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Josh Simpson Biography
Inspiration
Along with the natural world, my motivation comes directly from the material itself. Glass is an alchemic blend of sand and metallic oxides combined with extraordinary, blinding heat. The result is a material that flows and drips like honey. When it's hot, glass is alive. It moves gracefully and inexorably in response to gravity and centrifugal force. It possesses an inner light and transcendent radiant heat that makes it simultaneously one of the most frustrating – and one of the most rewarding – materials to work with. I attempt to coax it; all it wants to do is drip on the floor. Most of my work reflects a compromise between me and the glass; the finished piece is the moment in time when we agree.
When I haven't made a particular kind of object for a while, it takes a day or two to get back into the rhythm. After only a few days, boredom sets in; at that point I can lose interest and make terrible work or I can begin to push the material and start to have fun. Exploring often leads to something new and interesting - sometimes it just adds more broken glass
to the local landfill. I always seem to have more ideas than I will ever have time to make.
Artistic Vision
People often want to know the meaning behind my work, particularly the Planets; some think I have a profound understanding of life. I think I have an appreciation for what's around me - the sky at night, the changing seasons, the views I get looking out of my studio down the valley. I also have an appreciation for the material itself.
More than appreciative, I guess I'm curious – what do the hills around my home look like from a small airplane? What is this creature sticking its head out of this coral reef - will it bite, is it poisonous? What happens when I add metallic silver to molten glass?
I want my work to inspire such appreciation and curiosity. Viewers invent their own meaning as they gaze into the depths of a Portal or follow the bulging lines of a Copper Basket. I create objects that explore my questions. I hope to inspire viewers to ask their own.
Evolution
Evolution is an apt word to describe the trajectory of my work – it is an organic process that happens over time and is full of trial and error. Thirty years into my career as a glass artist, I can look back and see the branching in the evolutionary family trees of my work. In the moment, when I am in my studio, I don't think about where I've come from, I merely ask the next question of myself and the glass and move toward its answer.
Thirty years ago, I started out focusing on making goblets because to me they represented the ultimate challenge for a glass artist. I spent seventeen years seeking the perfect goblet. But that wasn't all I did during that time. With the goblets and then planets, vases, and iridescent glass, as with all my work, I have always learned by experimenting and doing. When I came up against a technical obstacle I couldn't overcome, I read from my growing personal library of books on glass and often consulted with the folks at the Corning Museum of Glass or the Rakow Library. It’s probably a character flaw, but I don’t give up easily. I usually work at something until I’m satisfied that I’ve got it right.
Timeline
1949 Josiah James Linsly Simpson, Jr., son of Jim and Norma Simpson, is born in New Haven, Connecticut.
Lewis Legbreaker born in Wagga Wagga, Australia, direct descendant of penal colonists.
1952 Brother Randy born. 1955 Brother Kim born.
1957 Josh publishes the Truesdale Lake News, circulation 350. Story is picked up by newspaper chain. Publishing career lasts for the summer.
1958 Josh and Lewis nearly arrested for illegal fireworks possession.
1963 Josh and Lewis build a series of night-launched eight-foot-tall hot air balloons made of rice paper and powered by propane and gasoline. Seven confirmed UFO sightings that summer dismissed by Air Force officials as “glowing swamp gas.”
1965–1968 Attends Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. Begins ceramic career.
1968–1973 Attends Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Learns to blow glass at Goddard College in 1972. Gives up promising career as spoon player in Celtic and bluegrass bands.
1972 Builds his first studio in the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont. Lives in teepee, trades glass for one thousand pounds of dried chickpeas.
Attempts to borrow $5,000 to purchase studio land; bank executive mistakenly thinks he blows “grass” for a living and has him removed from premises by security guards.
1973 Lives in Datsun pick-up truck for the summer. Builds second studio in Northford, Connecticut. Main source of protein: chickpeas.
1974 Attends ACC Rhinebeck Craft Show. First gallery order for glass.
1976 Marries and moves to Shelburne Falls. Receives tarantula, Blanche, as wedding present from high school friend Bart.
First planets made to entertain visiting school children. Main source of protein still chickpeas.
1977 Rosalynn Carter commissions wine goblets for the White House. Chickpeas stricken from diet.
First IRS audit triggered when gas consumption in glass studio exceeds total propane use at all McDonald’s restaurants in Western Massachusetts. Of the two enterprises, only McDonald’s shows a profit that year. IRS auditor becomes glass collector.
1978 Lewis Legbreaker establishes Lewis Legbreaker Poisonous Chemical Co., Inc.
Josh hides first planets for kids to find in town.
1979 Included in Corning Museum’s New Glass Review traveling exhibit.
1980 Begins collection of coin sorting mechanisms from old vending machines.
1983 Son Josiah is born; Josh renovates section of barn for quiet studio in vain attempt to find a place to think.
1984 Josiah’s first spoken word: “Hot!”
Josh meets Swedish photographer Tommy Olof Elder; start of lifelong professional collaboration.
Member and chair of Shelburne Falls planning board, five-year term.
1985 Wins Juror’s Award, Artists Look at Earth, National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC.
Helps found Craft Emergency Relief Fund. Serves as Board president until 1992.
1987 Josh and wife split amicably.
1988 First international exhibit at Galerie Heidi Schneider in Zurich, Switzerland.
Fire destroys garage and threatens residence; Simpson rescues his toothbrush, his grandfather’s watch, and 1556 copy of De Re Metallica.
Nicholas Sant Foster buys planet at Corning Museum; begins close-up photography collaboration with Josh.
1989 Josh diagnosed as organizationally impaired. Begins lifelong organizational collaboration with Karen Krieger, who brings order to chaos.
Teaches at Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina.
Purchases scenic Patten Hill property in Shelburne for the Massachusetts agricultural preservation program.
1990 Josh answers wrong number and accidentally meets Air Force Captain Cady Coleman.
Teaches at Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Deer Isle, Maine.
1991 Exhibits at George Walter Vincent Smith Museum, Springfield, Massachusetts; and Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, New York.
Begins four-year collaboration with Carla Caruso to make glass jewelry.
Meets Mr. Y. Morito, president of Moritex Corporation; challenges Josh to make the “largest planet” .
1992 Elected president of Glass Art Society for two years; serves on board for seven years.
Learns to fly single engine airplanes.
Cady Coleman chosen as Mission Specialist NASA Astronaut; Josh overcome with jealousy.
1993 Guest lecturer at Aichi University, Aichi, Japan, and the Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Collaboration with Neil Homstead to make glass blown into granite rock sculpture.
Start of collaboration with Joyce Roessler to make aquatic planets.
1995 Cady’s first space shuttle flight. Simpson planet goes into orbit.
Josh receives pilot's instrument rating.
1997 Josh and Cady marry. Second tarantula, Hairy, arrives from friend Bart.
Teaches at the Studio at the Corning Museum, Corning, New York; and Wanganui Polytechnic, Wanganui, New Zealand. Visits with Lewis’s relatives.
1998 Visionary Landscapes opens at the Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Connecticut.
1999 Cady’s second space flight.
Josh receives digital “pick and place” robot bead machine from Mr. Morito, who challenges him to find new uses for it. First successful image: Elvis.
2000 Josiah gets driver’s license. Second son, Jamey, is born, allergic to chickpeas.
2002 Cady sent by NASA on Extreme Environment Mission to Antarctica for 12 weeks to search for extra terrestrial meteorites. Living full time with his malevolent dad, two year old Jamey is forced to eat vegetables with dinner almost every night.
2004 Son Josiah spends College Junior Year living in a dung hut in Tanzania with a Masai family herding cattle. Wife Cady assigned to NASA NEEMO Extreme Environment Mission to live underwater off the coast of Florida. 4 year old Jamey learns to ride a two wheeler.
2005 Josh and Cady meet with His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei; Josh presented His Majesty with one of his Megaplanets.
2006 Son Josiah graduates from college and chooses to live in Portland, Oregon, as far as possible from New England. Due to testosterone poisoning Josh tries to make a 100 lb. Megaplanet. Son Jamey learned to tie his shoes.
Life is good.
Resume
Born: August 17, 1949
Education: BA, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY (1972)
Solo Exhibitions
Visions of Our Galaxy, Sandwich Museum of Glass; Sandwich, MA (2005-2006)
Visionary Landscapes Traveling Exhibition
Bruce Museum; Greenwich, CT (1998)
Museum of Science and Industry; Tampa, Florida (1999)
Kennedy Space Center; Cape Canaveral, Florida (1999)
Space Center Houston; Houston, Texas (2000)
Arnot Art Museum; Elmira, New York (2001)
Lora Robbins Gallery; University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia (2001)
Fundacion Centro Nacional del Vidro; Segovia, Spain (2003)
American Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan; Brunei (2004)
Museu Vidro Marinha Grande; Marinha Grande, Portugal (2004)
New York Hall of Science; New York, NY (2005)
Etienne & Van den Doel; Oisterwijk, The Netherlands (2005)
Visions of Our Universe, Edgewood Orchard Gallery; Fish Creek, WI (2005)
Corning Museum of Glass Gallery Shop; Corning, NY (2005)
Signature Gallery; Huntsville, AL (2004)
Martha's Vineyard Glassworks; Martha's Vineyard, MA (2003, 2004)
Philabaum Glass Gallery; Tucson, AZ (2004)
Tobin-Hewett Gallery; Louisville, KY (2004)
Salmon Falls Artisan Showroom; Shelburne Falls, MA (2003)
Llyn Strong Gallery; Greenville, SC (2003)
Don Muller Gallery; Northampton, MA (2003)
Mitsukoshi Glass Arts Festival; Taiwan (2002)
Daimaru Store Art Gallery; Osaka & Kyoto, Japan (2002)
Hsinchu International Glass Arts Festival; Hsinchu, Taiwan (2001)
Masterworks; Auckland, New Zealand (2001)
Etienne & Van den Doel; The Hague, Netherlands (2001)
Karanisu Gallery; Tokyo, Japan (2000)
Grohe Gallery, Signature; Boston, MA & Westport, CT (2000)
Vesperman Glass Gallery; Atlanta, GA (2000, 1990, 1987)
Society of Arts and Crafts; Boston, MA (2000)
Edgewood Orchard; Fish Creek, WI (2000)
Galerie Rob van den Doel; The Hague, Netherlands (1999)
Hanson Gallery; Houston, TX (1999)
Pismo Gallery; Colorado (1998)
Bergdorf Goodman; New York, NY (1998, 1997, 1996)
Gumps; San Francisco, CA (1999, 1998)
Emerson Gallery; Hamilton College, Clinton, NY (1994)
New Work, New Worlds Traveling Exhibition
Danforth Museum of Art; Framingham, MA (1995)
Edward-Dean Museum; Cherry Valley, CA (1996)
Mesa Southwest Museum; Mesa, AZ (1996)
Parkersburg Art Center; Parkersburg, WV (1996)
Arts Midland: Galleries & School; Midland, MI (1997)
Museum of Arts & Sciences; Macon, GA (1997)
Dane G. Hansen Memorial Museum; Logan, KS (1997)
Butler Institute of American Art; Youngstown, OH (1997)
The Arts Center; Portsmouth, VA (1998)
Reflections Gallery; Geneva, Switzerland (1994)
J & L Lobmeyr; Vienna, Austria (1994)
Galerie L; Hamburg, Germany (1993, 1988)
Del Mano Gallery; Los Angeles, CA (1992)
Arnot Art Museum; Elmira, NY (1991)
Josh Simpson Glass Work Traveling Exhibition
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum; Springfield, MA (1991)
Galerie d'Amon; Paris, France (1989)
Grohe Glass Gallery; Boston, MA (1998, 1989)
Heidi Schneider Galerie; Horgen, Switzerland (1988)
Brunnier Gallery and Museum; Ames, IA (1988)
Elements Gallery; Greenwich, CT (1987)
Alliance Museum Shop Gallery, Indianapolis Museum of Art; Indianapolis, IN (1985)
Don Muller Gallery; Northampton, MA (1984)
Group Exhibitions
Sarasotans Collect III, The Art of Glass,Ringling School of Art & Design; Sarasota, FL (2006)
The Art of Craft in America, Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts; Chautauqua, NY (2005)
Kittrell Riffkind Gallery Anniversary Show; Dallas, TX (2005)
Glory Hole Glassworks; Santa Fe, NM (2005)
Asparagus Valley Pottery Guild, Green Trees Gallery; Northfield, MA (2005)
Atherton House; Adel, IA (2005)
Steninge World Exhibition of Art Glass 2005, Steninge Palace; Sweden (2005)
Trashformations, Fuller Craft Museum; Brockton, MA (2005)
Pan Amsterdam 2004, Etienne & Van den Doel; The Netherlands (2004)
Craftforms 2004, Wayne Art Center; Wayne, PA (2004)
The Perfect Collection, Fuller Craft Museum; Brockton, MA (2004)
Currier Museum of Art; Manchester, MA (2004)
Biennele of Fine Arts, Museu Vidro Marinha Grande, Marinha Grande, Portugal (2004)
Oisterwijk Sculptuur, Etienne & Van den Doel; Oisterwijk, The Netherlands (2004)
On the Wall, Kittrell Riffkind Gallery; Houston, TX (2004)
Simpson/Rossi Collaborations, Signature Gallery; Chestnut Hill, MA (2004)
20th Anniversary Show, Vesperman Gallery; Atlanta, GA (2004)
Innovative Sculptural Glass, Ironwood Gallery; Ridgefield, CT (2004)
Contemporary Glass in Texas, Arts Alliance Center; Houston, TX (2004)
Small Scale Glass, Wheaton Village; Millville, NJ (2004)
Turning Point Gallery; Media, PA (2004)
Parisi Sculpture Garden, San Diego, CA (2003)
Glasshouse Studio; Seattle, WA (2003)
Atherton House; Adel, IA (2001, 2003)
Contemporary Marbles, American Gallery; Sylvania, OH (2003)
Contemporary Glass, Madelyn Jordan Gallery; Scarsdale, NY (2003)
Josh Simpson Sphere Museum; Yokohama, Japan (2002)
Asparagus Valley Potter's Guild, Westfield State College; Westfield, MA (2002)
Celebration of American Crafts, Creative Arts Workshop; New Haven, CT (1999-2002)
Steninge Palace Triennial; European Traveling Exhibition (2002)
Hsinchu International Glass Arts Festival; Hsinchu, Taiwan (2001-2002)
Gathering of Glass, Sable V; Galveston, Texas (1998, 2000, 2002)
Lewisboro Gallery; South Salem, NY (2002)
Art 3 Gallery; Concord, NH (2002)
Space 2001: To the Moon and Beyond, Bruce Museum; Greenwich, CT (2001)
The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass; Corning, NY (2001)
Paperweight Collectors Association Convention; Corning, NY (2001)
Jones Museum of Ceramics & Glass; Sebago, ME (2001)
Intimacy between Glass & Metal, Internet Exhibit, Mostly Glass; Englewood, NJ (2001)
Space Odyssey, Sable V; Galveston, TX (2001)
North American Glass, Guilford Handcrafts; Guilford, CT (1992, 1994, 2000)
Signature Gallery; Boston, Massachusetts (2000)
Marble Millennium Exhibit, Arch Gallery; Brooklyn, NY (2000)
Fire & Ice, Northwest Discovery; Bellevue, Washington (1999, 2000)
Liquid Fire: The Art of Glass, Helen Day Art Center; Stowe, Vermont (2000)
10th Anniversary Show, Kittrell Riffkind Gallery; Houston, TX (2000)
Craft Forms 2000, Wayne Art Center; Wayne, PA (2000)
Adam Whitney; Omaha, Nebraska (2000)
Phoenix Rising Gallery; Seattle, WA (2000)
Transparencies, Contemporary Artistic Glass
Museu Vidro Marinha Grande, Portugal (1999)
Steninge World Exhibition of Art Glass;Marinha Grande, Marsta, Sweden (1999)
Penland 70th Birthday Show; Erl Originals, Winston-Salem, NC (1999)
On the Ball, DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park; Lincoln, MA (1999)
Hot n' Cool: Contemporary Glassworks, USA Tour (1999)
Hoypoloi; Walt Disney World, FL (1999)
Kittrell Riffkind Gallery; Houston, TX (1999)
Gallery FunctionArt; New Pontiac, MI (1999)
The Sea in Glass & Millenium Glass, Mostly Glass Gallery; Englewood, NJ (1999)
Perfumes & Paperweights, del Mano Gallery; Los Angeles, CA (1999)
Scents & nonScents 99, Signature Gallery; Boston, MA (1999)
Approaching the Millennium, Frog Hollow Craft Center; Manchester, VT (1999)
The Glass Vessel, Ellen Noel Art Museum; Odessa, Texas (1999)
Hahn Gallery; Philadelphia, PA (1999)
The White House Collection - Selected Works, Zazen Gallery; Belleville, WI (1999)
Magic of Venice, Nancy Hoffman Gallery, Las Vegas, NV (1999)
21st Century Tour of Glass, Cape Girardeau, MO (1998)
Arnot Museum; Elmira, New York (1997)
One Of A Kind Art Glass Goblet Show, Glasshouse Gallery; Seattle, WA (1997)
Philharmonic Center for the Arts; Naples, FL (1997)
White House Collection of American Crafts USA Tour (1995-97)
Fourteen Years of Collaboration, Lacoste Gallery; Concord, MA (1996)
Exhibit IV, Edgewood Orchard Galleries; Fish Creek, WI (1996)
Holiday '95, Lacoste Gallery; Concord, MA (1995)
Featured Artist Series '99, Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass; Dallas, TX (1995)
Glass As Art, Blue Spiral 1; Asheville, NC (1995)
Harmony, Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom; Shelburne Falls, MA (1994)
"L'ART A GENEVE" Galerie Couleurs Du Temps; Geneva, Switzerland (1994)
North American Glass 1994, Guilford Handcraft Center; Guilford, CT (1991, 1994)
Goblet Invitational, Kittrell/Riffkind Art Glass; Dallas, TX (1994)
Magnum Opus VII: The Supremacy of Form, The Bell Gallery; Memphis,TN (1994)
Galerie Rob van den Doel; The Hague, The Netherlands (1994)
The Society of Arts and Crafts; Boston, MA (1994, 1991)
Memories '93, Signature Galleries; Mashpee, MA (1993)
Maralyn Wilson Gallery; Birmingham, AL (1993)
Maximizing the Minimum, Wheaton Village Museum; Millville, NJ (1993, 1992)
Portland Museum of Art; Portland, ME (1993)
Hudson River Valley Art Museum; Brooklyn, NY (1993)
Lyman Allyn Art Museum; New London, CT (1992)
Contemporary Glass: Three Visions, del Mano Gallery; Pasadena, CA (1992)
Sea-Tac International Airport; Seattle, WA (1992)
The International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Japan (1992)
Containers, The Lyman Allyn Art Museum; New London, CT (1992)
Miniatures, Hanson Galleries; Houston, TX (1991)
Habatat Galleries; Farmington Hills, MI (1991)
Waterfall Hope Crafts; Aspen, CO (1991)
The Ferrin Gallery; Northampton, MA (1990, 1988)
The Bruce Museum; Greenwich, CT (1990)
Art Forms in Glass, The Collector's Gallery; Worcester, MA (1990)
Glass 90: Sculptural and Functional Glass, Gallery I/O; Los Angeles, CA (1990)
New Glass Forms Invitational '90, Marx Gallery; Chicago, IL (1990)
Western Mass. Hot Glass, Don Muller Gallery; Northampton, MA Sept. (1990)
National Glass Invitational, Craft Alliance; St. Louis, MO (1990)
Lynn McAllister Gallery; Seattle, WA (1990)
Vespermann Gallery; Atlanta, GA (1990)
Glass Invitational 1990, Robert Kidd Gallery; Birmingham, MI (1990)
Iridescence: Shimmering Splendors, The Bruce Museum; Greenwich, CT (1990)
Treasure Boxes, The Ferrin Gallery; Northampton, MA (1990)
Glass Masters, D. Erlien Fine Art; Milwaukee, WI (1990)
Contemporary Glass, The Society of Arts and Crafts; Boston (1990)
Lynn McAllister Gallery; Seattle, WA (1990)
Museum of Fine Arts; St. Petersburg, FL (1989)
The Wichita National '89, the Wichita Art Association; Wichita, KS (1989)
Grove Gallery, University of CA; San Diego, CA (1989)
The Atheneum, Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association; Alexandria, VA (1989)
The Berkshire Museum; Pittsfield, MA (1989)
Newport Art Museum; Newport, RI (1988)
The Evolving Art Object, Signature Fine Art and American Crafts; NJ (1988)
The Fanny Garver Gallery; Madison, WI (1988)
The Ferrin Gallery; Northampton, MA (1988)
New Directions in Contemporary Crafts, Leverett Crafts and Arts; Leverett, MA (1988)
Gallery at Jamaica; Jamaica Village, VT (1988)
Handcrafters Gallery; Chatham, NY (1987)
Festival of Glass, 1987, D/Erlien Fine Art; Milwaukee WI (1987)
New American Glass, Huntington Galleries; Huntington, WV (1986)
National Air & Space Museum; Washington, DC (1986)
Separate Tables: the Art of Dining, Selo/Shevel Gallery; Ann Arbor, MI (1985)
The Elements Gallery; Greenwich, CT (1984)
National Glass `84, del Mano Gallery; Los Angeles, CA (1984)
American Long-Stemmed Beauties, Hand & the Spirit Crafts Gallery; Scottsdale, AZ (1983)
Glass Now `83, Yamaha Gallery; Tokyo, Japan (1983)
Art for Eating II, The Elements Gallery; Greenwich, CT (1983)
10-A Retrospective, America House; Tenafly, NJ (1983)
New Year/New Works Brockton Art Museum; Brockton, MA (1983)
Invitational `83 Clay & Glass, Ely Art Gallery; Westfield, CT (1983)
Glass: New Directions, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland (1983)
Perfume Bottles & Vases, Theodora Crocker Galleries; San Francisco, CA (1983)
American Glass `82, Westlake Gallery; White Plains, NY (1982)
Glass Invitational `82, Spring Street Enamels Gallery, New York, NY (1982)
Blown Glass by Josh Simpson, Arts Council of Franklin County; Greenfield, MA (1982)
Josh Simpson: New Glass-New Directions, Jorice Gallery; New York, NY (1982)
Corning Museum of Glass Corning, NY; New Glass Traveling Exhibition (1979)
Victoria and Albert Museum; London, England (1981)
Fine Arts Museum; San Francisco, CA (1981)
Glass Art, Buscaglia-Castellani Art Gallery,Niagara University; Niagara Falls, NY (1981)
Josh Simpson, The Glass Veranda, Contemporary Art Glass Gallery; Boston, MA (1981)
Art Glass by Josh Simpson, Jorice Gallery; New York, NY (1980)
Glasswork in New England, Farmington Valley Arts Center; Avon, CT (1980)
Mass. Crafts International, The Cranberry Gallery; Plymouth, MA (1980)
Flowers for Spring, Tomlinson Craft Collection; Baltimore, MD (1980)
Sylvia Ullman’s American Crafts; Cleveland, OH (1980)
Metropolitan Museum of Art; New York, NY (1980)
Smithsonian Renwick Gallery; Washington, DC (1980)
American Craft Museum; New York, NY for the Tabletop (1980)
Glass-Hot & COld, Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, CT (1979)
Toledo Museum; Toledo, OH (1979)
Young Americans Clay & Glass (1978)
American Crafts at the White House, Washington, DC (1977)
Public Collections
Fundacion Centro Nacional del Vidrio; Segovia, Spain
Mint Museum of Art; Charlotte, NC
Museum of Arts & Design; New York, NY
Moritex Sphere Museum; Japan
Springfield Science Museum; Springfield, MA
Currier Museum of Art; Manchester, New Hampshire
Brunnier Museum; Ames, Iowa
Indianapolis Museum of Art; Indianapolis, Indiana
US State Department; White House Collection of American Crafts, Washington, DC
Currier Museum of Art; Manchester, New Hampshire
Brunnier Museum; Ames, Iowa
Indianapolis Museum of Art; Indianapolis, Indiana
U.S. State Department
Chrysler Museum; Norfolk, Virginia
Peabody Essex Museum; Salem, Massachusetts
Museum of Fine Arts; Boston, Massachusetts
Museum of Decorative Arts; Prague, Czech Republic
Renwick Gallery, NMAA, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
The Alcorcon City Museum of Glass Art; Spain
The Museum of Arts and Sciences; Macon, Georgia
Dartmouth College Hood Museum; Hanover, NH
Corning Museum of Glass; Corning, NY
Yale University Art Gallery; New Haven, CT
Hamilton College Emerson Gallery; Clinton, NY
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum; Neenah, WI
Fuller Craft Museum; Brockton, MA
Museum Bellerive; Zurich, Switzerland
New Orleans Museum of Art; New Orleans, LA
Dancing Bear Folk Center; Themopolis, WY
Danforth Museum of Art; Framingham, MA
Racine Art Museum; Racine, WI
Nelson Museum of Art; Tempe, AZ
Royal Ontario Museum; Toronto, Canada
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum; Springfield, MA
Awards
Lifetime Membership Award, Glass Art Society (1999)
People's Choice Award, Crafts ant the Castle (1998)
Urban Glass Award, Achievement in Limited Series Design (1996)
Jurors' Award: Best in Glass, A C E; Evanston, IL (2002, 1995, 1992, 1990)
Massachusetts Cultural Council, Individual Project Support Grant (1993)
Humanitarian Award, Niche Magazine (1993)
Jurors' Award: Best in Glass, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show (1992, 1989)
Founder's Award, American Craft Exposition (1991)
Jurors' Award: "Artists Look at Earth", National Air & Space Museum (1986)
First Prize in Glass: "Wichita National" Wichita Art Association (1986)
Master Craftsman Award: "Festival of One Hundred American Craftsmen"
Kenan Center; Lockport, NY (1980)
Bibliography
Star-Gazette, “Artist takes aim at giant paperweight,” 2/11/06
The Recorder, “ Huge orb poses new challenge,” 2/11-12/06
Glass Art Magazine, “Heavenly Inspirations, Earthly Visions,” January/February 2006
The Sunday Republican, “It’s Not a Small World After All,” 1/1/06
25 Years of New Glass Review, Tina Oldknow, 2005
The Sunday Republican, “Glass artist takes biggest challenge,” 12/18/05
Neues Glas New Glass Magazine, “Josh Simpson Visions of our Galaxy,” Winter 2005
The Times, “Globally Friendly,” 10/25/05
The Recorder, “Detailing a life of finding visions in the glass,” 9/23/05
Business West, “Global Perspectives,” 9/6/05
Neues Glas, New Glass Magazine, “Josh Simpson,” Fall 2005
The Ledger, “Lake Truesdale News reports on the good ole summertime,” 8/11/05
Luxury Living Magazine, “Genius in Glass,” Summer 2005
The Gather, “Josh Simpson: Secret Worlds and Alien Landscapes,” Spring/Summer 2005
Steninge World Exhibition of Glass catalog, April 2005
Star Tribune, “Glassblower Hides Orbs Just for the Wonder of It,” 4/19/05
United States Embassy Kuwait catalog, Art in Embassies Program, February 2005
Sunday Republican, “Chefs battle to aid county hunger projects,” 3/20/05
Star Tribune, “Glassblower Hides Orbs Just for the Wonder of It,” 4/19/05
Chicago Tribune, “When the Inner Artisan Speaks,” 8/22/04
Sunday Journal, “Hidden Treasures,” 8/22/04
The Berkshire Eagle, “MCLA to hand out 302 degrees,” 5/28/04
An Artist’s Food For Thought, Edgewood Orchard Galleries, 2004
Made By Hand, Jeanne Braham, 2004
The Patriot Ledger, “Marvelous Marbles,” 4/5/003
Chicago Tribune, “Fine Craft that’s fit for a President,” 4/20/03
The Springfield Republican, “Creator of Worlds,” George Lenker, 4/28/03
Mr. Holyoke College Journal, “Hide and Seek on the River,” 5/9/03
Valley Kids, “Springfield’s New Orrery,” June-July, 2003
International Guild Glass Artists newsletter, “Artist Spotlight-Josh Simpson”, Summer 2003
United States Embassy Manila catalog, Art in Embassies Program, July 2003
The Artful Home – Furniture, Sculpture & Objects, The Guild Source books, 2003
Spirit of the Planet, Art in Embassies Program Vienna Exhibition, December 2002
Lapidary Journal, “Facets…and Infinite Glass,” January 2002
The Greenfield Recorder, “Celestial effort to support symphony,” 7/16/02
Brattleboro Reformer, “Emergency Fund offers relief to artists in need,” 9/5/02
Steninge World Exhibition of Art Glass catalog, 2002
PBS Documentary, Where the Earth Meets the Sky,The Glassworks of Josh Simpson, 2001
Josh Simpson Glass Artist, Andrew Chaikin, 2001
Contemporary Marbles and Related Art Glass, Mark P. Block, 2001
Daily Hampshire Gazette, “The Artist and the Astronaut” 1/10/01
Daily Hampshire Gazette, “Umass Professors Snare Commonwealth Awards,” 2/1/01
The Greenfield Recorder, “Shelburne Artist Celebrated in New Book,” 4/26/01
Springfield Union-News, “Galaxies of Glass Inspire TV Special,” 5/5/01
The Christian Science Monitor, “Making Marbles out of Liquid Fire,” 6/12/01
Reflections On Space, “Further Artistic Perspectives on Space,” Sept-Dec. 2001
The Greenfield Recorder, "Music of the Spheres," 3/23/00
The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, "Mega Megaplanet," March 2000
Niche Magazine, “Some Things Change, Some Don’t,” Fall 2000
The Winged Tiger, Comics & Stories, Phil Yeh, 2000
Wanganui Chronicle, "Artist Bowled Over by NZ," 2/10/99
The Boston Globe, "Small World," 7/24/99
Chicago Sun-Times, "Putting Artwork Into Orbit," 8/22/99
Post-Tribune, "Renowned Craft Show," 8/27/99
Boston Globe, “The Cosmic Couple” Cate McQuaid 10/12/99
Steninge World Exhibition of Art Glass catalog, 1999
Hamilton Alumni Review, "Josh Simpson," Holly A. Foster, Winter 1998-1999
Visionary Landscapes: The glasswork of Josh Simpson, Dr. Sylva Petrova , 1998
Washington Post, “Space Craft” Edge of the Millennium”, Jane Friedman, 2/19/98
Visionary Landscapes: the glasswork of Josh Simpson, Dr Sylva Petrova , 1998
Washington Post, "Space Craft" Edge of the Millenium", Jane Friedman, 2/19/98
Rocky Mountain News, "Glass Planets" Mary Voelz Chandler, 5/29/98
Union News/Republican, "A World of Glass" Zedra Jurist Aranow, 6/14/98
Greenwich Times, "Visionary Landscapes" 7/13/98
The Advocate, "Welcome to Planet Glass," 7/19/98
Greenwich Time, "Artist Shares His Vision for Full-Blown Universe," 7/20/98
Gannett Newspapers, "Glass Worlds, Eerie and Beautiful," 7/23/98
The Fairfield County Weekly, “Heavenly Creations,” Stefanie Ramp 8/6/98
The Greenfield Recorder, "Glass Artist Inspires Glass Artists," 1/23/97
Midland Daily News, "Arts Midland Features Glass, American Art," 1/26/97
Christian Science Monitor, "From a Fiery Inferno" Kristen A. Conover, 4/7/97
The Macon Telegraph, “Blown Beauty," 4/25/97
Christian Science Monitor, "From a Fiery Inferno" Kristen A. Conover, 4/7/97
The Crafts Report, "The Jury Is In," April 1997
The San Bernardino County Sun, "Glass Goes Cosmic," 1/9/96
News-Press, “Artist Turns World into Big Blue Marble,” 1/21/96
Bravo, "Here's Lookin' At It," April 1996
Optimist, "All-American," and "Planetary Aspirations," May 2-8, 1996
The Boston Globe, "Glass Art Gets its Chance to Shine," 6/6/96
Journal Inquirer, "Prestigious Crafts Show in West Springfield," 6/13/96
The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Miniature Worlds in Spheres of Glass," July 1994
Glass Magazine, Summer 1992; Fall 1994
Glass Art, September/October 1994; July/August 1990, Cover Photo
New Glass Review, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY, #14 (1993), #13 (1992), #11 (1990), #8 (1987), #5 (1984), #1 (1979)
Craft in America Celebrating the Creative Work of the Hand, Phyllis George, 1993
Museum Bellerive Zurich Glas Band 1, 1945-1991,1992
Sunday Republican, "Glassblower Josh Simpson: Mentor," Zedra Aranow, 6/14/92
Chicago Tribune, "Out of This World: Planets in Glass," 9/6/92
Boston Herald, “On a Mission to Save His Marbles," 10/7/92
Glass Focus, "Glass Focus Interviews Josh Simpson." Oct.-Nov. 1991
Omni Magazine, "Great Balls of Fire," March 1990
The Leader, "Arnot Art Museum Plans Exhibit," 5/6/91
Leisure Weekly, "The Best Inhabited Planet," Feb 27-March 6, 1991.
New York Times, "Boxes Don't Have to Look, Well, Boxy," 6/14/90
New Haven Register, "Sophistication Thrives in a Country Setting," 2/19/89
Glass: A Contemporary Art, by Dan Klein 1989
Contemporary Glass, Susanne K. Frantz 1989
Art Gallery International, October 1989
Smithsonian Magazine, "Marbles: A rite turned rarity," April 1988
Chicago Tribune, "The Transition of Glass into the Realm of Pure Art,” 11/20/88
Midland Daily News, “Melding the Arts & Science-and Making it Fun,” 1/5/87
The New York Times, "An Idea that Came from Outer Space," March 29, 1987
New York Times, "Elegant Scent Storage," 10/21/87
New Work Magazine, "Armory Show," Summer 1987
Boston Globe, "The Crafts Industry Grows Up," 6/27/87
Cape Cod Times, "Paperweight Exhibit is Clearly a Thing of Beauty," 8/21/87
Boston Globe, "The Allure of Glass," 4/24/86
The New York Times, "A Valley Vibrant With Crafts," 10/5/86
Smithsonian Magazine, "Artists Look at Earth," November 1986
Art & Antiques, "Glass Consciousness," October 1985
Morning Union, "He Fuses Art & Business at 2,500 Degrees," 2/14/85
New York Times, "N.E. Valley Luring Artisans," 12/15/85
New York Daily News, "Glassblower Creates Beauty from Molten Glass & Vision," 8/23/84
Houston Chronicle, "Fine Craft is Setting Its Place at the American Table," 11/1/84
USA Today, "Crafts Move Into Art World," 2/8/83
The New York Times, "America's Craftsmen Gather at Rhinebeck," 6/26/80
Life Magazine, "Graceful Magic of Art in Glass," April 1979
New York Times, "Crafts from Young Artists," 6/20/78
Washington Post, "The Crafts Awakening at the White House," 5/5/77
New Haven Register, "Old Skills Make Difference in Glass Art," 8/4/75
New Haven Journal-Courier, "Craftsman Shapes Gifts of Glass," 12/24/74
Special Projects & Commissions
Art in Embassies Program; US Embassies of Canada, Austria,
The Philipines, Brunei, Kuwait, Iceland, Egypt (1999-present)
Infinity Project, over 1500 special locations around the world (1979-present)
Culture Connect Envoy – Singapore & Brunei; US State Department (2005)
Hamilton College Science Center, Megaplanet Commission; Clinton, NY (2005)
WGBY Donor Luncheon; Shelburne Falls, MA (2004)
American Artists Abroad - Brunei; US State Department (2004)
WFCR Donor Luncheon; Shelburne Falls, MA (2003)
Association of Performing Arts Presenters Commission; Washington, DC (2002, 2003)
Massachusetts Cultural Council Commonwealth Award Art Object (2001)
Pioneer Valley Symphony and Chorus; The Planets Symphony, Greenfield, MA (2000)
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Awards Commission, Washington, DC (1998)
Cummings Studio/Herter Design Commission, Bluffton, SC (1999, 1998)
Americans for the Arts Annual Awards Commission, Washington, DC (1998- 2001)
Xerox Corporation, Webster, NY (1997)
Searle Pharmaceuticals, Skokie, IL (1997)
Southern New England Telephone, CT (1997)
Organic Trade Commission, MA (1997-2005)
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Megaplanet Commission, Norway (1996 - 2005)
Northern Telecom (1997)
Pepsi Co, Houston, Texas (1996)
Earth Day Awards; New York, NY (1994, 1993)
American International College; Springfield, MA
California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA
Coside Corporation; New York, NY
Gateway Design Corporation; Lowell, MA
Moritex Corporation Lobby Commission; Tokyo, Japan
Museum of Modern Art Design Catalog; New York, NY
Old Sturbridge Village; Sturbridge, MA
Smithsonian Museum; Washington, DC
Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities; Waltham, MA
University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA
World Business Council; Philadelphia, PA
Teaching
Corning Museum Meet the Artist; Corning, NY (2005)
Steninge Palace lecture; Sweden (2005)
Sandwich Glass Museum Annual Fall Symposium lecture; Sandwich, MA (2005)
Princeton University Glass Fundamentals of Glass lecture; Princeton, NJ (2005)
Greenfield Community College Foundation lecture; Greenfield, MA (2005)
Springfield Science Museum, Our Life in Science and Art; Springfield, MA (2004)
Looking Back at American Craft, Evanston Craft Show; Evanston, IL (2004)
Tucson Museum of Art lecture; Tucson, AZ (2004)
Corning Museum; Corning, New York (1997, 1999, 2001,2002, 2004)
Paperweights & Small Works Symposium lecture; Wheaton Village, Millville, NJ (2004)
National American Glass Club Keynote; Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich, MA (2004)
Canyon Ranch slide lectures; Canyon Ranch, Tucson, AZ (2004)
Marketing Your Work seminar; Corning Museum, Corning, NY (2003)
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astonautics, Our Life in Science and Art;Boston, MA (2003)
International Society of Glass Bead Makers Conference Keynote; Lowell, MA (2003)
Northfield Mt. Herman School, Our Life in Science and Art; Northfield, MA (2002)
GAS Conference lecture, Our Life in Science and Art; (2001)
The Art of Fine Crafts Panelist; Washington Craft Show (2001)
Wanganui Polytechnic University; Wanganui, New Zealand (1999)
Guilford Handcraft Center lecture, New Works: New Worlds, (1994)
Nota Jima Glass Art Center, Nota Jima, Japan (1993)
Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan (1993)
Aichi University; Hirosawa, Japan; Guest Lecturer (1993)
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts; Deer Isle, ME (1990)
Penland School of Crafts; Penland, NC (1989)
Horizons: The New England Crafts Program; Williamsburg, MA (1984-90)
Creative Arts Workshop; New Haven, CT (1974-76)
Kirkland College; Clinton, NY (1973)
Related Activities
Corning Museum of Glass Fellow (2005)
WGBY National Public Television, Board of Tribunes (2005)
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Doctor of Fine Arts, Honorary Degree (2004)
Glass Art Society; Board of Directors, President (1992 - 1994),
Treasurer (1990 - 1992), Member (Since 1972)
Craft Emergency Relief Fund; Board of Directors, President (1985 - 1992), Board member (Since 1998-2003) Member (Since 1985)
Springfield Library & Museums, Corporator (2000-present)
James Renwick Alliance Auction, Washington, DC (1999)
American Craft Enterprises, Board of Directors (1984-1985)
American Craft Council, Board member (1998-2001)
The Greenfield Co-operative Bank, Associate Director (Since 1996)
Eastern States Exposition, Trustee (Since 1986)
American Craft Museum, Associate (Since 1985)
Horizons: The New England Craft Program, Advisory Board (Since 1984-2001)
Snow Farm School of Crafts, Co-owner (since 2001)
WGBY National Public Television, Murrow Society Development Member (2002)
National Public Radio, WFCR Leadership Council (2001-2003) |
