Artist Spotlight: Josh Simpson

This month, Phoenixville’s Barnstone Gallery has had the chance to host an art exhibit that is out of this world. Space shuttles and astronauts were not on location, but miniature representations of our massive galaxy have made an appearance, brought to the gallery by Western Massachusetts artist Josh Simpson, whose handcrafted glass “planets” have made a safe landing in Phoenixville.

Like most space discoveries, Josh’s ultimate profession as a glass artist was not something planned. As a psychology major at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, Josh took art classes, but did not specialize in art. When an opportunity occurred to take classes in a field he was interested in, Josh transferred for a semester to Goddard College in Vermont to study glassblowing, only to discover their glass studio had been dismantled. With the help of another student, Josh used the materials on the premises to make “the most rudimentary glass furnace imaginable,” he recalled, “but it worked!”

Since then, Josh’s glassblowing equipment has advanced to a more professional level, as he has made is profession from selling his handmade glass pieces. One of his most popular and favorite things to create are what he calls “planets,” small glass structures that recreate what the globe, or other planets, may look like from a distance. “Imagine you are an astronaut flying around one of these little glass globes,” Josh said, “and you can see enormous oceans and continents and mountain ranges. Imagine that it’s populated with some sort of intelligent life.”

Like the hypothetical astronaut flying around one of Josh’s “planets,” Josh himself has had the opportunity to fly around the globe, bringing his artwork to places far and wide. This past year, Josh and his artwork have made appearances in New Zealand at the Chronicle Gallery in Wanganui, where he gave a lecture and taught glassblowing at the Sarjeant Arts Museum. “Ten years ago, I went to New Zealand for the first time and I taught there…and had a fantastic time.” Josh said, “It was particularly nice to go back to Wanganui because a lot of the students I had ten years ago came back to study again.” More recently, Josh visited Prague where he completed a 2-person exhibit at the historic Prague Castle.

Although many of Josh’s pieces come from his personal inspiration, some of it has received cosmic assistance from beyond our atmosphere. Josh’s wife, NASA astronaut Cady Coleman has returned from two separate space launches with images that Josh has used for inspiration in his own work. Using “incredibly beautiful images of black holes and neutron stars,” Josh has recreated these images into small glass objects that can be experienced by anyone, not just astronauts.

As a continuation on his work with “planets,” Josh’s Infinity Project has also gained popularity. “I take little planets and hide them around the world,” he said, “They’re not signed; it just has an infinity symbol on the bottom. They’re little glass spheres. If left undisturbed a planet can be in the ground for hundreds or even thousands of years.” Over 1,700 participants have hid these globes all over the world since 2000.

Josh’s Infinity Project may stand the test of time across deserts and oceans around the world, but his Megaplanet project has conquered more than just the globe. In 2005, Josh was commissioned by the Corning Museum of Glass in New York to help with a project. Upon realizing they had 999 paperweights in their collection, the Museum approached Josh to make the 1,000^th paperweight to make it “something really, really special. There was a catch to it—that paperweight had to be the biggest one ever made.” The largest one previously made weighed 26 pounds, also made by Josh. Within the next 18 months, through a series of trial and error, Josh and his team constructed this paperweight. “I made 14 of them before I got one that was successful.” Josh said, “And that planet is in the permanent collection of the museum.” Clocking in at a massive 100 pounds, it is believed to be the world’s largest paperweight.

The level of success was also met with a lot of hassle and danger. “(The glass) is a liquid and it doesn’t care about you, the artist, at all. It just wants to drip on the floor. If I made a mistake, it was possible that someone could get really injured. That much weight of that much liquid molten glass is really a force to reckon with.” Josh recalled, “It was really a challenge for me.”

Josh’s exhibit can be seen at the Barnstone Gallery from October through December and all pieces will be available for purchase.

Previously published at www.phoenixvillenews.com

Phoenixville Library honors former children's librarian Joan McIntyre

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, the Phoenixville Public Library held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the work of former Children’s Librarian, Joan McIntyre who worked at the library for 17 years. The brief ceremony allowed members of the community to honor the memory of their beloved librarian and introduce the McIntyre Outreach Program, a plan to help bring literacy to young children all across Phoenixville.

The heartwarming tribute brought friends, family and people in the community, many of whom, at one point or another, attended one of Joan’s frequent and very popular book readings. After earning two Masters Degrees, Joan began to work at the library in 1980 and remained there through 1997. It was one of her goals to see every child in the area have the opportunity to understand about the importance of reading and to have the necessary tools in order to facilitate learning. According to Susan Mostek, Director of Development at the library, the program focuses on early literacy within preschools around the area, especially those with “limited funding or access to professional storytellers.”

Included in the ceremony was the dedication of a plaque, set to hang inside the library. On it reads a quotation from Joan herself: “The expression of love in a child’s face is its own reward.” And, according to those who knew her the best, this was Joan’s approach throughout her many years at the Phoenixville Library. According to the Library’s Executive Director, John Kelley, who worked with Joan, “Joan looked for goodness in every child. Our job was to find that goodness and let it shine.”

Guests who attended the event had the pleasure of hearing the Owen J. Roberts concert choir sing “Homeward Bound.” Shelia McIntyre, director of the choir and Joan’s daughter, led the small group on piano. Included in the attendees were Eileen and Jerry Spinelli, writers who knew Joan very well. In Eileen’s children’s book When Mama Comes Home Tonight, the dedication reads, “To Joan McIntyre and the staff and friends of Phoenixville Library.” “She was great for kids,” Eileen says, “She was supportive of the young writers in the community.”

The McIntyre Outreach Program includes different ways to get young children excited about reading. Over the last few months, the program has received $800 in donations from the community and a $500 mini-grant from the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation. The Library was also the winner of the Kiwanis Youth Service Award in the form of a $1000 donation. With the help of these donations, the Library already has plans underway, including a library cart filed with hardcover children’s books and puppets that will travel to local preschools and daycares. It is what current Children’s Librarian Sandra Giannella calls a “traveling show.” The program also funds and includes book “sacks” that contain CDs, books and instructions on how to further the program. They are available to check out at the library and can be checked out for a whole month.

“This is exactly what my mom was trying to work for,” says Joan’s daughter, Kathleen McIntyre, who attended the event. Andrew McIntyre, Joan’s only son was greatly honored to see Joan’s program come together with so much support, “I’d like to thank the Library and city of Phoenixville who made an effort to keep her memory going. My mother dedicated 17 years to the children of Phoenixville and it’s nice to see it keep going.”

Might Mighty Bosstones "skank" their way into the new decade

When one of my favorite bands releases a new CD, it almost feels like Christmas Day—with the exception of obscure relatives, A Christmas Story on an endless loop, and flannel footy pajamas. My anticipation is palpable as I excitedly peel the plastic from the CD case, curse at the packaging and as a result, cut my finger on the case. It has been over 5 years since the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have released a new album, so this experience was intensely heightened as I waited for the CD to arrive in my mailbox. When the day came and my wait was finally over, I couldn’t wait another minute to put the CD on my computer and have a listen.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have been around for years—since 1983, to be exact. These Boston-area musicians have spent many years on the ska-punk circuit, performing shows worldwide with bands like Dropkick Murphys and Aerosmith. The band’s claim to fame, however, occurred in 1995 when the band made an appearance in the beloved Valley Girl comedy, Clueless, playing their tracks “Where Did You Go?” and “Someday I Suppose.”

Their newest album, “Pin Points and Gin Joints,” showcases the band’s talents as a ska band, while perpetually reassuring fans that they have something to prove after all these years. The album’s 14 tracks are laden with saxophone and trumpet pieces, truly solidifying the upbeat, dance-worthy sentiments behind the ska genre. Singer Dicky Barrett’s liquor-soaked voice, to this day, still defies definition.

Put simply, the album radiates nostalgia. The Bosstones’ new CD takes few chances—but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Many of the songs are very reminiscent of their last album “A Jackknife To A Swan,” with quick beats and sing-along choruses. The first track, “Graffiti Worth Reading,” starts the album off on an upbeat note, followed quickly by a personal favorite, eloquently titled, “Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah.” The song is filled with catchy hooks and simple lyrics—the perfect song to blast in the car on a hot summer day.

Though the album starts out strong, I have a few qualms regarding a few middle tracks, including “I Wrote It” and “Sister Mary.” I can’t quite put my finger on it, but as a fan of mosh-inducing, fast-paced music, the slower tracks don’t catch my attention when skipping around the album on my computer. Suffice it to say, I guess a little variety is often necessary, and these songs are far from horrible.

Saving the best for last, the Bosstones finish the album with three horn-laden tracks, ending their newest release on a memorable note. “The Bricklayer’s Story” features a highly addicting chorus, proving Barrett has one of the most dynamic voices in the ska world.

Time to bring out the lighters for the final song. “A Pretty Sad Excuse,” takes the intensity down a notch, but not the excitement. Though it starts out with a slow tempo, it picks up for the last half. The change-up is completely surprising and is probably one of the standout tracks on the album.

Since its release, “Pin Points and Gin Joints” has been on a constant loop, both in my head and on my iPod. And the five-year wait has been well worth it.

Final Grade: A-