Sean Salstrom

Associate Professor
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Sean Salstrom
MFA, Rhode Island School of Design

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
Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 2141-01

THE MOLTEN WINDOW: TIME-BASED MAKING IN THE GLASS HOTSHOP

Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Metcalf Building, Room 416; Metcalf Building, Room 411 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

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
Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Lecture
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 4316-01

GLASS IIA DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP

Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Lecture
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Washington Place, Room 302 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

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
Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Lecture
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 4320-01

GLASS IIIA DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP

Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Lecture
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Washington Place, Room 302 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

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
Level Graduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 435G-01

GRAD GLASS I DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP

Level Graduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Washington Place, Room 302 Enrolled / Capacity: 4 Status: Open

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
Level Graduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 437G-01

GRAD GLASS III DEGREE PROGRAM WORKSHOP

Level Graduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: W | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Washington Place, Room 302 Enrolled / Capacity: 4 Status: Open

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
Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 4305-01

BEGINNING GLASSWORKING

Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: TH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Metcalf Building, Room 411; Metcalf Building, Room 416 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Closed

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 4319-01 - INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED GLASSBLOWING
Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

GLASS 4319-01

INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED GLASSBLOWING

Level Undergraduate
Unit Glass
Subject Glass
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: F | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Instructor(s): Sean Salstrom Location(s): Metcalf Building, Room 416; Metcalf Building, Room 411 Enrolled / Capacity: 10 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This primarily technical course builds on basic, traditional glassblowing skills - and challenges students to move toward more complex, technical proficiency. Demonstrations and supervised practice will introduce alternative methods, refinement and new techniques. Also, student innovation with traditional process is encouraged. Students improve both individual and team skills, maintain a technical notebook, and develop an idea sketchbook.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $300.00

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Glass Students.


Major Requirement | BFA Glass

Image
Sean Salstrom
MFA, Rhode Island School of Design