2023 & Beyond
A year-long competition and exhibition
what is NGG?
Habatat Fine Art is honored to continue the innovative Not Grandma’s Glass (NGG) presentation into its third year. NGG was featured in multiple publications and even featured on television. Last year we celebrated the work of 12 incredible innovative and talented artists from around the world. Congratulations to each of the participants and you are invited to view both the 2021 and 2022 presentations on the NGG archive button above.
Four winners have been selected to participate once again in 2023. These winners are artists Pearl Dick, Morag Reekie, John Moran, and Krista Israel.
In 202e Habatat Fine Art will once again promote a year-long glass competition featuring 8 new artists and the 4 past winners who have pushed beyond the norm of the contemporary art world. All 12 have impressive talent and creative vision and are expected to be driving forces in the future. Each artist has chosen a single month of the year during 2023 to create an online presence. Habatat has asked each of them to create on such a level that the body of work could be displayed at their dream museum. They will create and share their presentations that will offer unique experiences into that artists’ worlds. This will be done completely at the artist’s discretion and offer both a glimpse into each artist’s message and work for purchase as well.
This is where the fun really starts. Habatat plans to continue this exhibition in 2023 and to do that the NGG presentation will be a competition. Of the 12 artists in the competition, only 4 will be selected to participate the following year.
With a title like this, Habatat plans to create awareness in those who hear about it. This exhibition and competition drive focus to the work of these 12 important artists and, more importantly, visitors will expect to see work that grandma does not have in her glass collection. A bit of shock and awe that the contemporary glass art world needs. The art world is ever-changing and Habatat is personally responsible to represent and promote artists who are pushing glass beyond traditional craft.
The story goes when I (Aaron Schey) started my career at Habatat Galleries the topic of a client’s collection would often arise. When the topic of “family” was brought up the collectors would mention that the artwork in their home was referred to by the next generation as “Oh that’s just grandma’s glass.” The historic collections that many of our collectors are not understood by the children of collectors. The article posted here even helps define how future art collectors will collect. The title of this exhibition plays on the phrase above. The artists participating in this innovative exhibition/competition create in such a new manner focused on the younger generation and what the next generation is likely to collect. These works are probably not in grandma’s art collection…yet. The work in this online adventure exhibition would be glass celebrated for all generations pushing far beyond the norm and all expectations. These artists are extremely innovative and I propose that they will all be important in the future of the glass medium.
Starting in January 2023, the first presentation will be hosted on www.NotGrandmasGlass.com and continue monthly through the year. Winners will be chosen in December of 2023 and receive the NGG Award to celebrate their victory before going back to the studio for their 2024 presentations.
Habatat would like to congratulate and welcome the artists invited for 2023. Each artist selected their own month and we are excited to announce the new roster for the NGG exhibition and competition: Kimberly Thomas, Mike Da Ponte, Any Koupal, Jeanne Letourneau, Sahbh Mowlds, Geoffrey Bowton, Lacey Walton AKA Laceface Glass, Slate Grove, Pearl Dick, Morag Reekie, Krista Israel, and John Moran.
Near the first of every month in 2023, a link will be posted under the artist’s name below sharing their NGG presentation as well as their artist talk.
March March
This weekend we have an important Habatat-Zoom planned with an upcoming Detroit-based artist: Andy Koupal. I had the opportunity to meet Koupal during a glass art exhibition at the Janice Charach Gallery in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He received an award from us during this event as his work was impressive and shared a commentary on the pollution of nature. I am eager to learn more about his life, artwork, processes, and career this weekend.
February February
join us for February's NGG as I have a special planned. We here at Habatat last exhibited artist Mike Da Ponte's work at the Pop and Lock Exhbiotin in 2019 during the Glass International. I am honored to have him join us to speak about his life, work, and career.
January January
Flamework artist Kim Thomas has just moved from the Detroit area to Colorado and has invited us into her new studio. Thomas, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, discovered flameworking in 2009. Her work is often autobiographical and explores her unique perception of the world. She is an exciting upcoming artist demanding the attention of the contemporary art world.
Thomas was selected as an award winner during the 50th Glass International by Jane Buckman, the Director of the Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Coming soon
Want to see more NGG artists? Check out the artists from previous years