Jim Scheller

By Gesso Magazine on January 9, 2021 No Comments / 3750 views

Jim Scheller – Artist in Glass

Jim works exclusively in glass; Kilnforming and casting at his Macoupin Prairie Glassworks studio in Staunton, Illinois near his childhood home of Mt. Olive. In September 2018, After 27 years, he moved from his forest home and studio – Chehalem Mountain Glassworks in Schools, Oregon.

After a long career as an engineer and technologist he discovered glass kilnforming in 2012. He has dedicated himself to his craft and art. Extensive study of and experimentation with the medium is a passion and healthy addiction.

Jim finds great pleasure in pushing the limits and developing new techniques. Employing both “fusing and slumping” and “kiln casting” processes, works are composed with glass sheets, crushed glass (frit) and glass slabs (billets). These are then fired to over 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. Fired works are extensively coldworked for hours to achive the final finish.

Artist Statement:

Glass vessel designs are informed studying the simplicity and abstraction of neoplasticism beginning with the DeStijl movement of the early 20^th century.

Inspiration for cast works comes from a fascination of geological forms, textures and colors found in nature.

The engineer, immersed in the process of making, joins glass, heat and gravity to create works inviting one to view the once molten glass in a dance of light and color.

CV/resume:

Technique development:

Bullseye Resource Center, Portland, OR
Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA

Artistic development:

Pilchuck Kinforming Artist Residence Fall 2014, Stanwood, WA
Pilchuck Kinforming Artist Residence Fall 2015, Stanwood, WA

Juried work shown at:

The Ann Maritz Members Exhibition, St. Louis Artists’ Guild, St. Louis, MO, 2020
“Metro Montage XX”. Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, GA, 2020
Constructed Visions III, St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis, MO,, 2020
ConTEXT III, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO, 2020
Glass National 2019, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA, 2019
Art St. Louis XXXV, The Exhibition, Saint Louis, Missouri, 2019
Illinois State Fair Professional Artist Exhibition, Sculpture Honorable Mention, Craft Third Place, Springfield, IL, 2019
“Metro Montag XVIII:, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, GA, 2018
“For the Love of Glass”, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, GA, 2017
“Pilchuck Auction People’s Choice Award”, Pilchuck Gallery, Seattle. WA, 2015
FormWorx Design Studio (solo exhibition), 2015, Newberg, OR