
years. As a working artist, he has made a name for himself in the
glass pipe sub-culture, as one of the most technical and innovative
makers in the industry. Mixing classical shapes and modern
silhouettes, he is able to transform his pieces from merely
function into sculptural showpieces. His work has been displayed
in galleries in Seattle, Philadelphia, New York, Miami, and Tel
Aviv. He has taught workshops and collaborated with other artists
all over the world.
A Kickstarter campaign is live through
September 27, 2016 to raise funds and support to get this
project started. Updates and insights into the many layers of this
expansive project can be found at www.1000glasscranes.com
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