The Artists Behind Assembly Required
Therman Statom
Founder and Co-Director
Therman Statom is a sculptor, glass artist, and painter he is a pioneer of the contemporary glass movement and is known for his life-size glass ladders, chairs, tables, constructed box-like paintings, and small scale houses; all created through the technique of gluing glass plate together. Born in Winter Haven, Florida in 1953, Statom spent his adolescence in Washington, D.C. and went on to pursue studies at Pilchuck Glass School during its inaugural year. He completed a BFA in 1974 from RISD, and later studied at the Pratt Institute of Art & Design.
His career includes numerous exhibitions including solo and group shows around the nation and internationally as well as public artworks in the Los Angeles Public Library, Corning, Inc. Headquarters, the Mayo Clinic, as well as several hospitals across the country.
His career includes numerous exhibitions including solo and group shows around the nation and internationally as well as public artworks in the Los Angeles Public Library, Corning, Inc. Headquarters, the Mayo Clinic, as well as several hospitals across the country.
David Willis
Founder and Co-Director
David Willis grew up outside of New York City and earned a BA in Interdepartmental Field Studies from UC Berkeley with an emphasis on Social Change and a Minor in Conservation and Resources Studies. He began working with glass in 1994 and drawing heavily from nature he takes a cross-disciplinary approach to the material, his work focuses on the idea that the most intimate and important aspects of an individual’s life are common to all people.
Willis is a Lecturer at the University of Washington in the School of Art, Art History and Design. He has also been instructor at institutions including the Pilchuck Glass School, the Corning Museum of Glass Studio, the University of Oregon, and the Penland School of Craft. His work is included in public, private, and museum collections nationally and internationally, and has been published in books and magazines including ARTnews, American Craft, New Glass Review, Contemporary Flameworking Vol III, and Lampworking the 20th Century to the Present.
While serving on the Board of Trustees of the Pilchuck Glass School, Willis has been the Chair of the Green Committee and played a pivotal role in establishing the DEAI Committee with Co-Chair Therman Statom. He is a past Director of the Glass Art Society, and his work is represented by Austin Art Projects in Palm Desert, CA.
Willis is a Lecturer at the University of Washington in the School of Art, Art History and Design. He has also been instructor at institutions including the Pilchuck Glass School, the Corning Museum of Glass Studio, the University of Oregon, and the Penland School of Craft. His work is included in public, private, and museum collections nationally and internationally, and has been published in books and magazines including ARTnews, American Craft, New Glass Review, Contemporary Flameworking Vol III, and Lampworking the 20th Century to the Present.
While serving on the Board of Trustees of the Pilchuck Glass School, Willis has been the Chair of the Green Committee and played a pivotal role in establishing the DEAI Committee with Co-Chair Therman Statom. He is a past Director of the Glass Art Society, and his work is represented by Austin Art Projects in Palm Desert, CA.
Jessie Blackmer
Founder and Co-Director
Jessie Blackmer received her BFA from Massachusetts College of Art in 2004. Shortly after earning her degree, she moved to Washington State and worked for several prominent artists while refining her own technique and developing her artistic practice. Jessie was also involved with Pratt Fine Arts center in Seattle, working as both a studio coordinator and an instructor and received the 2008 Jon and Mary Shirley Scholarship. In 2011 Jessie Blackmer received her MFA from The Ohio State University and soon after was a fellow at Wheaton arts and an EAiR at Pichuck glass school. She served as the Workshop manager at S12 in Bergen, Norway and while there her work was exhibited in, and purchased for the permanent collection by, KODE.
