To See a World in a Grain of Sand | Chrysler Museum of Art

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Atelier NL (founded 2007), Lonny van Ryswyck (Dutch, b. 1978), Nadine Sterk (Dutch, b. 1977), *Portrait of the artist-designers Atelier NL*, 2017, Courtesy of Atelier NL, Photography by Mike Roelofs, © Mike Roelofs

Over the past decade, Nadine Sterk and Lonny van Ryswyck of the Dutch design studio Atelier NL have invited people from all over the world to send them sand gathered from places holding special meaning.

When heated at very high temperatures, these sands produce glass that displays unique colors and textures linked to their sources.

This global collaborative project showcases both the richness of the earth and the intimate relationships people have with their local environment. “From students and scientists to neighbors, children and artists, we bring people into our process. By becoming part of our work, they begin to appreciate the wealth of local areas in new ways and thus identify more deeply with their surroundings,” says Sterk and van Ryswyck.

The Chrysler Museum’s exhibition will display glass and glassware created by melting sands collected from around the world. The show will also include photographs of places where the sands were gathered and personal stories about the significance of each location. Magnified photographs of sand grains will draw attention to microscopic details of color, shape, and texture.

Atelier NL (founded 2007), Lonny van Ryswyck (Dutch, b. 1978), Nadine Sterk (Dutch, b. 1977), *Glassware: Savelsbos Edition*, 2017, Mold-blown glass, Courtesy of Atelier NL, Photography by Blickfänger

Atelier NL (founded 2007), Lonny van Ryswyck (Dutch, b. 1978), Nadine Sterk (Dutch, b. 1977), *Sand Postcards*, 2017, Digital prints, Courtesy of Atelier NL, Photography by Jilmer Postma

“The exhibition will notably feature local Virginian sands.” –Carolyn Swan Needell, Ph.D., Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass

With the help of community partners and the authorization of local agencies like Fort Monroe National Monument, Jamestown Rediscovery, and Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, the Chrysler team has gathered sand from several locations in the region to help contemplate and celebrate the places we call home.

This exhibition is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art and is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the consulate General of the Netherlands in New York and with funds from the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass and the Netherlands-America Foundation.

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