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For more than four decades Doctor of Fine Art, Houston, has been the head-designer for Steuben Glass,
New York because he has the astounding talent of being able to tell stories and to visualise them in the smallest
of details in his glass sculptures.
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James Houston
Being an author, filmmaker or designer is nothing unusual. But it's not common to practise and live all three professions.
It's out of the ordinary to be able to boast huge success in all three areas. James Houston is one such extraordinary person.
Born in 1921 in Toronto, he studied art as early as 11 years old at today's Ontario College of Art, later drawing and etching
at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere, Paris, as well as print creation at Unichi Hiratsuka, Tokyo.
Driven by his search for new people and countries to draw, Houston ended up in the north of Canada and Alaska.
Art and culture of the Inuit People and Native Americans found their expression in many of his works; in his 17 children's
stories which he wrote and illustrated - of which half have received international book prizes - or his documentaries
(for which he raked in 26 international film awards), and in his glass sculptures which today belong to the permanent
collection of numerous museums such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or the National Museum of Canada and many, many more.
In this context
VIRTUOSO CRAFTMANSHIP:
Wood/Metal here.
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To honour James Houston's life's work, both with regards to his glass design and as a tribute to his
services for the Inuit People, the company produced a numbered and limited edition of 40 glass sculptures of an
"Arctic Fisherman" made of 18 carat gold. The committed designer had received the "American Indian and
Eskimo Cultural Foundation Award, Washington D.C." as early as 1996, and also the "Inuit Kuavati Award of Merit" in 1979.
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Another of the glass designer's rarities from 2002 is this masterpiece called "America's Cup",
which was exhibited in celebration of his 40-years occupation for Steuben Glass. Houston was inspired by the
150th birthday of the "America's Cup Race". Back then in the year 1851, the American yacht defeated 16 British ships.
There are two reasons why this exquisite glass sculpture is a particularly valuable piece:
it is one of the few works in which Houston deals with a subject that is different to the themes usually found in his works.
In addition, there are merely 25 pieces, each numbered and signed by the artist.
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Equally only a few collectors will have the pleasure of enjoying owning this piece of glass art - if they are fast
enough and have the patience to wait 12 weeks. This handcrafted glass object entitled "African Zebra" is limited
to 25 pieces. Houston gave the clearest and most perfect crystal the shape of Mount Kilimanjaro. Houston
engraved the forward progression of a herd of zebras with a copper wheel.
Text: Corinna Keller
Photos: Steuben Glass
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