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a shining season in Center City MN

Alan Honn Glass features perfectly simple works and masterpieces, vintage and brand new designs.

🎄 Especially as the days grow shorter, all are welcome to stop in for a moment with color, light and Al’s artistry.

Open FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, noon-6pm and by appointment via alanhonnglass@gmail.com
320 Summit Avenue, Center City

🍔 Fortify yourself with burgers & beer across the street at Al’s Center Saloon!

Open 11am-midnight, DAILY. Call 651-257-5757 for take out.
325 Summit Avenue, Center City

More info at alscentersaloon.com

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more from the MN State Fair

UPDATE: furnace down/gallery open at FOCI-MN Center for Glass in the West End Market (map HERE) • NO DEMOs until next year!!

A look at Al’s 2018 First Place Fine Arts win HERE

The story on those smileys (& skulls):
A few fairs ago, Al picked up a Nordic Ware baking pan
at the Grandstand to test as a glass mold.
A success, resulting in clear, fun charms.
Experiments ensue, from time to time.

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Art in Bloom

Among the installations at Art in Bloom this season is Richard Raiche’s arrangement in a multipart piece he commissioned from Al. There’s a lot going on here! but the pictures show details of the work paired with a Beauford Delaney oil. Richard’s concept was to add floral “life” to a glass interpretation of the University of Notre Dame football stadium, complete with a Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus. In the video below, the docent says “Richard, this is one of your simplest”!!

Art in Bloom is on view through May 1, 2022 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art

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up to the Lake

Congratulations! to Lake Superior Art Glass, celebrating 10 years in Duluth from their fantastic Canal Park venue. In early April, Al had the honor of kicking off their slate of guest artist demonstrations, making his signature splash vase – pictured here – as well as a large platter, captured start-to-finish on video, HERE.

Demos continue through May 20, culminating in an auction & events by the lake May 21. Find the details at lakesuperiorartglass.com

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on the radio

When Mumblin’ Drew played Al’s Saloon for the first time in March 2020, it was also the last live music at the bar before pandemic lockdown days later. We got acquainted over corned beef and uncertainty.

Recently, Al enjoyed catching up with Drew Temperante at FOCI-Minnesota Center for Glass Arts in Minneapolis, where Drew recorded this audio profile for the MinneCulture series on KFAI 90.3 FM, Twin Cities. The piece captures the sound of studio action, and Al’s thoughts on fundamentals, collaboration and working solo.

Listen here: MinneCulture | The Art Of Defying Gravity

KFAI.org

MinneCulture on KFAI is supported by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

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Al’s Showroom: holiday shopping tips

❄️ Stop in! Even if you don’t aim to purchase, we love to show off Al’s glass. All are welcome to explore.

❄️ Questions are welcome: please ask.

❄️ Feel free to pick things up or to ask us to do so. The “feel” of a piece, or a view in different light, helps to find the one that’s right.

❄️ Quality of material, degree of difficulty, and general sweetness impact pricing. Al’s work is priced consistently at the showroom and at galleries. If you love a piece, but not the price, we will consider a negotiation.

✌️ Best time to make a deal with Susan: Fridays 12-6.

♥️ Best time to catch Al in the showroom: Saturdays 12-6.

🍔 Al’s Center Saloon, across the street, 11-midnight.

Prices start at $10 for one-of-a-kind magnets.
Suncatcher/ornaments are $20.
Signature clear basket tumblers are $40.
MANY options under $100.

Al makes heirloom quality glass for everyday use and enjoyment!

Alan Honn Glass Showroom, across from Al’s Saloon, 320 Summit Avenue in Center City MN

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get by water

A true water sign, Al heads for rivers, lakes and oceans to find rest and refreshment.
This lifelong practice shows up in his glass work, especially in recent large forms.
A trio of River Pools, for example, formed the centerpiece of a solo exhibition.
Splash and Sound Wave garnered top awards in group shows.

It’s poetic that Al was commissioned to help create a baptismal font for use at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

To realize their vision of a simple basin evoking water, Al crafted a glass model for approval. The scale of the liturgical space determined that the finished basin should be an expansive two feet across.

Minnesota sculptor John Sterner is commissioned to create a metal base to complete the work.

Although he typically works solo to realize his designs, the challenging size of this piece offered Al the opportunity to assemble a team of skilled and trusted glass artists for the task.

Big thanks are due to Todd Cameron, Derek Hostetler and Ty Pratumwon, along with Emily McBride, Tom Maras and Isaac Theobald, who gathered one summer evening at Minnesota Center for Glass Arts to get the job done! Finished size: 24″ wide and 10″ deep. Mackenzie Serwa took the fantastic in-studio images.

The finished basin:

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pivot

In the meantime, at Alan Honn Glass:

 

 

 

Sound Wave, first in Al’s current series of hand drums, earned the Visual Arts Committee Award at this year’s ArtReach St. Croix Member Show in Stillwater, MN. ArtReach has done a great job producing events in unusual circumstances this year, maintaining tradition while innovating.

 

 

Al was invited to participate in Cream of the Crop, a virtual Minnesota State Fair art and music experience. The online event provided an opportunity to launch an online store, with an improvised collection shot outside in the sunshine. Photography is next on the to-do list, with a goal of updating the shop progressively. Find it at alanhonnglass.square.site/s/shop

 

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MMXX

 

 

 

Alan Honn Glass was at work New Years Day, delivering a piece from a new series to the exhibition Beginnings at artZ in Amery WI. It’s been a pleasure to partner with the team at this cool art space over the last year and a great chance to explore the local scene.

 

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After many years, Al took the opportunity to return to a favorite form during a January workshop with visiting glass master Rob Stern at Foci – Minnesota Center for Glass Arts.

About the work:

Forever attracted to light, intrigued by sound and its relationship to form and the elusive containment of glass, I began creating drums in 1988, utilizing the full spectrum of energy available through practicing Reiki. I’m very happy to rekindle the making of these forms and am pleased that I was able to increase their size.

 

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Looking ahead, Al is honored to be included on the roster of fine makers at
60 Artists on 50th
Burroughs Community School; 1601 W 50th Street, Minneapolis MN
April 4, 2020
Details to come, HERE