Untitled (Moon Bottle, Glossy)

John Lewis, Untitled (Moon Bottle, Glossy), 1971, glass, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Elmerina and Paul Parkman, 2000.106.10
Copied John Lewis, Untitled (Moon Bottle, Glossy), 1971, glass, 4 1⁄2 x 3 1⁄2 in. (11.4 x 8.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Elmerina and Paul Parkman, 2000.106.10

Artwork Details

Title
Untitled (Moon Bottle, Glossy)
Artist
Date
1971
Location
Dimensions
4 1⁄2 x 3 1⁄2 in. (11.4 x 8.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Elmerina and Paul Parkman
Mediums Description
glass
Classifications
Object Number
2000.106.10
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2000.106.10

Artwork Description

Inspired by America's exploration of outer space in the 1960s and 1970s, John Lewis created a series of landscape vessels decorated with clouds, waves, moons, and other geologic forms. Lewis called these pieces his "glass moon bottles" and likens the creative process to painting with glass. To create each design, Lewis fused glass into a sphere form and moved the fused glass around on the surface. Over the course of the series, on which Lewis worked for approximately nine years, his decorations became more sophisticated as he was able to create ever-finer lines on the surface. Lewis tailored the design of each landscape according to the form of his vessel.