Chicago, IL – The Bullseye Connection Gallery is pleased to exhibit at SOFA, the International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art at Chicago’s Navy Pier, October 16-19, 2003.

Located on the center aisle at No. 908, the gallery’s booth will feature contemporary works in international studio glass by Galia Amsel, London; Matthew Curtis, Sydney; Anja Isphording, Vancouver BC; Steve Klein, Los Angeles: Alicia Lomné, Whidbey Island, WA; and Jessica Loughlin, Adelaide, Australia. In addition Bullseye is introducing to SOFA the torchworked sculpture of Bennett Battaile and showcasing a new body of work from Giles Bettison’s current Proximity exhibition.

SOFA newcomer Bennett Battaile uses flameworked glass to create intricate, impossibly delicate three-dimensional works. “Most of my pieces begin with ideas from mathematics," says Battaile. “I like shapes which come from the study of flow, symmetry and curves. I originally started working in glass as one of many attempts to find a three dimensional chalkboard for sketching these shapes.” Battaile, who holds a masters degree in Computer Science from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and graduated Magna Cum Laude in Math, from St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota, will premier three new 2003 works at SOFA.

Internationally acclaimed Australian artist Giles Bettison will show new works from his concurrent Portland exhibition “Proximity”. Bettison gained international recognition among contemporary glass collectors in the mid 1990s when as a student at the Canberra School of Art he adapted the ancient Venetian murrine technique to a new material: an American-made colored sheet glass. Once fused into panels or vessels the softly undulating, linear patterning of the cross-sectioned glass slices bore remarkable resemblance to textiles or aerial views of the plowed ochre-colored fields of his South Australian homestead.

A full color Bettison “Proximity” exhibition catalog is available for purchase at the Bullseye Connection Gallery Booth #908. A catalog signing will be held at the booth on Saturday, October 18, 2003 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

Bettison will also demonstrate his unique hotworking methods at the Corning mobile Studio on Saturday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

Bullseye is delighted to have five of its eight international artists in attendance at this year’s SOFA exposition. In addition to Bettison and Battaile, Matthew Curtis, Steve Klein and Alicia Lomné will be on hand to discuss their works.

Download:   Bullseye Connection Gallery at SOFA Chicago Oct 16-19