Joe Ivacic - Instructor

Pictured here gaffing a large peice of glass, Joe Ivacic hails from Rockford IL. He holds a degree in teaching from University of Illinois, Champaign- Urbana. He has studied sculpture and glass with Jose Chardiet, William Carlson, Greg Fidler, Catherine Gray, and Paul Nelson. Formerly, a full time Chicago Public High School teacher, Ivacic now teaches Glass blowing at Making Glass. As a senior instructor, Joe teaches all levels of glass working, Look for his work at SOFA chicago and in the Making Glass Gallery.

 

About the Artist: 
My fascination of the world is seen through an artist’s eye, drawing inspiration from everyday events and objects. Glass is my chosen material. I prefer a nontraditional use of glass by sculpting objects rather than making functional vessels. I have been working with molten glass for more than 12 years. My decision to use this material is due to its unpredictable nature and constant communication to guide its technician in the direction it wants to go. I started my art journey at an early age and attended creative and performing arts schools from elementary through high school. The next step was to receive my BFA from the University of Illinois in Champaign/ Urbana. From there art has taken me across the United States with shows, installations, and classes. I have had the privilege of working with and learning from celebrated glass masters globally. In addition to working on my own art, I teach students how to blow glass at Chicago Hot Glass, work on commissions, and assist other professional artists to make their own work. My work has been featured and sold at international shows including SOFA and has also appeared in international magazines.
Artist Statement: 
My current work reflects the reality of economics in a time where people believe that they have less disposable income and are surrounded by objects that control us in a false sense of necessity.
 

Artist Biography- Joseph P. Ivacic

p. 312-505-5336

e. josephivacic8@hotmail.com

Education

B.F.A. University of Illinois at Champaign, Urbana 2000

Studied under William Carlson, Jose Chardiet, Kathrine Gray, Greg Fidler, Brent Cole, Paul Nelson, and Robert Blakely

 Classes

Goblets and Venetian Forms by Elio Quarisi, Chicago Hot Glass 2003

Murini Pickups by John Miller, Chicago Hot Glass 2004

Traditional Forms by Matt Urban, Making Glass 2005

Cane and Murini Pickups by Matt Urban, Making Glass 2005

Venetian Goblets by Matt Urban, Making Glass 2005

Large Sculpture with John Miller, Pilchuck 2007

Glass Sculpting with Pino Signoretto 2009

 

Shows

“Things Left Behind”, Solo show, September 19, 2008

Haus Gallery

Chicago, IL

 

“Glass ?”, Group artist show, August 8, 2008

Lotus Keep Gallery

Chicago, IL

 

SOFA EXPO, Group artist show, November 2-4, 2007

Rosenthal Gallery

Chicago, IL

 

Group artist show, September 14, 2007

Golan Liebermann Gallery

Rockford, IL

 

Group artist show, November 17, 2006         

G. C. Lucas Gallery

Indianapolis, IN

 

“Scratching the Surface” Dual artist show, September 5, 2006

Kraft Lieberman Gallery

Chicago, IL

 

“2006 Rockford Midwestern” Group show, May 19 – July 23, 2006

Rockford Art Museum

Rockford, IL

 “Reflections” Dual artist show, February 10, 2006

Underground Studio

Rockford, IL

 

“Three Degrees of Separation” Group Show, April 9, 2005

Acme Art Works

Chicago, IL

 

“Security” Solo Show, November 13-December 10, 2004

Making Glass

Highland Park, IL

 

 “Five” group show, April 24-May 29, 2004

North Lakeside Cultural Center

Chicago, IL

Representation 

David Weinberg Gallery

Chicago, IL

 

Pismo Gallery

Denver, CO

 

G. C. Lucas Gallery

Indianapolis, IN

 

Golan Liebermann Gallery

Rockford, IL 
 
Website: 

http://www.josephivacic.com

Facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/joseph.ivacic