Today we’d like to introduce you to Fahan Sky McDonagh.
Hi Fahan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My father, an Irish immigrant, met my mother in Chicago, IL. I was born there in 1975. By 1978, our family moved to Melbourne Beach, Fl. I was raised there at a time when it was still wild. Our streets were paved with seashells and every other lot was undeveloped. The wildlife outnumbered humans on land and sea. My connection to the environment, especially Florida, comes from my childhood growing up there.
My mother encouraged my art-making from as long ago as I remember. When I was sick, had a toothache or got straight A’s, my reward was art supplies. I received my first sketchbook when I was 6 years old. I drew for many years, mostly observing the nature around me- deeply investigating local fauna and flora. This time dedicated to art from an early age led me to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting.
Around 19 years old, I found a job assisting a glass artist. While painting at school, I became enamored with glass melting in the fire. I remember it like a 3-d painting with color in space. I was hooked and started making glass on a torch. Life took some twists and turns, but I continued to practice glass. When my daughter was old enough to move with me, I went to graduate school in New York. I received an MFA in Glass Sculpture from RIT in 2013.
I have attended and assisted at many of the best institutions for glass, namely, The Corning Studio, Pilchuck Glass School, Northlands, and Bildwerk. I have had several opportunities to teach and speak about my art around the country. Most recently, My work is inspired by midcentury architecture and Florida wildlife…both rapidly in decline and in need of a spotlight.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I raised my daughter as a single parent. That was challenging at first because I did not have steady income. I knew the best thing for my daughter was stability. So, for 6 years I was an art teacher at a high school in Orlando. I feel like it was a blessing in disguise because I was able to inspire and uplift many young artists.
Like any other artist, I have also received my share of rejection letters & emails…some of these goals I have overcome and achieved. I just keep trying because I feel that I have something important to say.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My glasswork is directly inspired by experiences I have in nature. My sculpture aims to capture a special moment of connection. That fleeting moment of oneness and connection, often created with light, is what I hope to share. My process is based in making meditation. I very often find something that is soothing to repeat like sewing stitches, gilding, welding glass, that allows me to let go of time. Every good idea I’ve ever had, came to me when I stopped thinking.
I am most proud of that moment when a viewer stops to look at my work instead of walking by. We share a connection of energy in that moment.
I think every artist likely believes that their view is unique. I don’t really. I think we are all the same having different experiences. If we are authentic to ourselves, every type of humanity will surface.
I love doing art shows just to watch this phenomenon over and over.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Well, Glass is in an energy vice grip. It is very expensive these days to get the energy source you need to keep a furnace running at 2300 degrees. That means the material itself is much more expensive to purchase and to work with. I see more artists finding alternative ways to work with glass like using recycled materials. I know that we can come up with new, creative ways to do things, but this will be a bit of a curve in the future of contemporary glass.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @fsmcdonagh
- Facebook: @fsmcdonagh
Image Credits
Megan Beckler
