July 2013 - August 2013

Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts is proud to announce a Glass Art Exhibition featuring artists Nate Lynn, Drew Jaeger and Jenn Justad. The exhibition will be held from July 13 through August 10. An opening reception will be held at the FOCI Studio on July 13 from 5-9PM, and is free and open to the public.

At the reception, each of the artists will be on hand providing demonstrations and discussing their work. A drawing will be held to win one of their several donated creations. Food and drinks will be served.

Jenn Justad

Jennifer Justad was first introduced to the art of glass blowing during an art history trip to Venice, Italy. It wasn't until her college career in Wisconsin that she actually had the opportunity to work with the fascinating material. After being thrown into the medium at art intensive camp, she continued her glass education in Chicago with glass artist Pearl Dick. Her time spent in the glass studio, however was very infrequent. It wasn't until she moved back to her home state of Minnesota, and took up mentorships with Minneapolis glass artists Todd Cameron and David Royce, the her love for glass really started to grow. Since her start at Foci – Minnesota Center for Glass Arts three years ago, she has expanded her knowledge of glass and sculpture. While renting time at the non-profit in Northeast Minneapolis she has created a wide ranging portfolio of work focusing on objects ranging from brightly colored cupcakes and ice cream cones to the intricate details of the human heart.

Artist Statement:

We all know that our heart beats, but very few are aware of the inner workings of this vital organ. The same can be said of relationships. We are often not privy to the entire inner workings of all human interactions, unaware of their depth and story. After heart break and emotional turmoil in college I developed an attachment to the form of the human heart. I was drawn to its dual symbolism of the ever present part of human life but the often overlooked intricacies of the organ itself.

Once time had passed and healed many wounds, my affinity to the heart remained constant. The aesthetics and details held my interest, and the challenge of making such an important part of our anatomy out of glass continues to inspire my work.

 Drew Jaeger

Drew Jaeger has been blowing glass for five years. He first started by taking a paperweight class at Foci and was immediately hooked. He has taking several classes and workshops over the last five years always wanting to learn and try new things. Drew makes a variety of forms including vases, cups, goblets, and bowls. He also sculpts pieces out of hot glass including glass cheeseburgers and glass cameras. 

Drew got his start in creating with glass in stained glass. He branched off from there into kiln formed glass, which he still does. He is looking forward to future work combining the kiln work and glass blowing together.

Nate Lynn

Nate began his glass study at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids Minnesota in 2006. He soon realized that glass blowing was his passion, gift and chosen life path. He has mentored under award winning master glass blower Michael Boyd, and David Royce at Foci Glass/ Minnesota Center for Glass Arts. Nate's mentors and classes taken at Foci have help him steadily developed a strong and deep foundation in glass blowing and the confidence to venture further creatively.  

Nate combines his deep love of nature with his passion for music as inspiration in his creative glass blowing process.  Music has a direct influence in the casted guitars Nate creates. Bottles featuring unique color designs and transparent lenses have become a signature style of Nate’s. Color and unique designs are important aspects of Nate’s work. Sculptural pieces have become a bigger part of Nate’s portfolio. Star Wars inspired sculptures, and sculptures of skulls with the brain inside are now popular pieces of Nate’s.

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