SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Beyond a child’s tale of Mad Hatters and March Hares, artists of renown are looking through the glass and discovering a new, innovative world of artistic expression with endless possibilities.

“Ongoing Invention,” the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum’s first-ever exhibition of contemporary glass is on show at Cal State San Bernardino from March 31-May 23. The exhibit will display the work of more than 10 artists from throughout the country.

Glass has been inspiring artists since the Renaissance, when Venetian glass gained popularity. In America, contemporary glass has evolved since the Studio Glass Movement of the 1970s. Today, artists are transforming this industrial substance, commonly used and overlooked, bringing attention to glass in a sculptured sense.

‘“Ongoing Invention’ brings together a wide range of artists who have two things in common: a passion for using glass as their primary material for artistic expression, and their continued inventiveness and exploration with this material,” said Katherine Gray, curator for the exhibit.

Artists exhibiting for “Ongoing Invention” include Nancy Callen and Dante Marioni of Seattle; Richard Marquis of Freeland, Wash.; Carmen Lozar of Normal, Ill.; Therman Statom of Omaha, Neb.; Jocelyne Prince of Providence, R.I.; Robin Cass of Rochester, N.Y.; Chris Taylor of Jersey City, N.J.; Fritz Dreisbach of Tucson, Ariz.; and California artists Amy Rueffert of San Francisco, Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend of Ojai and Jeff Sarmiento of San Jose.

Gray will hold her own glass exhibit, “Here Comes that Sinking Feeling,” in conjunction with “Ongoing Invention.” Her work will be displayed in the Mueller Gallery of the RVF Art Museum from March 31-May 19.

Carmen Lozar, Graft, 2006

Fritz Dreisbach, Naples Blue,
Ice- Cave, Cut Optic Bowl, 2007

Therman Statom, 17 Platos, 2004