Gordon, Russel T.; Treib, Marc E.

Original Exhibition Poster: Marvin Lipofsky (1969)

Salt Lake City, UT, USA: n/p, 1969. First Edition. Single Sheet. American glass artist Marvin Lipofsky (1938-2016) was a central figure in the dissemination of the American Studio Glass Movement, introducing it to California through his tenure as an instructor at the University of California, Berkeley. This poster for a 1969 exhibition of Lipofsky’s California Loop Series comes from the collection of Lipofsky himself, procured by us through an auction. In 1967, Lipofsky founded the glass program at the California College of Arts and Crafts, which he headed for two decades. He was also a founder of the Glass Art Society (G.A.S.) Lipofsky's works are colorful "bubbles" of glass with organically-inspired shapes and forms. Lipofsky was experimental in his methods and techniques to work around the limited availability of colored glass. He impressed his peers by applying his own color and textures with paint, copper plating, fuming, and flocking. His breakout abstract glass sculptures, referred to as the California Loop Series, were featured in this exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. This series was considered by Lipofsky to be his first true glass series with at least forty pieces included, and he went on to create at least 75 series of works before his death. Lipofsky’s impact and influence on the glass-blowing medium at large cannot be understated. The designer of this poster Marc Treib (b. 1943) is now professor Emeritus of Architecture at the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley. Russell T. Gordon (1936–2013), an American painter and printmaker, provided the drawings that Treib incorporated into his design. The colors and shapes grab the attention of viewers as they attempt to decipher the composition. The soft gray and white background could represent the world of glass blowing before Lipofsky’s innovations. Two small messages are included: “BLOW GLASS!” is in a speech bubble near the bottom and “END ALL WAR!” is at the center within a magenta stripe. The pink cloud in the background contrasts with a blue arch of molten glass in the process of being shaped that resembles many of the pieces included in the series. A green biplane flies through the blue arch, and the remaining shapes are left up to interpretation. Perhaps the only remaining copy of this poster, preserved by the artist himself, promoting one of Lipofsky’s earliest exhibitions of his inaugural collection of abstract sculptures. A truly rare piece of art history! Single sheet (appx. 14 7/8” x 22 5/8”): first edition, presumed first-&-only printing, as was typical for event posters during this era. In very fine condition with only the slightest bumping, creasing to the bottom right corner and nearby bottom edge. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore an extra handling fee of $5.00 will be required. Very Fine. [Item #6939]

Price: $250.00