The possibilities that can emerge from the weight of hot glass at the end of a blowpipe and the promise of transforming molten material into shimmering, solid vessels are the elements that lure Simon Waranch into the studio every day. Introduced to glassblowing while on a class trip to Murano at the age of 15, Waranch found his life calling while still a student at the prestigious Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. It provided him a new autonomy for creating. He has spent the intervening years studying this centuries old craft. Waranch takes every opportunity he can to travel to learn from leading glass artists. A distinct privilege was working with Canadian glass master, Laura Donefer. In addition to an apprenticeship with Carlyn Ray in Dallas, Waranch has also studied under Joe Cariati in Los Angeles, William Gudenrath in Corning, New York, Davide Fuin in Murano and Dante Marioni in Seattle.
Driven by the exacting craftsmanship of his mentors, Waranch has spent the past several years perfecting his technique. His current interest explores reticello. Based on methods formed during Antiquity and refined by the Venetians in the Renaissance, it is a difficult process. Mastering its complexity, with its endless detail, creates a rich depth that is a barometer for perfection. Waranch works continuously to evolve the technique, keeping it current and fresh. Creating and manipulating its intricate caning, it is a fitting path for the artist, who has played with pattern for years.
Simon Waranch was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He is currently a student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, where he earned the Walter B Ford Scholarship of Excellence. In addition to group exhibitions across the United States and in Venice, Waranch’s work has been featured in one-person exhibitions at the National Center for Jewish Art in Dallas and the Longview Museum of Fine Arts in Longview, Texas. His work is part of the permanent collections at the Longview Museum and the Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Craighead Green Gallery in Dallas and Sandra Ainsley Gallery in Toronto represent his work, which is being acquired by public and private collections throughout the United States.
[excerpted from Simon Waranch website]