(story to be published in tomorrow’s issue, March 15)
Glass is clear, transparent and cutting. Well-polished crystal surfaces are the mirrors of the future. The art of glassware is the art of the 21st century. The Simeza Gallery on Thursday will host 30 masters of glassware and their work. A few names are: Dan Bancila, Lucian Butucariu, Vladimir Cioroiu, Alexandru Ghildus, Silviu Dancea, Iza Uncov Dancea, Mihai Hlihor, Eugenia Enescu, Catalin Hrimiuc, Ioan Nemtoi, Ioan Tamaian, Bogdan Hosbota, Victor Sararu, Radu si Dan Popovici, Gheorghe Maftei, Ioan Cadar, Cristina Iliescu, Vasile Vadan, Alina Popescu, Ilie Rusu. The “Glass Salon 2000” will not only unveil the rare artistry of polishing but also the magic of this constantly changing material. The glass manufacture procedure was discovered 1000 years ago. The items that were produced by the ancient workshops in Saxony are very different from the works of art we see today. The display opened this week will introduce you to the mysterious atmosphere of the matter that can be used to read the future or to convey feelings. Alexandru Ghildus, president of the Plastic Artists Union, was born in 1952 in Bucharest. After graduating from the Plastic Arts Institute in Bucharest, he had a lot of successful displays: the Simeza Gallery (1994), the International Design gallery in Osaka, Japan, (1985), Ambient – Huber, St. Polten, Austria (1993), Cultural Centre Ioannatoy, Athens, Greece (1994), Hotel Ritz Carltton (Chicago, 1997), the Romanian Cultural Centre, New York (1997). Dan Bancila was born in 1943, in Bucharest. The Plastic Arts Institute in the same city was a launching ramp towards his displays: the Decorative Arts Triennial in Bucharest 1969, the International Display in Budapest (1971), the Decorative Arts Quadrennial in Erfurt, Germany (1974), the Simeza Gallery (1975), The Glass Museum, Corning, USA (1979), the Decorative Arts Display in London (1981). Vladimir Cioroiu was born in London, in 1951. He was a student of the Plastic Arts Instate in Bucharest. He graduated in 1971. His displays: the “Atelier 35” Gallery, Bucharest (1983), Erfurt, Germany (1986), Kazanawa, Japan (1988), Oslo (1990), Corning, New York (1991), Biot, France (1992), the National Glass Art Salon (1998).