Scott currently resides in Western North Carolina with his wife, Liz Summerfield and daughter, Roby Leigh. They both work from their studios located at their home in Bakersville, NC. Scott grew up on Sunset Beach, a barrier island located on the coast of North Carolina. Much of his inspiration comes from his close proximity to the sea. Scott studied glass blowing at the renowned Appalachian Center for Crafts in Smithville, TN. Scott is a current member of the Southern Highland Crafts Guild and is the recipient of numerous awards.
Artist Statement
I create a variety of blown glass works ranging from functional home décor to abstract sculptures. My intent with both bodies of work is to beautify one’s space. My process involves hand blown parts, which are later cut, ground, polished and assembled. Although my larger works are titled as recognizable familiar objects, such as bottles or teapots, they are purely sculptural forms. The intention is not for a bottle to function as a vessel, rather to stimulate the viewer through its movement, color, fluidity, and grace.
I visualize and sketch my sculptures as individual parts, later to be transformed into formal objects. Working with glass in this manner is not a traditional approach to the medium. It allows me to create the slick lines and polished look that I strive for. A delicate balance of beauty and tension are what makes this work unique and curious. I have worked in this format instinctively since the beginning of my glass experience. In my first class I was cutting up vases and bowls and creating nontraditional objects. It just felt right.
My environments, past and current, often seep into my work subconsciously. Growing up on the Southeast coast of North Carolina, it has been natural to abstract from coastal life of the sea. My past series of work consisted of birds and insects, which was a direct response to my upbringing on the coast. In my most current body of work, the “inside out series,” I continue to create formal objects that parallel themes from my previous works. These pieces are intended to beautify a space with their bold striking colors, lines, and stature.
Recent Exhibitions
2009
– Southern Highlands Craft Guild Show, Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, North Carolina.
– Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, Florida.
2008
– Duets/Pairs, Dowstudio, Deer Isle, Maine, Invitational.
– Southern Highlands Craft Guild Show, Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, North Carolina.
– Go Green, Dowstudio, Deer Isle, Maine, Invitational.
– Color, Design Gallery, Bunrsville, North Carolina.
Education
– Glass Studio Certificate Program, Appalachian Center for Crafts, a division of Tennessee Technological University, Smithville, TN. 1998-2001.
– Glass Blowing Workshop, The Studio at Corning, Corning, New York. Instructor: Nick Mount, 2000.
– Slumping & Fusing Workshop, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville, TN. Instructor: Brent Cole, 1998.
– Flame Working Workshop, Penland School of Crafts, Penland North Carolina. Instructor: Sally Prasch, 1997.