Artist Statement
"What I was as an artist seemed to me of some importance while I lived....
but what I really was as a believer in Christ Jesus is the thing of importance to me now" - On the gravestone of John Bacon, d. 1799
The most significant influence on Todd's artwork is knowing Jesus Christ as his ruler and rescuer. In 1989, Todd by his own description, was literally, hell-bent to do evil. Striving after the things of this world, he began his undergraduate education at Kent State University. Halfway through his first semester, Todd was exposed to the truth that Jesus is God and is the supreme judge of all mankind. Confronted by a guilty conscience, Todd realized that he deserved eternal separation from God as punishment for his sins.
"In essence I didn't know what was happening, but I knew I didn't want to go down the direction of sin and I knew it was better to follow Christ. I think God helped me see what a life would be like living for the pleasures of sin. I realized that living for self would be a miserable existence and also eternally destructive."
Todd turned to "Jesus of Nazareth" and made Him the ruler of his life. He began a journey of faith asking Christ to exchange his sinfulness for Christ's righteousness. To fide out if you need God? here
In 1993 Todd graduated from Kent with a B.A. in Art Education and a minor in Ceramics. He began teaching in the Akron Public Schools and is currently employed with Stow Munroe Falls City Schools teaching Visual Art at Kimpton Middle School. Todd continued his education at K.S.U. focusing his Graduate work on altered, wheel thrown and hand built ceramics. Todd built a gas fired ceramic kiln and began producing sculptural ceramics. One evening the door of the wood fire kiln needed a refractory repair and Todd found himself in the Kent State Glass shop.
Todd was drawn back to his memories of his father's farm and picking up blown glass from the Franklin Mills Glass factory.
Naively with no glass experience Todd checked books out of the library on how to build a glass shop. Within a few discouraging hours It became clear Todd needed some glass blowing experience. In 2000 Todd signed up for a class at Steinert Glass School. From the first rotation of the pipe Todd was hooked. Todd has continued his education in glass working with Kent State Glass under Sean Mearcer where he has developed a deep appreciation for casting glass.
Todd realized his dream of building his own studio and slumps and kiln cast glass in his home town of Kent, Ohio as well as blows glass at The Akron Glass Works
Colin and Colton Abell ,Todd's two sons have joined him in the studio as they have begin to refine their skills as glass blowers. Look for their paperweights soon.
© 2006 Todd Abell Contact Me