About: The Artist
Ron Reisman
Ron Reisman has worked in all aspects of glass art since the early 1980’s . An accomplished artist, with extensive training at prestigious institutions including the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Salem College and the Pittsburgh Glass Center, he maintains a professional studio in Southern New Jersey, not far from his hometown of Philadelphia. His dedication to pursuing the most challenging form of kiln work, glass casting, led him to establish his Nine Day Wonder Studio in 2000, and his pieces are in private collections and select galleries. His latest endeavor, a line of beautiful crystal medallion sculptures, represents the culmination of years of technical experimentation, experience and expertise with this most difficult medium.
Why the Name “Nine Day Wonder”?
“As children growing up, we all search for our passion in life, often experimenting with numerous activities, hobbies and interests, and discarding them before finding the true match with which we will embark on a lifelong journey. For me, that passion was glass.
“The phrase ‘nine day wonder’ dates back from well before the 17th century (actually the term is ‘nine days wonder’) meaning something which soon becomes boring, or a novelty that loses its appeal after a few days. I named my studio ‘Nine Day Wonder’ as an ironic inside joke, since my involvement with glass art is more than thirty years and counting… hardly a… Nine Day Wonder!”
Artist Statement
“The circle is a spiritual symbol of wholeness. It’s been associated since ancient times with astrology, religion and many kinds of rituals. The Buddhist and Hindu Mandalas representing the universe, the sacred geometry of crop circles, the Native American medicine wheel representing the circle of life, the Feng Shui symbol of harmony and unity… all these and more recognize and embrace the mystical power and aspects of the circle.
“While I don’t claim that my sculptures possess mystical or spiritual qualities, I do find that the crystal medallions placed in a room have an amazing affect…energizing yet calming at the same time. Perhaps it’s the way they counterbalance and compensate for the many sharp angles in a room, or the ethereal glow of their monochromatic glass. Possibly it’s the combination of a classic architectural element with a thoroughly modern and elegant sculptural material. Whatever the reason, they seem to maintain their intrigue and interest over time.
“My goal in creating these medallions as vertical glass sculpture is to provide a beautiful vehicle for this circular phenomenon. But it is also to redefine an architectural component that has today become primarily a complimentary accessory in interior molding composition and overhead lighting décor. I want to celebrate and to showcase their time-honored motifs…Neoclassical, Georgian, Baroque, Federal, Empire, Victorian, Art Nouveau, as well as the more contemporary designs. By rendering them as signature pieces in crystal and metal, I hope to draw new attention to them as focal pieces in their own right.”