Thomas Spake
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Altitude Gallery proudly represents Thomas Spake from Jasper, Tennessee.
Read on to learn about the artist's inspiration and artistic journey.
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The colors, textures, and surfaces of my hand-blown glass vessels and sculptures are inspired by the beauty and wonder of the natural world. I gather references from photographic images, including aerial and drone photography, but the resulting colors and patterns are more akin to the sun-dappled scenes of impressionist paintings. By distilling the splendor and monumentality of nature into one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted art objects, I hope to spark fond recollections of time spent in nature: trips to a national park, a walk in the woods, or a spring day in a garden or meadow in full bloom. Much in the way that beaches, mountains, and landscapes are erode over time by wind and water, the surface of each piece is treated for a smooth, matte finish. Some are carved to reveal the translucent interior below the colorful surface. The resulting textures confound perceptions of glass as a sleek, glossy material.
