Candi Durusu

Background

Candi found glass art in sculptural form to be a lesson in material science, design and philosophy she never thought possible when she first started melting glass rods in flame in May 2008. The only academic training in art that Candi has is calligraphy for sign making. The rest has been through self instruction and intermittent coursework in materials that led to a lifetime of experimentation. A love of material and what it does has produced periods her life immersed in clothing design, culinary professionalism and, currently, glass sculpture. One could say she experiments with media that may, with the proper skill, make verbs visible.

Influences

Candi first studied lampworking with a class at the Corcoran School of Art with John Winter in 2008. She was introduced to hollow form by instructions from Chad Pitts. As time and classes progressed she became more interested in borosilicate/scientific glass and studied for several months in 2013-15 with Robert Kincheloe at the Workhouse Arts Center. She is inspired by the kinetic sculptural works of Bandhu Dunham and the hollow sculptural works of Carmen Lozar. Candi is currently a Resident Artist in Building 7 at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia and a member of the Virginia Firebirds a chapter of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers.

Philosophy

Glass as a material is very old, but it’s applications are also very modern. With technical improvements as a material, it is increasingly being incorporated in our lives at every practical level. Candi looks to the art movements of early half the previous century: mainly the Modernist and Surrealist schools. She also ponders the humor of Netsuke carvings of Japan and the Objet Trouve sculptures of Marcel DuChamp when in need of inspiration.