The
smoke rises as Colleen does paper marvering (shaping)
with a blocking tool |
Colleen
Ott, glass artist, began her career in 1968 at the University
of Wisconsin-River Falls. In 1971, Dr. Robert Bailey, a
professor, convinced her that studying a year abroad would
advance her career. She studied at the Royal College of
Art in London, England and the Eisch Factory in Frauanau,
Germany. Upon her return, she received her Bachelor of Science
degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1973.
This was followed by additional studies at Ohio State University-Athens
in 1976 where she received a Master of Art degree. Her Master
of Fine Arts degree in glass sculpture was obtained at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1977. From 1983 to 1987,
Colleen was a Glass Artist Assistant at (Harvey) Littleton
and
Company in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, where she organized
and oversaw studio activities for European and American
glass artists. She then went on to build a studio called
the Mineral Point (WI) Foundry and Glass Artist's Studio
where she taught classes, gave demonstrations, and conducted
tours and seminars. This was in addition to exhibiting her
own work in exhibitions and at art fairs around the country.
She has taught University of Wisconsin-Platteville students
in her shop for sculpture credits and she has taught drawing
and silversmithing at the Madison (WI) Area Technical College
extension program. In addition, she organized and built
the facility for the Peter Morris Glass Studio in Winona,
Minnesota. As owner/operator of the Art on 23 Gallery since
1998, Colleen has received many awards for her work as well
as publicity in numerous magazines, books, and newspapers.
She comments, "Glass has an intelligence, a spirit, and
a potential for life that no other medium has. Glass is
so immediate it requires the motions of a ballerina, the
strength of a weight lifter, and the vitality of a child."
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