Education:
B.F.A., in Studio Art (foundry) at College of Charleston (2000).
Studied art/ mold making at Richmond College, The American International University of London (1996-1998).
Art Post-Grad Education:
Instructor: Pilchuck Glass School, Core Casting Glass, August 2024(upcoming!).
Instructor: Let's see how complicated we can make this?, Pittsburgh Glass Center, PA (2022).
Imagery: Surface and Depth, Jeremy Lepisto, Pittsburgh Glass Center, PA (2018).
Glass casting, Rick Beck, Penland School of Crafts, NC (2012).
Pate de Verre, Anna Boothe, Glassroots, NJ (2012).
Introduction to Neon, David Wilson, Whatiswhatisart, Boone, NC (2011).
Glass Casting, Daniel Clayman, Penland School of Crafts, NC (2011).
From Concept to Completion (hot glass casting), Jonas Sebura, Penland School of Crafts, NC (2009).
Silverworking and Setting Beads, Metal Dept., Penland School of Crafts, NC (2009).
Design Aesthetics: Challenging the Basics, Glassblowing II, Adam Holtzinger and Joe Cariati, Penland School of Crafts, NC (2009).
Intro to Furnace Working, Kiara Pelissier, Glassblowing I, Penland School of Crafts, NC (2009).
Classes in Graphic Arts: Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Trident Technical College, Charleston SC.
Plaster Moldmaking for Cast Glass, Daniel Clayman, Penland School of Crafts, NC (2004).
Experience:
Berengo Studios 1989
Murano, Venice, Italy
Mold making specialist/ Glass casting/ Project Consulting 2018-Present
The mission of Berengo Studio 1989 and it’s founder, Adriano Berengo, is to introduce internationally renowned contemporary artists to glass as a medium.
Melt Glass Foundry
Founder 2013 – Present
Accepting commissions for custom designs in glass, and metals. Creating handcrafted Southern culture-inspired glass products.
Austin Norvell Art LLC
Founder 2000 – Present
Experimenting in numerous techniques to develop unique series of conceptual sculptures in glass.
Notable Works:
Resonate: a solo exhibition by Wm. Austin Norvell, The Gibbes Mjuseum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina, Nov/ Dec 2023.
Learning to Fly, Art Installation at The South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center, North Charleston, South Carolina. 2022-2023.
Artist in Residence, The Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina. Feb/Mar 2023.
South Carolina Palmetto Hands Traveling Show (2015).
South of Hell Productions, Metal and Glass Prop Design and Production, Season 1 (2014-2015).
Publication: The Makers, A photographic look at some of the Holy City’s master craftsmen, The Charleston City Paper (2012).
Series of Air, Flight, Aviation-inspired sculptures for The Boeing Store (2012-2016).
Fish Restaurant, Two installation sculptures, Charleston, SC (2011).
Best in Show, Charleston Artist Guild Signature Show.
Artist Statement
I am a custodian of stuff, preserving its heritage and safeguarding its legacy.
As such, I spend a lot of time wandering through flea markets, thrift stores and my personal storage units, looking at seemingly unimportant objects and wondering what past experiences these objects have endured. The stories these objects could tell. I wonder why people hold on to certain things. Is it nostalgia of the past or were they simply utilitarian?
This series of sculptures deals with nostalgia in objects. Each of the parts I used as models were found in a variety of places; each having its own inherent history. Through a lost-wax casting process, I transfer the seemingly insignificant objects into delicate crystal keepsakes. Each vintage truck, serving as a vessel, hopefully delivers a different thought on the subject of nostalgia in objects, through color, form and the contents of the truck.
Biography
Wm. Austin Norvell
Make/ Thinker/ Glassworker/ Artist
Archiver of Memorabilia
Collector of History
Transporter of Junk
Custodian of Stuff
Wm. Austin Norvell was born in Charleston, S.C., and worked in several
sculptural mediums before being introduced to glass casting at the
Penland School of Crafts in 2005. His experience there had such an impact on him the he purchased a casting kiln the next week and has been casting glass ever since.
Several years after his first experience at Penland, Norvell hit a crossroads and decided to move to a log cabin on the backside of Penland Mountain. He spent four years immersed in the craft community surrounding Penland School of Crafts, where he assisted and collaborated with other artists, took multiple workshops and experimented with a number of glass working techniques. After returning to Charleston, he continued to push the boundaries of the material from process to concept.
In early 2018 a serendipitous phone call from Murano, Italy began the
second major journey of his artistic life. Within two days of receiving the
call, Norvell was in Murano for a working interview. Two weeks after that
Norvell was assisting Adriano Berengo and his casting team in creating
cast glass work for renowned artists who wanted to see their work in glass. Norvell was inspired by Adriano’s mission to create the finest casting studio in Europe and his desire to bring the cast glass process into the forefront of materials used by the world’s most influential fine artists.
At Berengo Studio 1989 he has helped create glass work or artists from Ai Weiwei and Jaume Plensa to Tony Cragg and Koen Vanmechelen. While he plans to continue his biyearly relationship with Berengo Studios 1989, Norvell has recently returned to his hometown of Charleston, S.C. where he is currently creating large scale installations, commission/ production work and his own conceptual glass artwork.
The years long experience at Penland developed his knowledge of most
glass working techniques, while his time in Murano over the last five years has helped bring the conceptual influence into his work.
Resume
Areas of Expertise:
Glass casting; Fusing; Mold blowing; Cold working; Model, tool, and props fabrication; Design, prototyping, and fabrication; Metals casting; Color theory; Welding; Carpentry; Small Engine Repair; Materials and product development.
