Sean Salstrom
Sean Salstrom approaches making through action, object and performance and often seeks out the poetic through absurdity, temporality, instantaneity and perceptual phenomena. He has a keen interest in glass’ ability to collaborate with light and partakes in hand-grinding optical components for telescopes in pursuit of far-looking. He has held full-time academic posts at the Toyama City Institute of Glass Art (Japan), the Akita University of Art (Japan) and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in museums, galleries and artist spaces such as The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, CT, the Stevens Point Sculpture Park in Stevens Point, WI; the Center on Contemporary Art in Seattle, WA; the Wassaic Project in Wassaic, NY; the Nizayama Forest Art Museum in Nyuzen, Japan; Cocolaboratory Gallery in Akita City, Japan; and Nami Island Glass Gallery in Nami Island, South Korea. His work is in the collection of the city of Toyama, Japan; The Toyama City Institute of Glass Art, Japan; the Akita University of Art; and numerous private collections. He has been a Smithsonian Artist Research Fund (SARF) nominee and a Louis Comfort Tiffany Award nominee and has received the Irvin Borowsky Prize in Glass Juror’s Choice Award.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
GLASS 2141-01
THE MOLTEN WINDOW: TIME-BASED MAKING IN THE GLASS HOTSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Students will be introduced to various methods of utilizing molten glass in the hotshop and work towards creating works that emphasize the aspects that characterize the medium in its molten state, (for example):
- Time-based
- Movement, Choreography, and the Body
- Fluidity
- Amorphous
- Performative
- Collaborative
In lecture we will visit historical artworld references such as Fluxus, Surrealism, Happenings, and Performance Art, as well as contemporary examples. We will also cover material characteristics of glass, with an emphasis on the material in its molten state. Students will be strongly encouraged to experiment and push aside any preconceptions of what type of art can be made from molten glass. Students will work in pairs and small groups on a series of weekly exercises and prompts that will lead to finished works.
Estimated Materials Cost: $200.00
Open to Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or Graduate Students only.
Elective
GLASS 4316-01
GLASS IIA DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior, and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
Junior Glass Students register for GLASS-4316 (Fall) and GLASS-4318 (Spring).
Senior Glass Students register for GLASS-4320 (Fall) and GLASS-4322 (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Glass Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Glass
GLASS 4320-01
GLASS IIIA DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior, and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
Junior Glass Students register for GLASS-4316 (Fall) and GLASS-4318 (Spring).
Senior Glass Students register for GLASS-4320 (Fall) and GLASS-4322 (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Senior Glass Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Glass
GLASS 435G-01
GRAD GLASS I DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
First-year graduate students register for GLASS-435G (Fall) and GLASS-436G (Spring).
Second-year graduate students register for GLASS-437G (Fall) and GLASS-438G (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Glass Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Glass
GLASS 437G-01
GRAD GLASS III DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
First-year graduate students register for GLASS-435G (Fall) and GLASS-436G (Spring).
Second-year graduate students register for GLASS-437G (Fall) and GLASS-438G (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Glass Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Glass
Spring 2024 Courses
GLASS 4305-01
BEGINNING GLASSWORKING
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This beginning course introduces basic glassblowing and molten glassworking processes. It includes offhand" glassblowing, "solidworking" and glassblowing with molds. Students apply new technical skills to self-generated projects. Students maintain detailed technical notes and a project sketchbook.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $400.00
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Glass Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Glass
GLASS 4318-01
GLASS IIB DEGREE PROG. WKSHP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior, and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
Juniors register for GLASS-4316 (Fall) and GLASS-4318 (Spring).
Seniors register for GLASS-4320 (Fall) and GLASS-4322 (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Glass Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Glass
GLASS 4322-01
GLASS IIIB DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior, and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
Juniors register for GLASS-4316 (Fall) and GLASS-4318 (Spring).
Seniors register for GLASS-4320 (Fall) and GLASS-4322 (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Senior Glass Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Glass
GLASS 436G-01
GRAD GLASS II DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
First-year graduate students register for GLASS-435G (Fall) and GLASS-436G (Spring).
Second-year graduate students register for GLASS-437G (Fall) and GLASS-438G (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Glass Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Glass
GLASS 438G-01
GRAD GLASS IV DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP
SECTION DESCRIPTION
All Glass junior, senior and graduate degree program students meet together to engage both practical and theoretical issues of a glass career through: field trips, technical demonstrations, visitor presentations, and direct exchange with visiting professionals from relevant disciplines through student/professional collaborations, artist residencies, individual consultations, critique, and organized group discussion. Class will require reading, active participation in weekly discussions, and prepared student presentations.
First-year graduate students register for GLASS-435G (Fall) and GLASS-436G (Spring).
Second-year graduate students register for GLASS-437G (Fall) and GLASS-438G (Spring).
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Glass Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Glass