About Garth

Bio

I grew up in the burbs of Portland Oregon
There was a creek in the back yard.

Painted my first painting when I was 13 after seeing my brother paint
He’s a filmmaker now.

In high school I was lucky and got kicked out of 2nd year algebra. I was ordered to the art room where I met a great art teacher who encouraged me.

At the same time I also had an English teacher who would read my attempts at prose and thought I had some talent.

I got interested in stained glass when I was a freshman in college
Switched to art from English – left college after two years.

Stumbled into glass blowing at Portland State, which I loved but wasn’t good at
And I didn’t have a thing to say with it.

Went back to flat glass. Took a class from a German designer
And immediately did the opposite of his teachings, he was too strong.
Though I did like the way he responded to architecture.
He cared and really worked on his designs.

In 1975 the Oregon art commission smiled on me and I got to make a leaded window for a food stamp office. Two cartoon weight lifters. I really liked getting paid up front plus I had to design a steel frame for the thing which forced me to work with welders.

I never could have been a gallery artist. But doing something different all the time suited my learning style – which was the “couldn’t sit still in class” style.

I’ve been working in metal mostly for the past 25 years. Art has been my only job since 1980. I have work in 10 states and have finished over 50 public art projects.

Commission Work

Design Teams

Consultant for New Jersey Transit, Hudson Bergan Light Rail, 1995
Seattle Children’s Theater, Project Artrist, 1991-93

Awards

National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship – Glass.1981

Collections

Corning Museum of Glass, Leaded Glass purchase.
State of Oregon Public Buildings: Pendelton, Eugene, Salem, La Grande.
State of Washington: Friday Harbor, Yakima, Battleground, Eatonville, Brownsville, Edmonds, Auburn, Kent, North Shore, Skagit, Edison, Tacoma.