Artist statement:
Internationally acclaimed artist, James Harmon has worked, primarily in glass, for more than 30 years. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world. Harmon has presented extensive lectures and workshops, taught classes in art academies, and received awards for his achievements in design and the fine arts. He lives in Allentown, PA with his wife, photographer Winifred Helton Harmon.
About the auction item:
The Pyro Prints came about serendipitously while working with a new series, Bark Patterns which are built upon blown glass cylinders. Paper lying on the steel plate in the glass studio caught fire while the glass passed over it. I noticed right away the connection of the process. The burned paper had such a striking and beautiful texture, heavy contrast, and color.
The process of rolling the work with the hot glass over the paper was a natural progression of the printing process. The burning of the paper through trial and error evolved with the glass pieces as they did with the prints each feeding the other in inspiration, and experimentation. I’m still working with this process when I can. The steam released during the printing from the heat gives movement and an added element to the print.