Artist in Residence - 2018
Gary Wilson is a glass artist. Florida's natural beauty and enchanting wildlife provide the subject matter for Gary's art. Having lived most of his life in Florida, he has enjoyed years of inspirational encounters with the Florida environment which he draws on for the creation of his artwork.
Much of his artwork depicts the natural beauty of the Big Cypress Natural Preserve and the Everglades National Park, as well as the wonderful creatures that live there. Many of his Everglades scenes portray awesome images of Florida Panthers and the silent fierceness of the Florida alligator framed in Cypress trees and swampy lakes.
The stunning beaches and waterways of Florida provide an endless supply of subject matter for his art. He has created many scenes that include dolphins and sea turtles playfully swimming, graceful coconut palms reaching for the stars, colorful sunsets over the gulf, peaceful manatee families swimming in the gulf and pelicans diving for fish. Each piece of his artwork represents the beauty of the Florida environment.
Years of glass cutting experience have allowed him to create intricate artwork that touch souls with their depiction of life in Florida. He has developed a sculptural style to his art through intricate firing schedules of multilayered glass. He uses only the highest quality glass available, which is produced by the only company in the United States that makes "Fusible Glass." This specialized glass enables him to combine many different styles, colors and thicknesses of glass in his artwork, which would otherwise not be possible. This allows him to create spectacular artwork that depicts the beauty of SW Florida.
He refined his glass skills in the 1970s and 1980s making stained glass lamps, mirrors and windows and showing his art throughout the SE United States, from Ft. Lauderdale to New Orleans. In 2004 he started working in fused glass and studied with numerous glass artists over the next several years, including Brad Walker at the Arrowmont Craft Studios.
He started showing his fused glass art in galleries and outdoor shows in 2012 and has participated in numerous shows in Naples, Palm Beach, Boca Grande, Delray Beach and Bonita Springs over the last 5 years. He plans to continue to exhibit his art in various shows in Florida in 2018, although corporate demand for his work is leading him in new directions throughout the United States and Canada.
In addition to glass art he is honored to be involved in leadership roles in several non-profit organizations in SW Florida including Kiwanis and Immokalee Child Care Center. It has been extremely gratifying for him to be a part of the work these organizations do to improve the lives of the children they serve.
