About Chris Dutch

The more I look at and study art, both historical and contemporary, the more the subject of my art becomes other art. The most important thing to me is the visual image and what kind of emotion it provokes. I rarely do anything to promote a message. The subject is often just a frame to hang a style on, to see what happens if you take a bit from this period and tweak it with a bit of that style, or to add something of your own to it. I think a lot of this comes from working in a medium (stained glass) with a long history (predates easel painting) and from working as a commissioned artist where you are often asked to replicate period style. You come to realize it is very hard make some thing original in an old style without unintentionally bringing in something of your self and all you know that post-dates the original.

Biography

I have been a working artist and craftsman in Charleston, WV since 1982. I make stained glass, and mosaics as architectural installations and as independent art pieces. Since 1991, I’ve also collaborated with Robin Hammer building sculpture and art furniture under the name DutchHammer.I’m a Maine native, and I studied Civil Engineering before turning to a full time pursuit of the arts. I’ve taken craft and design classes at Cedar Lakes Craft Center and the Augusta Workshops in WV, the Haystack Mountain School and Pilchuck Glass School. A three year diversion to England in the 1990’s provided time for self directed study in European glass and church art.My artwork has received awards in the WV Juried Exhibition and Tamarack’s The Best of WV other regional shows. I have been recognized with fellowships by the WV Commission for the Arts and the Tamarack Foundation and received a craftsmanship award from the WV Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

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Other Creative Skills

Mixed Media & Collage
Public Art