Artists selected for the 2009 BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass are:

Artist Statement
My work addresses destruction and the underlying themes of violence and danger that underpin American society. I begin by writing a story line based on current political issues. I immerse myself in developing iterative painted storyboards – the repetition of the stories allows me to delve into the characters and plots to bring forward an ideological vitality and flexibility to the issue. Then, I bring the paintings into the hot shop to become ‘real’. The spontaneity engendered by the capriciousness of the molten glass is retained in the finished piece, reinforcing the essential nature and animation of the character. Each iteration of design necessitates a reengineering of method, which intensifies the inherent emotion unique to each character and story. The challenge of combining drawing and glass blowing together inspires me as I put these characters into new environments and see how they react story changes. My drawings and finished glassblowing are abstract and stylized, which allows the viewer to engage with my work on a humorous level, yet still retains an element of the sinister, thereby asking the viewer to rethink their understanding of political reality. I am unafraid to chart the unknown and my willingness to take risks is often rewarded with remarkable results

Biography
Quincy Neri was raised in the Midwest, Crystal Lake, IL. She has been blowing glass for 13 years and teaching for the last three at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1999, she received her BFA degree from Alfred University and her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005. Her work has been featured in Glass Quarterly and she has exhibited internationally, including solo and group exhibitions in Canada and the United States. During childhood, her sister and brother recall her drawing tornados in the corner of the house with crayons and markers in hand. She would hide in the basement and scribble until the threat had left. Her fear of tornadoes and unpredictable disaster turned out to be her greatest obsession in life. Throughout much of her graduate career, she developed a body of work about storm systems, particularly tornadoes. The work depicts the both the visual and the emotional elements of storms. Fascinated since childhood with imminent inclement weather, Quincy communicated the sense of excitement, channeling the energy into canvases as large as 12 by 17 feet. Never afraid to take a risk or meet a challenge, she decided that painting and glassblowing would be an essential part of her art making. Her interests are many and are all studied, examined, and experimented with constantly. Currently her work addresses destruction and the underlying schemes of violence and danger that underpin American society. Quincy lives her art as essential to everyday life.

Resume
Education
2005    MFA University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI (cum laude), “Convective Outlook”, MFA Thesis Exhibition
2000    BFA Alfred University, Alfred NY (cum laude), “Relation Configuration”, BFA Exhibition
1996    BA McHenry County College, Crystal Lake IL

Professional Experience
2008-present    Professor, Madison Area Technical College, Drawing for Illustration
2008-present    Lecturer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2007, Summer    Lecturer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2006, Summer        Lecturer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
1996-2000    Curatorial Assistant, Fosdick Nelson Gallery, Alfred University
1995-1996    Teaching Assistant, Life Drawing, Advanced Drawing, Fall and Spring, McHenry County College
1996-1994    Curatorial Assistant, McHenry County College, Sandra Lang curator

Selected Exhibitions
2009    And You Think That Is Funny?, Woman Made Gallery, juried group show, Chicago IL
2008    Contemporary Midwest Glass Artists, Carlston Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Steven Point, WI
    Cultivated Movements, Madison Women in Glass, Overture Center, group show, Madison WI
2007    New Work by Q, Gallery Inferno, solo show, Madison WI
2006    Glass In The Garden, Pam-da-monium Studios, group show, Monona WI
    Convection, MFA Thesis Show, Mautz Paint Factory, solo show, Madison WI
    Gazing, Glass and Constellations, Tienny Park installation, solo show, Madison WI
    Nebula Extractions, Millard Ferrell Gallery, solo show, Madison WI
2005    Outdoor Light Exhibition 2005, traveling group show, Madison WI
    Tornado Experience with Charcoal, 939 Warehouse, solo installation, Madison WI
    Snakes and Snatch, One Ten Gallery, group show, Madison WI
    New Work, Iron Works, group show, Madison WI
    Vatikan New Works, The Vatikan, group show, Toronto Canada
2004    Welcome to Food Theater! Show, group performance showings, UW Madison Theater, Madison
    Black and White Chaos, McHenry County College Gallery, solo show, Crystal Lake IL
    The Q Story, Fannie Garver Gallery, group show, Madison WI
    Contemporary Glass by Living Me, 7th floor Gallery, Madison WI
    G.A.S, New Orleans Contemporary Art Museum, New Orleans LA
2003    Outdoor Light Exhibition 03, Alfred University, group show, Alfred NY
2002    Inspiration Hidden, Holden Gallery, group show Manchester UK
2000    Drawings, Oakridge Fine Arts Center, Oakridge NJ
    Noir, Suburban Fine Arts Gallery, Highland Park, IL
    Recent Work, McHenry County College, solo show, Crystal Lake, IL
1999    Relation Configuration, BFA Show, Harder Hall, Red Gym Gallery, solo show, Alfred NY
    Outdoor Light Exhibition, Madison WI, Alfred NY, Utica NY, group show
    The Tiny Show, Alfred University Cell Gallery, group show, Alfred NY
    Sixteen, McHenry County College, solo show, Crystal Lake IL
1998    Outdoor Light Exhibition, Madison WI, Alfred NY, group show
    Women’s Works, Woodstock Court House, juried show, Woodstock IL
1997    Human Prey, McHenry County College, juried show, Woodstock IL

Presentations
2008    Inspiration and Process, Madison Area Technical College, Madison WI
2006    Satirical marks of expression, Edgewood College, Madison WI
    Draw, Fulminate, Destroy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI
2005    Drawing and glassblowing do not mix, unless you have fireproof paper!, Monona Glass Society Symposium,
2002    Charcoal and Light, Alfred University, Neon Light Show
    Current Work and Inspirations, McHenry County College,
2001    Eyes Shut: exhibition on drawing without knowing, McHenry County College

Publications
Glass Quarterly; Spring 2007/Issue 106 Emerging Glass Artist
Reflections, Furniture, Silver, and Paintings of Early America. 2003 Elvehejm Museum of Art

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