Seekers Glass Gallery was
established in 1981 by Lynda and Michael Adelson. Here Lynda and Michael provide
some insights into their own philosophy of collecting. They also reveal how
their passion for glass, combined with their strong business backgrounds and
legendary customer service, laid the foundation for what Seekers is today:
"We began collecting
contemporary glass in the mid-1970's, when the American Studio Glass Movement
was in its infancy. At that time the art establishment was only beginning to
consider glass as a medium worthy of being called art.
"As fledgling glass
collectors, our early finds were made at a few fine craft galleries in Los
Angeles and at the better art festivals and street fairs of the era. Many of the
artists whose pieces we collected early on are now internationally renowned and
exhibit their work in major museums.
"Seekers evolved out of our
early passion for collecting extraordinary examples of what was then being
called 'the new glass.' A major attraction for us then was the opportunity to
purchase an original piece of glass art for a fraction of the cost of an
original painting or sculpture.
"The nature of the medium
dictates that all pieces of glass art, even repeated designs, are created
individually and are thus one of a kind. (By contrast, lithographic prints and
cast metal sculptures are reproductions rather than originals; they are produced
with plates and molds so that each piece is virtually identical.)
"Today, Seekers offers one of
the finest and most extensive collections of contemporary American studio glass
art to be found anywhere. We present work by more than 250 American glass
artists, including emerging talents, internationally renowned masters and many
who are somewhere in between.
"We continue to purchase all
work outright directly from the artist. Because we do not accept consignments,
we have the leverage necessary to obtain the very best pieces the artists are
capable of creating.
"Clients often ask us how we
find the art and artists that make Seekers' collection of glass so unique. We
visit our artists' studios regularly to purchase work, selecting only those
pieces with artistic strength, originality and technical distinction. Working
alone or occasionally in pairs or small teams, these artists design and create
one of a kind, signed works in very small numbers. Many of these artists are
represented in the world's major museums.
"We also attend a few juried shows each year where only
the finest of America's glass artists exhibit and sell their work to gallery
representative from around the world.
"As collectors and gallery
owners, we have always maintained exceptionally high standards for artistry and
technique. We inspect every piece upon arrival and return those that don't
measure up to our standards for whatever reason.
"Consequently, we feel very
confident that every piece in our gallery collection is absolutely first rate.
As with any art medium, even the best glass artists occasionally create marginal
or weak pieces. We guarantee that you'll find only the very top of the first
quality spectrum at Seekers.
"We're honored that year
after year Seekers is voted one of the top 100 American craft galleries in an
annual poll conducted by Niche Magazine, which polls more than 20,000 artists
nationwide."
About the Owners | Seekers Staff
