Kentucky artist Dan Neil Barnes has created the 2006 awards to be presented to the recipients of the 2006 Governor’s Award in the Arts. The art pieces entitled Kentucky Ablaze are mixed-media art glass constructions incorporating stained glass with turned eucalyptus resin burl wood and patina finished copper to create a rugged elegance through the use of carefully combined textures.
“I love the challenge of moving beyond just capturing an image,” says Dan Barnes. “Many artists who work with stained glass use the medium as a way to express certain images such as flowers or landscapes in much the same way a painter uses watercolors or oils as a medium for creating certain images. To me, glass is a textured medium that I can use along with wood and metal in sculptures to create original multi-dimensional works that uniquely blend color, light, texture and depth.”
Dan Neil Barnes was born to a family of builders and craftsmen, experiencing the first-hand satisfaction of creating something from an idea or inspiration. Henderson County served as a backdrop for his education in art and craftsmanship as he worked along side his father and uncles. He earned his BA in Environmental Design from the University of Kentucky. He currently lives and works in Lexington.
He began creating stained glass works in early 2000 and his craft has evolved beyond traditional ideas about lamps and windows by adding treated metals, crafted wood and unique lighting, pushing the idea of glass art into a new form. Dan has exhibited widely in Kentucky and has been juried into many selective craft shows including the American Craft Council shows.
The Kentucky Arts Council began commissioning artwork for the Governor’s Awards in the Arts awards in 1996. Previous artists creating the awards have been Stephen Rolfe Powell, Ken Gastineau, Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Wayne Bates, Rebekka Seigel, Tracy Hawkins, Homer Ledford, Linda Fifield, Brook Forrest White, Jr., and Laura Ross.