“Carved by Sand” exhibition featuring works by Daniel Moe

“Carved by Sand” exhibition featuring works by Daniel Moe

Volcano Art Center (VAC) will be presenting recent artwork by Daniel Moe in an exhibit titled Carved By Sand beginning January 9th – February 7th, 2016.  The solo show features a new collection of blown, sculpted and carved glass work which explores patterns, symbols and images which highlight the environment, spirit and culture of life on Hawai‘i Island.
Daniel Moe was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1967 where he received his bachelor’s degree in Hot Glass from The University of Wisconsin in 1991.  He then studied with masters of the glass medium at Pilchuck Glass School, today the world’s most comprehensive center for glass blowing education.   Inspired by the work of innovative glass artists like William Morris, Karen Willenbrink and Chihuly, Moe committed himself even more deeply to a career in glass.

Being drawn by a powerful calling from the Island of Hawai‘i in 1999 was a key factor to further expand his connection to Mother Earth with his creative glass work. He currently lives and works in Kalapana where he gets his inspiration from living with Kilauea volcano just a few miles away from his home/studio. The Kalapana region is also known for its dramatic ocean waters. Waves eternally and passionately crash on the breathtaking lava cliffs moving Daniel to create his ocean wave series.

Daniel finds tremendous support in integrating his creative energy through the daily practice of Kundalini yoga, which he claims keeps him disciplined, young and excited about life. He gives thanks for the positive impact of his brothers from the Mankind Project, the extraordinary support and love from his wife, and the driving force of his two daughters.  All of these being pivotal to the ongoing transformation and maturity of his glass work.

Today Moe makes glass during three or four, six week-long studio sessions each year. He works with an apprentice as well as several assistants.  He is continuing to create his beloved Kilauea collection, which includes the Kilauea crackled vase; a shiny, black vessel with orange veins and hot lava flowing from it.  The Kalapana Kai collection, which features the Kalapana Kai wave; a loose, cresting, clear blue wave. While his newest body of work features large cylindrical vases with complex graphic designs sandblasted into them in smooth orange, red, yellow or blue glass. The new pieces feel primal, tribal and weighty, and appear to glow from inside.

“I fell in love with glass as a medium to express my love and connection to nature. When I approach glass in its fluid state, I feel as if this connection is enhanced. Tuning into this sacred space, allows me to understand the link between the earth elements and my own.

Glass is not only a material, it is matter, living its own life, a powerful medium of communication. It is both beautiful and treacherous. It lends itself to metaphor because it can imitate some things, such as water, magma, stone and suggest other things like air and light. It is poetry. The ephemeral changing colors and movement of magma and moving water are properties of the glass itself. It can be liquid, viscous, transparent, opaque, shiny, solid, adaptable, flowing and versatile. This makes it the perfect material to express the dynamic raw and liberating energy revealed in the Aina (land) of Hawaii”

“Volcano Art Center is excited to share Daniel Moe’s new collection of glass with the public through the Carved By Sand Exhibition,” states Gallery Manager Emily C. Weiss.  “We have long admired Daniel’s ability to translate what naturally occurs before our eyes here at Kilauea through his medium.  Seeing him branch out of a very successful, well developed body of work is courageous.  VAC is honored to be the first to share this new, exceptional work with our members and visitors.”

Carved By Sand will be on display from 9am to 5pm daily at the Volcano Art Center Gallery inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The exhibition is free to the public though park entrance fees apply.  The artist will be present at an opening reception on Saturday, January 9^th from 5 to 7pm.