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Dan Klein (1938-2009): In Memoriam
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The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the richest contemporary art glass communities in the United States. The birthplace of the West Coast studio glass movement, it is home to the most prestigious glass study programs in the world, among them California College of the Arts (CCA), University of California (Berkeley), San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, as well as community glass programs, and public glass blowing and kiln facilities, such as those found as San Francisco's Public Glass, San Jose's Bay Area Glass Institute, Oakland's The Crucible. Hershman, a 2008 graduate of CCA, is one of the many, many local artists enriched with a residency at the glass summer school, North Lands Creative Glass in Lybster, Scotland, founded by Dan Klein, and his partner, Alan J. Poole. 
Joshua Hershman wrote today: Dan Klein was a force of nature 1938-2009.
A world authority on contemporary glass, Dan Klein has written and lectured extensively on the subject, and with Alan J. Poole, curated important exhibitions. His curatorial practice included staging two Venice Glass Biennales - ‘Venezia Aperto Vetro’ in 1996 and 1998, 21st Century British Glass in association with Daniel Katz Limited in 2005, and Lucio Bubacco’s extraordinary installation entitled ‘Eternal Temptation’ at SOFA Chicago in 2008. Unbeknown to those of us who met him, his last exhibition, an intimate show of exquisite sculpture, Contrasts & Collaborations was staged from 13 May to 17 June, 2009, and presented individual and collaborative works by Sally Fawkes and Richard Jackson, two of Britain’s leading young artists in glass, following their exhibition at the Museo de Arte en Vidrio De Alcorcon in Madrid.
Lastly, Dan Klein curated the successful Modern and Contemporary Glass auction with Bonhams, London, on Tuesday, May 19, 2009. A well-known auctioneer, his career began with Christie's auction house in London (he was the former international director of 20th century decorative arts). Among the highlights to his celebrated career in Contemporary Glass, Klein was International Executive Director of Phillips from 1998-2001 prior to its merger with Bonhams. A collector, curator, and writer specializing in contemporary glass, Dan Klein, was an ardent supporter of glass artists, who proved this like no other when he and his partner, Alan J. Poole, helped found a registered charity, the prestigious glass summer school, North Lands Creative Glass.
I met Dan Klein only twice. First at the Glass Art Society's Portland meeting last year, and last just a little over 2 weeks ago, when I was visiting in London. Since my first meeting with Dan wasn't too encouraging, I was hesitant about meeting him again, especially on his own turf. But as soon as my 13 year old daughter and I crossed the threshold into his home, he was beautifully warm and hospitable. Proud of his exhibition of Fawkes and Richard's work, he spoke warmly of the artists he admired, among them, Joshua Hershman, one of the most recent to complete a residency from the North Glass School. He was proud of his friendships with important contributors to the Contemporary Glass movement, especially that of Berkeley resident, Marvin Lipofsky, whom he admired greatly and wrote an essay for his Oakland Museum retrospective in 2006. Apologizing for not being his usual spry self, Dan was very generous with his conversation and kind remarks to my daughter. We departed with warm farewells and promises to renew acquaintances when he returned to San Francisco. I left his home delighted with my host's courtesies, grateful for his time and respectful of his knowledge. The world of Contemporary Glass has lost today its most devoted supporter. - Micaela Van Zwoll, July 1, 2009
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