"Glass is captivating, with its distinctive ability to bend and layer color and light in three dimensions. The unique properties of molten glass and the limited window it offers to complete a creation bring a compelling intensity and urgency to the creative process. Blowing glass continually inspires pushing the limits of the material and my skill in working it. Seductive yet unforgiving, glass physically and permanently reflects the artist's understanding of its complex properties. My work is firmly rooted in the intensive exploration of the myriad creative opportunities and technical challenges of contemporary Venetian-style cane and murrine.
"Resistenza, my most recent series, combine deliberate lines with the grace inherent in the fluidity of liquid glass. Resistenza are an aesthetic balance; variation in proportion, transparency and opacity, contrasting and/or complimentary tones. While similar in form, all are one-of-a-kind and utilize a broad range of exciting and challenging techniques with cane and murrine. As a body of work, Resistenza vary widely in a variety of expression such as complexity, tone, texture, palette, personality and even how loud they speak. This may read as a bit of a free-for-all but I consider the form my canvas and the diversity of compositions accurately reflect my approach to creation as I concurrently explore a variety of ideas and designs with minimal limits. Some themes that provide continuity in this series come through windows of varying shapes, colors and sizes, providing views into and through the pieces to contrast or disrupt their solidity, enticing the viewer to peer inside or through. Resistenza tend to either demand attention or have a quiet presence that invites closer examination."
Born and raised in New York, David Patchen has resided in the San Francisco Bay area for the past nine years. While a musician for two decades, he now exclusively directs his creative energies to expressions in glass and photography. David has studied with Sean Salstrum, Jerry Kung, Pamina Traylor and at the studio of Afro Celotto, maestro and former assistant to Lino Tagliapietra in Murano, Italy. He was awarded an artistic merit scholarship to attend a juried class at Pilchuck Glass School summer, 2006.
David is actively involved in the glass arts community as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors at Public Glass, member, Board of Directors of the Glass Alliance of Northern California and as a member of the Alliance of Clay and Glass Artists. David creates his work and occasionally instructs at Public Glass in San Francisco.
