Aqua Alto

November 28, 2019 No Comments

Although the water has receded, the damage has been done. Aqua Alto meaning The High Tide is a seasonal occurrence that grows worse every year. As a young glass worker I was lucky enough to have been indoctrinated into the Venetian tradition. One of my mentors and friend Maestro Davidé Fuin is a native of the small island of Murano just located off of Venice Italy. It is on this very Island where modern glassblowing has taken shape. Through my years of working and teaching with Davidé in Italy I have developed many friends and family that live and work in the Venetian Lagoon.

This years the Aqua Alto flooded the Venetian Islands 5ft. above the normal level. Many of the local businesses and shops were affected. I reached out to Davidé to see how his furnace faired through the flooding.

“No problem for me fortunately, but all Murano is on the knees, so I started a “gofundme” to support the glassblower community.” -Fuin

Support local Murano glassblowers to rebuild furnaces and studios after high water flood damage. The collected funds will be shared with those who have suffered severe damage and lost weeks of production. Please help us stand again!!
Read more – https://gf.me/u/wrmngw
Donate directly here: https://gf.me/u/wrmngy

If you can help financially great! Also these funds will go directly to the glassblowing community ,side stepping any parasitic political bureaucracy. Please forward this message to help us reach this campaign goal! -Oliver

Posts

Fruits of the Hot Shop

November 6, 2019 No Comments

If you have ever met me in person you know I entertain a certain degree of ridiculousness in my life. My new “Pumpkin Heads” are no exception. I’m not sure exactly how the idea came about, but none the less here it is. On a recent production day I committed some time to experiment with this odd design. As I loaded the first one into the box my assistant and I could not contain ourselves. We spent the remainder of the day laughing and joking about how silly this truly was. Fruits of the hot shop As an untested product

The “Pumpkin Head”, a silly and festive addition to your Baby Head Cup© collection. With the timeless tradition of glass pumpkin making and the tenacious creativity of the Baby Head Cup this cross pollination seemed inevitable. These silly little gourds are picked ripe from the vine resulting in a variety of stem like “hairstyles” and with nature on your side you can be sure each one is it’s own unique masterpiece.

Pumpkin Head is available here at the Fulcrum Gallery online store.

Posts, Sculpture

Kelsey

September 5, 2019 1 Comment

The Trophy series is my most recent artistic endeavor. It all started when my friend Patrick Calhill and I were creating some glass pieces at his studio Area 253 Glassblowing in Tacoma. At the request of a patron we created a rudimentary deer skull. It came out so cool and interesting that I went into the studio myself to explore this concept. My goal was to create a variety of deer, elk & steer skulls in exceptionally blingy colors and decorations then re-imagine them as a Mod Pop hunting trophy.

Kelsey is a lovely marriage of aesthetics. The Heavy Metal look of this particular skull paired with a smashed audio receiving board became the perfect “Rock n’ Roll” statement. The decision to showcase the warped lines of the destroyed plate gives a humble nod to the varied history these items have had. Kelsey measures 8 x 11 x 6 inches and is currently available for purchase.

Art, Posts, Shows & Events

Trophies at MINKA

April 29, 2019 1 Comment

I am proud to present a display of my new work, titled Trophies at MINKA in downtown Tacoma. Please join us for the opening of “Trophies” on Saturday, May 4th from 5-7pm. Show runs through June 30. -Oliver

In “Trophies”, Doriss renders precious deer skulls in jewel-like glass, creating sculptures that are at once modern and as darkly beautiful as memento mori. These works mine subliminal territory where the artificial construct of human culture butts against the “raw unstoppable forces of nature… I feel as though there are glimpses of reality when the cracks form in my societal conditioning,” Doriss said.

The works in “Trophies” combine a fragile temporality with an almost papal sense of luxury that is wickedly attractive. Turn a skull over in your hand, and you can run your finger across the rows of tiny deer teeth Doriss has carved in glass. “I seek to make connections with both my aesthetic choices and subject matter, often towing the line of the dark and humorous,” he said. Doriss is himself a 12-point buck in every sense of the word. He opened the seminal gallery, Fulcrum, on Tacoma’s Hilltop in 2007, and has presented some of the city’s most robust and provocative shows ever since. When he’s not running his gallery, he teaches Venetian glassblowing locally and in Murano, Italy (no wonder he always has such great shoes).

Please join MINKA in welcoming Oliver Doriss on May 4, 5-7pm (and beyond). Also opening May 4 is “Six Paintings”, abstract works by noted Tacoma artist and designer, John Vlahovich. Upstairs at Art Above Gallery, is an ongoing exhibit of paintings curated by Brian Ebersole. The show includes works new and old; some collected in the former mayor’s travels, some brushed by himself. MINKA is located at 821 Pacific Ave. Regular hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12-5, and by appointment.

For more information, please contact verticalshout@gmail.com.(Featured: Ruby Deer Skull. Doriss describes this sculpture as, “Transparent ruby sheathed in silver leaf, a classic and especially blingy look. Inspired by Venetian sculptural sensibilities exploiting a similar use of precious metals and striking colors.” Approx. 8 in. wide.)

Posts

Glass Break

March 21, 2019 1 Comment

A conversation with artist Oliver Doriss

Thursday (Tonight), March 21, 2019
6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Glass Break is an informal conversation series that lasts about 30 minutes and brings interesting people and ideas to the stage in the Museum Theater — free to the public.

MARCH 21: LOCAL ARTIST OLIVER DORISS
Hear from Artist and Fulcrum Gallery Director, Oliver Doriss. A local artist and ‘Maker of Objects’, Doriss will share his experience and its impact on the Tacoma art scene. Topics will include his long history blowing glass, including with Dale Chihuly and Venetian Master Davide Fuin. We’ll also talk about the business of art, including production glassblowing, gallery ownership, and selling works of art.

Art, Posts, Sculpture

Ruby Silver Deer Skull

March 16, 2019 1 Comment

Transparent ruby sheathed in silver leaf, a classic and especially blingy look. Inspired by Venetian sculptural sensibilities exploiting a similar use of precious metals and striking colors. Ruby Deer Skull is approximately 8 in. wide and is the first from my Trophy Series to be completed with a display stand. As with many pieces of art the mounting and framing are often more involved than the creation of the artwork itself. This particular piece was recently donated to a fundraiser at Museum of Glass for my dear friend.

Posts

Happy Lady

March 6, 2019 No Comments

I recently returned from a trip back home from the lovely state of Massachusetts. I was there celebrating my mothers 70th birthday, what a good looking gal. I was extraordinarily pleased to gift her one of my new Trophy Skulls. After years of Baby Head Cups and Goblets It was nice to present to her something more artistic and unique. <3 U Mom!

Art, Sculpture

Trophys

February 12, 2019 1 Comment

I wanted to produce an intimate sculptural piece that resonates with the cultural of the Pacific Northwest. Additionally I want this piece to be approachable to young collectors, keeping in line with today’s smaller more minimal aesthetic. This piece must be contemporary as well as timeless. Expertly crafted while embodying my personal design sensibility. Allow me to introduce your new Trophy. These are small intimate works that honors you the hunter, the hunter of style, the hunter of glam. No camo no guns no hiding in the brush in the rain waiting to kill something. This is a Trophy you can have for your own. Just unholster your checkbook and pull the trigger. -Oliver

Each of my Trophy skulls are approximately 8 inches in the largest dimension and are produced in an array of colors and designs. I employ silver leaf and striking powders on some and others I let the transparency of the class speak for itself. Each piece is available as a stand alone object or mounted on a stand or wall piece. Please contact me for pricing and availability.

Posts, Shows & Events

Hilltop Pop-Up 9.8.18

September 8, 2018 1 Comment

Hello All! Tomorrow I will be participating in the 3rd annual Hilltop Street Sale. This event features selection of local artists and vendors along with music and food. I will be displaying my ever popular Baby Head Cups along with some new unique and very affordable items for your enjoyment. This event is organized by Activ8 Hilltop and takes place from Saturday September 8th 11am till 3pm behind People’s Park South on 10th & M.L.K.

Here is the Facebook event page for more information.

Posts, Shows & Events

COAL

November 29, 2017 1 Comment

Temporary Holiday Boutique at Vermillion Gallery

Saturday December 16th 5:00-9:00 pm

1508 11th Ave Seattle WA

Join me and my fellow creatives for an evening of locally crafted gifts, peculiarities and refreshments. Vermillion Gallery graciously hosts COAL a unique pop-up sale for this one night event. I will be offering my unique creations at amazing prices. The perfect gifts for those who have it all!