Robert C. Fritz
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Robert C. Fritz (1920 in
Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
– April 9, 1986 in Los Angeles, California) was an American ceramics and glass artist and professor at
San Jose State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...
in California. As a major player in America’s mid 20th century studio glass movement, Dr. Robert Fritz is remembered for his contributions to the world of art.


Education

Fritz attended San Jose State University from 1950 to 1956, where he was awarded the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. He received his Ph.D at Ohio State University. In 1964 Fritz received a scholarship from
Harvey Littleton Harvey Littleton (June 14, 1922 – December 13, 2013) was an American glass artist and educator, one of the founders of the studio glass movement; he is often referred to as the "Father of the Studio Glass Movement". Born in Corning, New Yor ...
to participate in a four-week glass seminar at the University of Wisconsin. Russell Day was also in attendance; Marvin Lipofsky, a student of Littleton's who later founded a glass program at the University of California, Berkeley, assisted with demonstrations. Shortly before the seminar, Fritz attended the World Congress of Craftsmen, which was held at Columbia University in New York City. There he watched Littleton and his students demonstrate glassblowing on a furnace designed and constructed by
Dominick Labino Dominick Labino (1910–1987) was an internationally known scientist, inventor, artist and master craftsman in glass. Labino's art works in glass are in the permanent collections of more than 100 museums throughout the world. Labino held over 60 ...
. Fritz also met glass artist Sam Herman at this time. The 1960s studio glass movement was born in 1962 when Harvey Littleton conducted a workshop at the Toledo Museum of Art with Dominic Labino and others. It was Littleton’s intention to, as he put it, "suggest the dimensions of glass as a medium for the artist." In the summer of 1964 Littleton and his German colleague, Erwin Eisch, co-taught a glass course at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Fritz was one of their students.Glasmuseum Frauenau, "Harvey K. Littleton Zum 70. Geburtstag 14. Juni '92", Glasmuseum Frauenau, Franau, Germany 1992 (unpaginated).


Teaching

In the mid 1960s Fritz turned his energies to teaching art at
San Jose State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...
where he founded th
SJSU glass art department
one of the first colleges in the nation to have such a program.Spartan Daily, San Jose State University, Issue date: 10/27/04
/ref> At the same time he started th
California Glass Exchange
along with George Jercich of
California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, California or California State Polytechnic Univ ...
in San Luis Obispo, CA. The California Glass Exchange is a web-based regional exchange of ideas in glass art.


Legacy

Today’s talented glass art students receive scholarships and honors in Dr. Robert Fritz’s name. Many contemporary artists boast tutelage under Dr. Fritz on their resumes. Glass art created by Fritz during the 1960s to 1980s is signed “FRITZ”. His work is remarkable in form and imagination, using difficult techniques approachable only by masters of the art.


Collections

His glass art masterpieces can be found in the Smithsonian,
Renwick Gallery The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum located in Washington, D.C. that displays American craft and decorative arts from the 19th to 21st century. The gallery is housed in a National Historic Landmark building that ...
and the private collections of Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin,
Ron Wyden Ronald Lee Wyden (; born May 3, 1949) is an American politician and retired educator serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Oregon, a seat he has held since 1996 United Stat ...
and more throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fritz, Robert C. 1920 births 1986 deaths San Jose State University alumni Ohio State University alumni American ceramists American glass artists