2009 Senior Artist Project Grant Recipients

Tim Harlan
Tim’s interest in art began at an early age, and a formal education in various art mediums including design, painting, ceramics, and printmaking strengthened his pursuit. In the late 1960s Tim pursued glass as a medium and by 1973 he established his own business, Harlan Art Glass. Glass continues to hold his fascination. “Glass is a good material if you are interested in color and light. The element of light brings an intensity to color that is unique to glass art.” Since then Tim has been exhibiting his original fused, stained, and hand-blown glass art both nationally and internationally. His glass art is also on display in private homes and businesses in the Southern California region. Some installations include assemblages of over 100 blown glass elements. It is Tim’s expertise and interest in glass, and his experience mentoring developing glass artists that helped to inspire his Senior Artist Project.

Tim is teaching glass art classes to seniors and families who live in affordable housing serviced by LifeSTEPS. LifeSTEPS, whose mission is to strengthen families and communities through supportive services, life skills training, and education, serves retired seniors, disabled adults, and children. “This project, Tim states, is important to me because I feel I can bring a unique art form into the lives of these families. Plus, they will take part in a social activity and find both mental stimulation and physical exercise in producing glass tiles.” Glass making gives participants an outlet to visually express themselves and an opportunity to establish social relationships within their community. Tim intends to leave a legacy of the project and the participants work by exhibiting their glass art on a residential wall display or bench.