Wayne Husted

In Collaboration with the Nourot Glass Studio
Introduces
Abstractions in Glass / A Return to Form

With a combined total of over 70 years as glass
artists, Wayne Husted and Micheal Nourot have
collaborated to create the Beyond Olana series.

“Husted was a maverick who cemented Blenko Glass’ place in history.”
—Damon Crain
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles

“Nourot Glass is a leader in the current studio glass movement.”
—Suzanne K. Frantz
Former Curator, Corning Museum of Glass

Beyond Olana #2

A return to form

Micheal Nourot, a pioneer in the studio glass movement, interned at the esteemed Venini factory in Murano, Italy, and before building his own glass factory/studio in 1974, he was one of the exclusive group of glass artists who established the Pilchuck School. Nourot has been commissioned to create unique glass for many leading architects and forward thinking corporations.

Wayne Husted is new to studio glass but his designs throughout the 1950’s for the Blenko Glass Company were ten years ahead of the studio glass movement. His non-functional forms and gigantic floor pieces were unprecedented. His glass originals are in many museums and books, and over the past few years his work has become very popular with collectors. Dr. Leslie Pina in her authoritative book Blenko Catalogs Then and Now notes “Collectors have sought after Wayne Husted’s designs more than any other." Blenko Glass Collectors

”In 2001, after an absence of 48 years, Husted was invited back to the Blenko factory to appear in a fundraising film for public television. While at Blenko for the filming, he commandeered a shop and created new pieces that he called the Olana Group.

His Olana concept exploited Blenko’s exceptional color capabilities. He concieved the Olana group as abstract color compositions in glass. They were the first gallery-level Husted originals ever offered by the venerable Blenko Glass Company. Nourot Studio is unique in that like Blenko it melts five or six chemically compatible colors simultaneously. Now, Husted has chosen glass artist Micheal Nourot, to continue to develop the Olana concept.

Beyond Olana abstract compositions in glass are also a result of Husted’s interest in developing new glass forming processes. A holder of over 30 patents, the Beyond Olana pieces depend on Husted’s new technique for cutting molten glass.

Micheal Nourot says “Working with Wayne, I have found a new way to work the glass. Moving away from round and to a more natural and organic way of letting the glass flow is invigorating, and adds to the dance.” Together, Husted and Nourot share a common belief that studio glass has become too baroque, and that the Beyond Olana series is a return to form.