Meet Glassblower Christopher Belleau - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Meet Glassblower Christopher Belleau - Inside Art with Michael Rose

 

In a city that defines itself by its creative clout, long-standing art purveyors are a great asset on the cultural scene. Gallery Belleau, a fixture on Wickenden Street for nearly two decades, offers the glass creations of artist Christopher Belleau and much more. The artist behind the shop has brought his unique artistic vision to Providence and his gallery is a glittering emporium for glassblowing.

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Belleau came to Rhode Island from his home of Wisconsin in 1987. Originally a potter, who apprenticed starting at age 13 with a craftsman in his hometown, Belleau eventually came to focus on blown glass, which is now his medium of choice. Today, he creates his work with a tight knit team of assistants and collaborators in a studio he owns in East Providence. He then displays the finished products in his attractive storefront on the corner of Wickenden and East Streets in Providence. Gallery Belleau has been a fixture of the neighborhood for years and will celebrate its twentieth anniversary in just a few months. Recently, Belleau signed a lease renewal that will keep the gallery in place for the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

There was a time when Wickenden Street was peppered with galleries, but today just a few remain. Belleau’s space is an important anchor in the art community, and gives tourists and locals the opportunity to acquire original works of art glass. Visiting on a recent afternoon, Belleau’s shop was aglow with afternoon light transmuted through myriad tones of glass in the form of flowers, pumpkins, waves, and more. Alongside his own art, Belleau also offers pieces in a variety of media made by peer artists whose works are complimentary in style and execution.

 

The anchor subject found throughout Belleau’s gallery are his wide range of glass flowers in numerous varieties. In his artist’s statement, the glassblower expands on how he came to focus on florals in his work, stating, “The main focus of my work for the last 29 years has been the creation and production of glass flowers. Initially, I didn't even want to make flowers. A lot of glass blowers were doing them and they all looked pretty much the same. But the challenge of rendering these natural subjects in glass soon caught my imagination and I was on fire with ideas. I'm not attempting to make botanical specimens. Instead, I am making works of art inspired by nature. One of the tools I use to make flowers I developed for another purpose, making fish fins. I now have a line of more than 30 flower forms ranging from familiar flowers and exotics to purely fanciful. The most popular flower in my line is the iris. Though I make many flowers, each one is a unique creation requiring intense concentration and often great skill to produce.”

 

 

Alongside glass flowers, Belleau also creates vases using a signature form of “starry night glass”, which is made by swirling a two-pronged tool in the glass while it is hot. The rhythmic effect that results is reminiscent of the famed painting by van Gogh. It also beautifully frames the unique range of tones the artist achieves through his remarkable expertise in mixing color in glass.

 

Explaining the process of creating colors in his artist’s statement, Belleau says, “I have been making my own colored glass for many years. By adding various metal oxides to the raw glass, I get to play with a unique palette of colors in addition to several hundred commercially available colors. I rarely measure anything, relying on my experience to add just the right amount of colorant. Things do not always come out as expected, so I adapt what I’m doing and go with the flow!”

 

 

Beyond florals and vases, other glass forms that Belleau shapes include squat mushrooms, dramatic wave forms with foaming edges, and whimsical pumpkins in a range of colors. Because of this variety, his shop has become a favorite for repeat customers.

 

In addition to the display at his gallery, Belleau has exhibited his glass at shows and festivals around the country. He recently returned from sharing his work at a major craft fair at Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown, New York. Coming up from October 7 - 8, he will be showing work at the Scituate Arts Festival and November 30 - December 10 he will be an exhibitor at the Foundry Artists Holiday Show in Pawtucket.

 

 

Christopher Belleau is a talented glass artist, creating works full of imagination. A longstanding member of the Rhode Island creative community, he has developed his art career in Providence and his gallery is an important venue for any art enthusiast.

 

Learn more about Christopher Belleau at his website www.belleauartglass.com and discover everything on offer at Gallery Belleau at www.gallerybelleau.org.