finding magic in the small things of everyday life…

As quarantines come to an end and we all begin to phase into the new normal in various stages, we can appreciate seeing the world in a new way. We have learned to appreciate the little things in life, to savor what we once overlooked. For many of us this was something new, but for glass artist Harue Shimomoto it is an everyday studio practice. 

“I appreciate the feelings I get from even the most unspectacular nature, and the small things in everyday life,” Shimomoto says. “I find the small beauties of nature are the ones that most change my view.” 

A glimpse into what has been inspiring Harue most recently:

And it is with this view the Shimomoto creates something truly extraordinary; works of art that hang in delicate arrangements. It is her unique perspective and artistic way of seeing that sets her work and studio process apart. Crafted from thin rods of glass cane, her work is intricately woven into sections and arranged to compile the final composition in a painstakingly precise process. 

Cane is a raw material that is usually melted into larger work to add color, but Shimomoto’s view of how to apply the materials she finds in the studio is different. She found a graceful, unexpected beauty even in this basic material, and uses it while allowing it to keep its original form. 

Time-lapse video of installation courtesy of Campus Productions.

“Many people see glass as a functional object or decorative material. I want to break those images of glass and give it a different quality. Therefore, I am careful to make my work stronger than the medium.”

And that strength shines through when her work is installed in the gallery, museum, public setting as well as private homes. Dancing with daylight, these hanging installations breathe new life into the experience of any space – public or private.

The commission in Shenzhen, China

While she appreciated the smaller things in life and has honed her senses to find and interpret them, like many of us, Shimomoto’s daily routine was interrupted by Coronavirus.  

“Right now, I'm away from my studio and missing it. It has been the longest time without making work….I cannot stop creating, once in a while, I make small things for fun with minimal tools and material.” Shimomoto told us from Tokyo, before her recent return to Wisconsin.

On her trips to Tokyo, Shimomoto regularly visits museums where she also gets a great deal of inspiration. On her most recent trip she explored Tokyo’s innovative TeamLab, which she sent us some photos from:

Proving that her artwork is defined by her unique perspective as an artist, Harue finds magic in the everyday materials and subjects others so often overlook. Now that we have slowed down as a result of the Covid Crisis, and can begin to open our eyes as well to these smaller things, her work feels more touching than ever. 

Current works at Schantz Galleries

Harue Shimomoto received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she developed a body of work that moves beyond the wall to create pathways through a complex network of glass rods, transforming any space into a meditative journey. Shimomoto received her BFA from Tokyo’s Mushashino Art University in 1995, and also spent time studying at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Harue has worked as a teaching assistant and interpreter at Pilchuck School of Glass, as well as the director of large scale projects for artist Toots Zynsky, and flame working assistant to Brent K Young.

In 2012, she was artist in residence at the University of Wisconsin. Previous to that, she was the finalist for a public art project in the Superior New Academic Building at the University of Wisconsin. She has received many awards and distinctions for her glass work, including a CGCA Fellowship from the Creative Glass Center of America and the Anne and Robert Mayer Bolz Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin.