H: 31.2 cm, Diam (max): 33.5 cm, Weight: 107.25 lb
Colorless and multi-colored opaque glass; multiple layers, hot-worked; flameworked, fused murrine, dichroic glass, blown elements; applied cane drawing, decoration, and gold and silver foils; engraved.
This week’s MotD Theme: A-Round the Globe in 7 Days
This extraordinary 100-pound glass paperweight resides in the Corning Museum of Glass located in Corning, NY. In 2005 the museum commissioned contemporary glass “artist Josh Simpson to create the world’s first 100-pound glass paperweight, which will be part of Simpson’s series of solid glass spheres he calls ‘planets’ or ‘Megaplanets.’ It will be the 1,000th paperweight in the Museum’s collection and one of the key pieces in the exhibition Worlds Within: The Evolution of the Paperweight.” – www.cmog.org
What a stunning piece of global art! From CMOG’s article about the Megaplanet:
With the creation of this extraordinary 100-pound Megaplanet, Simpson [takes] his talent and skill to a new level. He [pushed] the boundaries of the material, and he [achieved] something that has never been accomplished by any other artist. The result [is] both technically remarkable and stunningly beautiful. It [is] an exciting addition to the Worlds Within exhibition and the Museum’s permanent collection.
The Museum site offers gorgeous close-up views of this beautiful piece on their megaplanet gallery page. On their article about the Megaplanet page, you can read the step-by-step process along with related images.
View more of Josh’s “planets” via his planet gallery page. For all of his amazing glass art pieces, check out his main gallery page.
Inspiration For Today
Josh’s Megaplanet inspires us to stretch our imagination, our creativity, in all aspects of our lives…even our current state of being-ness. Push the envelope! Grow! Expand! Our future selves will be ever so grateful.
Happy Coloring!
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