Robin Cass earned her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MFA from Alfred University. An educator as well as an artist, she been faculty in the Glass Program at the Rochester Institute of Technology since 1998, and is currently serving Associate Dean of RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Cass has been invited to teach and lecture at numerous domestic and international venues including Hong Kong Baptist University; the National College of Art in Dublin; and L’viv National Academy of Arts in Ukraine. Cass has also taught glassblowing at venues including Pilchuck Glass School, Haystack and The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Although she includes a range of materials in her sculptures, Cass has worked with hot glass as her primary artistic medium for over 25 years. She was trained in the discipline of traditional Italian glassblowing, and uses these skills in new ways to create compelling biomorphic forms. Her current work explores themes of discovery, perception and wonder.
Her pieces are included in several recent publications including “Masters of Blown Glass”, by Susan Rossi-Wilcox, and “25 Years of New Glass Review” by Tina Oldknow, curator at the Corning Museum of Glass. She was also recently featured in the April 2014 issue of American Craft Magazine. Robin has exhibited her sculptural work extensively, and her pieces can be found in a number of public and private collections in the United States and abroad. In recent years her work has been exhibited in Osaka, Japan and Quindong, China.
CV
ROBIN CASS
Associate Dean & Professor
College of Imaging Arts and Sciences Rochester Institute of Technology
Board of Directors, Glass Art Society, 2004–2010
robin.cass@rit.edu 98 Hickory Street
Rochester, New York 14620 http://www.robincass.com
EDUCATION
| 1998 | New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred UniversityMFA Sculpture/Glass | Alfred, NY |
| 1993 | Rhode Island School of DesignBFA Sculpture/Glass | Providence, RI |
| 1988-1990 | McGill UniversityStudies in political science and anthropology | Montreal, Quebec |
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| 2015 | MenagerieAXOM Gallery | Rochester, NY |
| 2011 | Curious GrowthsShift Gallery | Seattle, WA |
| 2011 | Solo ExhibitionGallery at Osaka University of Art | Osaka, Japan |
| 2008 | New WorkOckHee Gallery | Rochester, NY |
| 2007 | YieldAlexander Brest Museum | Jacksonville, Fl |
| 2006 | New WorkTittott Museum of Glass | Taipei, Taiwan |
| 2006 | LinkagesRochester Contemporary Gallery, Lab Space | Rochester, NY |
| 2005 | Common AfflictionsNTID Dyer Arts Center at RIT | Rochester, NY |
| 2002 | New Work in Glass and MetalAppalachian Center | Smithville, TN |
| 2001 | A Slight BreachBromfield Gallery | Boston, MA |
| 2001 | RevelationsArc Gallery | Chicago, IL |
| 2000 | Vital RevelationsGalerie Raphael Essebag | Montreal, Quebec |
| 1997 | Toys and TrapsThe Field Gallery | Martha’s Vineyard, MA |
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| 2015 | FLOW / GROW:Qingdao Contemporary Glass Art ExhibitionQingdao Archives & Research Center for Contemporary Art | Qingdao, China |
| 2015 | Parallel Frequencies: SeattleTraver Gallery | Seattle, WA |
| 2015 | Foundlings: A Tribute to Misfitscollaborative installation with Bill KlingensmithRochester Contemporary Arts Center | Rochester, NY |
| 2015 | Parallel FrequenciesCohen Gallery at Alfred University | Alfred, NY |
| 2014 | The Next: A Studio Glass ContinuumTower Gallery | Brockport, NY |
| 2014 | Glass InvitationalEXHIBIT “A” Contemporary Art | Corning, NY |
| 2013 | Wheaton Glass: The Art of the FellowshipMuseum of American Glass | Wheaton, NJ |
| 2011 – 2012 | ProloguesGallery R | Rochester, NY |
| 2011 | A Really Big Small Works ShowPittsburgh Glass Center | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2011 | International Ceramic and Glass Art inthe 21st Century – 10 years of Seto Artists in ResidenceSeto City Art Museum | Seto City, Japan |
| 2009 | The 60th Year:Teaching Faculty of The School for American CraftsBevier Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY |
| 2009 | “Inspired By” invitational exhibitionTraver Gallery | Tacoma, Washington |
| 2009 | Glass Under GlasLong Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences | New Jersey |
| 2008 | “A Gathering of Contemporary Glass”Farnsworth Museum of Art | Rockland, Maine |
| 2008 | Clear Your Mind: Contemporary Glass InvitationalFigge Art Museum | Davenport, IA |
| 2007 | A Gathering of Contemporary GlassFarnsworth Museum | Rockland, ME |
| 2007 | Contemporary Glass InvitationalFullerton Art Museum | San Bernadino, CA |
| 2006 | Anniversary InvitationalPrism Contemporary | Chicago, IL |
| 2006 | Artist’s Choice ExhibitionHabatat Gallery | Boca Raton, FL |
| 2006 | Compelled by Content IIFraser Gallery | Washington, DC |
| 2006 | Sculpture: Cast, Carved, ConstructedSchweinfurth Art Center | Auburn, NY |
| 2005 | International Glass and Ceramic Art Festival ExhibitionSeto City Cultural Center | Aichi, Japan |
| 2004 | Glass Symposium ExhibitionNational Museum of Ukraine | Lviv, Ukraine |
| 2004 | Everyday Transparencies: The Function of GlassMuseum of Art | Jacksonville, FL |
| 2004 | Annual InvitationalCorning College | Corning, NY |
| 2004 | InvitationalAppalachian Center | Smithville, TN |
| 2003 | Upstate InvitationalRochester Contemporary | Rochester, NY |
| 2003 | S.C.C.C. Residency ExhibitionSeto City Cultural Center | Seto, Japan |
| 2003 | 20/20 Vision: CGCA RetrospectiveMuseum of American Glass | Millville, NJ |
| 2003 | Artists of my Area/EraBubba Mavis | Seattle, WA |
| 2002 | American Glass Educators ExhibitionTittot Museum | Taipei, Taiwan |
| 2002 | The Wheeler Gallery | Providence, RI |
| 2001 | Material History:A Cultural Exploration in Fiber and GlassStarr Gallery | Newton, MA |
| 2001 | New TalentJon Elder Gallery | New York, NY |
| 2001 | Glass EvolutionChappell Gallery | Boston, MA |
| 2001 | Finger Lakes Biennial ExhibitionMemorial Art Gallery | Rochester, NY |
| 2001 | Content: Glass InvitationalClark Gallery | Lincoln, MA |
| 2000 | Material WorldMarta Hewett Gallery | Cincinnati, OH |
| 1997 | International Glass Symposium Participants ExhibitionThe Glass Museum of Novy Bor | The Czech Republic |
| 1997 | Glass 1997The Bristol Museum of Art | Bristol, RI |
| 1994 | Transparent, Translucent, OpaqueStarr Gallery | Newton, MA |
1992 All Consuming Images
Visual Arts Center of Alaska Anchorage, AK
SELECT PUBLICATIONS
| 2014 | Artist Profile “Queen of Parts”American Craft MagazineThe full text can be found here:http://craftcouncil.org/magazine/article/queen-parts |
| 2012 | “Blazing a Trail of Artistic Innovation”Research at RIT magazine |
| 2010 | Masters of Blown Glass: significant works by leading artistsEdited by Susan Rossi Wilcox |
| 2010 | Breaking Ground: Craft Art in Western New YorkBarbara Lovenheim |
| 2006 | 25 years of New Glass ReviewTina Oldknow, The Corning Museum of Glass |
| 2003 | Women in GlassKohler, Lucartha Shiffer Publisher |
| 2001 | GlassblowingCass, Robin Glass Art Society Annual Journal essay |
| June 2001 | Review of “Visionary Women” ExhibitionNetsky, Ronald City Paper Rochester, NY |
| September 2001 | Exhibitions Review of “Content: Glass Invitational”Sculpture Magazine |
| January 2001 | “Gallery” pictorial sectionAmerican Craft Magazine |
| June 2000 | Exhibition Review of “Vital Revelations”Lehmann, Henry, Montreal Gazette |
| Winter 2001 | pictorialRISD Views |
| August 1997 | Exhibition Review of “Toys and Traps”Vineyard Gazette |
| 1994 | Juror StatementFrantz, Suzanne, New Glass Review |
CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
| 2005 | Pennsylvania State Museum exhibition and competition, “State of the Art”Sole Juror for the sculpture and crafts categories | Harrisburg, PA |
| 2005 | Judge “100 New York Craftsmen”Competition at the Kenan Center for the Arts in | Buffalo, NY |
| 2003 | “Poetry of Science:An International Exhibition of Glass Sculpture”The Gallery at One Bausch & Lomb Place | Rochester, NY |
| 2001 | “Material and Meaning: New Glass by Emerging Artists”Gallery R | Rochester, NY |
| 2001 | “Visionary Women:An International Exhibition of Glass Sculpture”The Gallery at One Bausch & Lomb Place | Rochester, NY |
UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
| 1998-present | Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts, Rochester, NYFull Professor 2010Faculty since 1998Acting Program Chair for the 2000 and 2001 academic years designed and implemented two new courses: “Art & Glass in Northern Italy” RIT Study Abroad Course in Venice & Florence, Italy 7/01“Glass in Venice: History & Practice” RIT Study Abroad Course in Venice, Italy 7/04 |
| 1996 – 1998 | NYSCC at Alfred University Alfred, NYGraduate Assistant Instructor of Undergraduate Glass and Freshman Foundation courses |
WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS
| 2010 | Tama Universitylecture and demonstration | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2010 | Kent State University, Blossom Arts ProgramWorkshop Instructor | Kent, OH |
| 2010 | Visiting ArtistSOFA Collectors Reception at UrbanGlass | Brooklyn, New York |
| 2008 | California College of ArtsLecture | Oakland, CA |
| 2008 | San Jose State UniversityLecture, Glassblowing workshop, Visiting Critic | San Jose, CA |
| 2008 | National College of Art & DesignGlassblowing workshop | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2005, 2002 | Pilchuck Glass SchoolGlassblowing workshop instructor | Stanwood, WA |
| 2008, 2004, 2002 | The Studio of The Corning Museum of GlassGlassblowing workshop instructor | Corning, NY |
| 2003 | Jacksonville UniversityGlassblowing workshop instructor | Jacksonville, FL |
| 2002 | Kook Min Universitytaught two day workshop in the Glass Program, and acted as Visiting Critic for final reviews | Seoul, Korea |
| 2002 | Aichi University of EducationGlassblowing workshop instructor with Peter Ivy | Aichi, Japan |
| 2002 | The National College of ArtGlassblowing workshop instructor | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2000 | Haystack Craft SchoolGlassblowing workshop instructor | Deer Isle, Maine |
| 1994 | UrbanGlassWorkshop Instructor “Vessel as Canvas” | New York, NY |
RESIDENCIES
2014 Hauberg Residency
Pilchuck Glass School
2010 Artist in Residence
Osaka University of Art
2008 Tacoma Museum of Glass and Center for Contemporary Art
Stanwood, WA Osaka, Japan Tacoma, WA
2005 Tacoma Museum of Glass and Center for Contemporary Art
Tacoma, WA
2002 Seto City Cultural Center Seto, Japan
1993 Creative Glass Center of America Millville, NJ
1991 Visual Arts Center of Alaska Anchorage AK
HONORS & GRANTS
2006, 2002 & 2000 New York State Arts and Cultural Council
4 Special Opportunity Stipend Grants in support of solo exhibitions
2012, 2007, 2005
& 1999
Rochester Institute of Technology nominated for “Eisenhart Outstanding Teacher Award”
2004 International Glass Symposium in L’viv, Ukraine Invited to participate as the only American representative and awarded supporting grants from the following groups:
The Ukrainian Group of Rochester The RIT Women’s Council
The RIT CIAS Honors Program
2003 Tiffany Foundation – nominated for Artist Fellowship Grant
2013, 2012, 2002,
1994 & 1993
New Glass Review selected for volumes 14 15, 23, 33 and 34.
2001 Rochester Institute of Technology Faculty Development Grant for exploration of borosilicate flame working
2001 Constance Saltonstall Foundation Sculpture Grant finalist
2001 Glass Art Society invited glassblowing demonstrator at 2001 GAS Conference in Corning, NY
2001 Memorial Art Gallery of Rochester “Louis D’Amanda Award” – Finger Lakes Exhibition
2001 Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass Full Grant for “Visionary Women” Exhibition Catalog
COLLECTIONS
| The Tacoma Museum of Glass & Center For Contemporary Art | Tacoma, WA |
| The Seto City Cultural Center | Seto, Japan |
| The Lady Helen Hamlyn | London, England |
| The Lviv Museum of Glass | L’viv, Ukraine |
| The Museum of American Glass | Millville, NJ |