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Robert Geyer  Artist Statement I am interested in exploring the inherent narratives attached to the materials I use in my art practice. Because all materials are freighted with information about the history and culture of the time of their usage, they provide me with an opportunity to encourage the viewer to develop a heightened awareness of their significance to past and present cultures. Currently, I am very interested in the relationship between glass and architecture. My interest stems from an analysis of the use of glass in gothic churches. Gothic architecture is characterized by sophisticated vaulted ceilings which freed the walls from being the sole weight bearing element of a building. This allowed cathedrals to be constructed with enormous stained glass windows that filled the building with intriguing and mysterious color fields. This light spectacle dissolved the physical solidity of the church and the patron was told that they were in a place that had a much closer connection between the temporal and divine realm. Light transmitting through the glass became a means in which to attract people to spiritual politics and thus was a very effective tool for the diocese. Contemporary sky scrapers are constructed in the same manner so that they can be covered with a glass envelope. The glass skin reflects the world around them and thus naturalizes them within their surroundings. Buildings constructed this way are objectified by how their glass coating reflects and interacts within their environment rather than their utilitarian function. The transition from office tower to glass architectural object by buildings in an urban environment raises questions about the transparency of private interests in the public sector. Most specifically how the usage of glass removes the function and narrative associated with a building and relegates it to the category of beautiful shiny object. I have been constructing architectural models of fictitious buildings out of window glass. When lit like windows in a cathedral, the glass and structure become secondary to the complex interplay of reflected light on the surroundings. The ability of glass to both transmit and reflect light creates mysterious, sophisticated, three dimensional shadows that reference the structures, and yet exist as something completely separate. Curriculum Vitae  E d u c a t i o n 2005-2007 M.F.A. candidate in Glass, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, U.S.A. 2002-2005 B.F.A. (Honors) in Sculpture, Emily Carr Institute, Vancouver, Canada. 1990-1994 B.A., Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. P r o f e s s i o n a l E x p e r i e n c e 2005-2007 Graduate Student Technician for Glass Studio, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 2006 Teaching Assistant for Professor Jon Clark, Advanced Glass, Spring and Fall Semester. Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA. 2006-2007 Graduate Student Representative, Search Committee, Tenure Track Faculty position in Ceramics/Glass. Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 2006-2007 Director and Curator, The Barber Shop Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Exhibited Faculty and Graduate Students from Tyler School of Art. 2003-2005 Teaching Assistant for Stephen Paul Day and Gerhard Ribka, Bild-Werk Academy, Frauenau, Germany. 2005 Teaching Assistant for Professor Jennie Shanker, Foundation Sculpture, Fall Semester. Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA. 2001-2004 Head Teaching Assistant and Technician for Red Deer College’s Summer Semester Glass Program. During this time I was the Teaching Assistant for Nick Mount, Stephen Paul Day, Mitchel Gaudet, Randy Walker, Karen Willenbrink, Irene Frolic, Steve Klein and many others. 2004 Instructor, Sand Casting Glass, Fall Semester, Red Deer College Fine Art Degree Program. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada 2003-2004 Instructor, Glass Blowing, Red Deer College Summer Semester  Glass Program. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. 2004 Guest Lecturer: Alberta College of Art and Design. Glass and Narrative. October 2, 2004. 2002 Teaching Assistant for Sybille Peretti and Stephen Paul Day, Fall Concentration, Penland School of Art and Craft, Penland, North Carolina. 1996-2000 Completed Traditional Five Year Glass Blowing Apprenticeship. Robert Held Studios, Vancouver, Canada. S e l e c t e d E x h i b i t i o n s 2007 CAA New York Area MFA Exhibition. Feb 1, 2007 – March 26th 2007. Hunter College Times Square Gallery, New York City. 2006 Installation Exhibition, The Barber Shop, Philadelphia, PA. 2005 Blown Glass Exhibition, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA. 2005 Cast Glass Exhibition, Charles H. Scott Gallery, Vancouver, Canada. 2005 Alchemy Exhibition, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr Institute. Vancouver, Canada. 2004 Pilchuk Auction Exhibition, Seattle, WA. 2004 Glass and the Bigger Picture Exhibition, Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2004 From Hands to Lips Drinking Vessel Exhibition, Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, Toronto, Canada. 2004 Simon Fraser University Biennial Glass Exhibition, Simon Fraser University Gallery, Vancouver, Canada. 2004 Accumulated Effects Exhibition, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr Institute, Vancouver, Canada. 2003-2004 Emily Carr Institute Scholarship Winners Exhibition, Emily Carr Institute, Vancouver, Canada. 2003 Red Deer College Instructors Exhibition. Red Deer College Library, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. 2002 WunderKammer Exhibition, Penland School of Art and Craft, Penland, North Carolina. Cast Glass Installation. 2001 British Columbia Glass Artist Association Exhibition, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, Canada. 2000 Simon Fraser University Biennial Glass Exhibition, Simon Fraser University Gallery, Vancouver, Canada. A w a r d s 2006 Rome Art and Culture Fellowship. Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 2005-2007 Graduate Academic Tuition Assistantship and Stipend. Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 2005 British Columbia Arts Council, Senior Award for Visual Art. Victoria, Canada. 2003-2004 All Institute Tuition Scholarship Award, Emily Carr Institute, Vancouver, Canada. 2004 Brissenden Fine Arts Award. Financial Award for outstanding Visual Art Students at the Emily Carr Institute.Vancouver, Canada. 2004 Diane Farris Gallery Sculpture Award, Vancouver, Canada. 2003 Christopher Investments Fine Art Award. Financial Award for outstanding Visual Art students at the Emily Carr Institute. Vancouver, Canada. P u b l i c a t i o n s 2006 Glass and Print by Kevin Petrie. pg. 36. A&C Black Publishers, London, England.
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