Glimpses of Eden - Marit Hjorth Høivik
Glass art and jewelry of handmade glass

The Norwegian artist Marit Hjorth Høivik, born in Elverum in 1952, displays beautiful items of glass art, in addition to jewelry of handmade glass. The Exhibition is on view through January 4, 2009. Do not miss out on this beautiful selection of gift items!

About the "Glimpses of Eden" project
Fascinated by Genesis as we know it from The Holy Bible, Marit Hjorth Høivik presents an exhibition displaying works of glass art symbolizing some of the things and elements she finds as incomprehensible as she finds them beautiful and precious. Butterflies, flowers, zebras, fish, the ocean, the heaven, the light – these are all, amongst others, creatures and elements inspiring her, representing the love of God.

About the artist
A human life is not only about growing old. It is just as much about changing and discovering new ways of expressing ourselves. Some people change constantly. They find new pathways and discover new things about themselves. The artist Marit Hjorth Høivik is exactly that kind of a human being.

Some years ago, an injury to one of Marits hands made it impossible for her to continue her work as a ceramist. At that point she picked up on her childhood drawing and painting skills, and experienced a sensational development as a pictorial artist, throughout a process of leaving the “pretty” and idyllic expression in order for her to dare release herself to simplify, enlarge and amplify.

I will never forget the opening of her Anniversary Exhibition in 2002 at the Gallery Oro in her hometown Elverum, Norway. Once, seeking and unconfident as she 12 years earlier, at the age of 38, experienced her debut at the same gallery, now approaching her audience striking them with her strong presence and confidence. A series of small figure paintings, underlines that she is now capable not only of bringing life to the naked human body, but also letting the soul go along. She is an observer. She notices the details and senses the atmosphere. She undresses. And she passes by.

Through several strong experiences, of joy, as much as experiences of heartfelt, personal grief, Marit Hjorth Høivik has been changed and affected, not only personally. Her artistic development has clearly also been affected by these experiences. Not in a way that calmed or put out the burning fire, rather lifting it up and making it burn even stronger, having Marit explore new ideas, techniques and materials. She chose to work with glass. A material which is both strong and fragile at the same time. A material which may be coloured and formed. As the human being.

She told me about a childhood experience, a rainy day – the days she loved the most – sitting underneath the gutter with a blue glass bowl from a broken vase. The water kept running on the glass. Then the sun came through, and she spotted a new world through the cobalt coloured blue bowl. To Marit, blue is the colour of love, faith and heaven. “Blue is a colour that does not force itself onto you. It is a colour of respect. Blue makes me happy and peaceful.”

Once again she experienced a stunning transformation in her art, trying and failing, strengthened by the joy of creating. Apparently Marit Hjorth Høiviks patience is boundless. However, some things should remain her own secret; I suppose that she, behind closed doors, does have a desire to get loud. Otherwise she would not be an artist.

Marit Hjorth Høivik does not name herself an artist, claiming that she, in order to do so, would have to develop her artistic skills, maybe even to a level she could never reach. Modesty is not always a virtue. However, the definition might not settle the case, rather the experiences of feelings, moods, shapes and colours in what she expresses to others.
Written by Knut Fjeld, journalist, ”Østlendingen”, Norway. Translation: Frode André Bjørkli

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Where: Trygve Lie Gallery, The Norwegian Church at 317 East 52nd Street, New York (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
When: November 13, 2008 thru January 4, 2009.
Info: Call (212) 319-0370
Opening hours: Monday – Thurs: 12-7pm, Friday - Sun: 1-5pm.

Admission is free, and the exhibit is open to the public.

The Exhibition was opened by H.E. Ambassador, Sissel Breie, Consul General of Norway in New York.