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

Artist Statement
The glass that I use in my sculptures has a history of previous human usage in either public or private arenas. Because my chosen material has witnessed human activity and all its attendant meaning and relevance, I create work that retains that history through its titles and forms.  In choosing my history-laden materials I seek out glass from wide ranging sources based on who once used it and how, and thus give the mute glass a voice through narrative pieces.

Biography
Christopher G. Watts received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1990 and his MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in 2007. He has worked as a glass designer and blower since 1993 and has been making conceptually based glass sculptures and outdoor glass installations since 2001. In 1998-99 he was invited to be the first artist in residence at The National Glass Centre in Sunderland, England for one year. He has taught sculpture and glassblowing at numerous colleges since 2002 including Massachusetts College of Art and MIT. His work is included in several private collections throughout the United States.

Resume
Education
2007    MFA Sculpture/Glass Massachusetts College of Art
1997-04    Numerous classes at Studio at Corning, inc. and Pilchuck Glass School
1990    Brown University
1990    BFA Glass Rhode Island School of Design

Selected Exhibitions
2008    "Departure" Fort Point Artist Community, Boston, Ma.  Two-man juried exhibition
2007    Boston Young Contemporaries, Boston University, Juried
    Paine Gallery, Boston, Ma.  Group Show
2003    The Barn Gallery, Danvers, Ma. Solo Exhibition
    Chappell Gallery, Boston, Ma. Group Show
2002    RISD on Point, Several Galleries, Boston, Ma. Juried
    The Pingree School Gallery, South Hamilton, Ma, Two-person invitational
2001    RISD on Point, Gallery Five North, Boston, Ma.  Juried

Awards and Honors
2008    Artist talk and public portfolio presentation, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
    Artist talk and public portfolio presentation, FPAC Gallery, Boston
2007    Nominated as outstanding student to represent Massachusetts College of Art in the International Sculpture Center’s national juried competition
2005    Visiting artist and lecturer Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2003    Pilchuck Glass School Corning Award nominee for outstanding student work
    Recipient of Scholarship, Pilchuck Glass School
1999    Artist Residency, The National Glass Centre Sunderland, England, Six-month residency. Resided 1 year in UK.

Publications
2008        
Dig Magazine: John Berera's review of "Departure"
2007        Boston Metro Magazine    

2006    New England Home Magazine    
2005    25 Years of New Glass Review, work Included in internationally published survey of contemporary glass art from 1980-2004 by the Corning Museum of Glass

2004    Better Homes and Gardens
2002    New Glass Review selected for international publication by the Corning Museum of Glass
2001    Niche Magazine
    Additional Review in Niche Magazine

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