Madison, WI ARTIST STATMENTGlass glowing is often compared with dance, for its physical nature and demanding timing. There is a play of elements which must come all together perfectly in order for the work to succeed, seeming at once enviable and vaguely unsettling.My work is grounded in the faith that insight which is beyond words can manifest itself through physical creation and the belief that artwork with integrity has the capacity to communicate something beyond the sum of its parts, which is wordless--that a work is able to be a finger pointing at the moon. My inspirations come from other vessel making traditions, particularly East-Asian decorative arts, but mostly from trying to ask the right questions and letting myself be surprised. BIOGRAPHYRichard Jones’ life as an artist began early with drawing lessons from a neighbor that propelled him on a path that led to a BFA in glass from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1988. Jones' art practice over the years has encompassed many creative endeavors including multimedia and installation art. He is perhaps best known for his work as the creative force behind Studio Paran in Madison, WI. For 30 years, Jones produced exquisitely designed and crafted blown-glass vessels and sculptures. Since closing his glass furnace in 2020, due to the massive carbon footprint of running such an operation, Jones has explored new avenues for creation and returned to his lifelong commitment to drawing.