Interview with Gary Genetti
I was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1953 but spent most of my childhood near a small town in southern Wisconsin. My home now is in New York State on the edge of a cow pasture about 70 minutes from New York City.
My first inspirations were my parents. My Father was an engineer and enjoyed the process of making things. My Mother is a lover of Nature and an enthusiastic observer of all the local flora and fauna surrounding our lakefront home. She is also a collector of many fascinating objects from around the world. I remember as a young child noticing her collection of small glass bottles displayed on each windowsill in our house. The sunlight would come though them and cast their colored shadows inside.
In adolescence and as a young adult I struggled with the possibilities of following a scientific or more artistic education. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with an emphasis in sculpture and graphics in 1976. I began working with glass in 1978 as an apprentice in a small production glass studio. I was very intrigued with the material as it seemed to require both a good deal of both engineering and artistic attention. I opened my own hot glass studio in 1980 and began my first experiments with abrasive etching as a decorative approach. As I became more and more familiar with the techniques involved I began to bring my drawing and graphic skills to my work and develop a style evocative of Nature and the natural beauty of glass.
I currently exhibit my work in both galleries and art/craft festivals throughout the country. As an independent artist I am responsible for both the business and artistic aspects of my career. It is a balancing act to keep both healthy and supportive of my family. I was very fortunate to have started when my needs were small and my time relatively flexible. Over the years of making and selling my work, I have found that by giving priority to the quality of expression and technical integrity there is the possibility of inspiring others to value what I create.
Gary Genetti
August, 2008