Artists > April Wagner

Art is nothing more than the tangible interpretation of the experience of being human.  Being human is a difficult and often lonely journey in which we strive to understand ourselves and the world around us. Through art we attempt to see ourselves more clearly. Whether reviled or revered, we are affected. Nothing speaks to our humanity more than the arts.

I am a maker of objects. Since I was young I’ve always had a desire to make things with my hands. It’s visceral and primitive and fundamental.  If you ask me as an artist why I make something, I’ll tell you I had to do it – I couldn’t not do it. It is as necessary to me as breathing. Each piece I create is a part of me brought to life and given to the viewer. Whether deemed successful or not, I continue creating.

In college I discovered molten glass as a material. It was love at first sight and in the 19 years since, nothing has changed. Glass captivates me with its seductive allure. In my work I try to capture the fluidity and grace of the glass without over-tooling and marring it. The physical act of creating glass, taking raw material and breathing life into it, defines my place in the universe. Using this material requires skills that take years to master and I am somewhere in the middle of my journey.

I am intrigued by the process of blowing glass into linear and organic shapes. Then I play with them in space. By turning, twisting, or repeating the shapes I investigate their relationship to floor, wall, or tabletop. In creating multiples and assembling the shapes together, almost like found objects, I create large scale pieces. I use color to push and pull the eye around or up and down the piece.

My intension is to create objects that are captivating to look at in their environment. Whether a private, public, or corporate space I choose the colors, shapes, and scale of the work in direct response to that specific environment and that viewer. Ultimately the viewer must consider the fragility, strength, and beauty of this material. It’s like giving the eyes a little piece of candy to suck on and savor the rest of your life.