Resurrect Studio Turns Dead Horse Bay Glass Into Luminous Sculpture
Founders Nancy Wu and Jean Davis of Resurrect Studio craft sculptures from glass shards discovered at Dead Horse Bay in Brooklyn, shaped by the tides and remnants of an old landfill. Their collection efforts began during the pandemic when access to public spaces was limited. United by their shared sorrow over the loss of their daughters, Chloe and Naomi, who were best friends, they embrace the concept of fracture. They created a technique known as “3D Watercolors,” which involves layering glass pieces to achieve optical blends. Their notable works, such as Universe in Utero, Lotus, and Incarnation, draw inspiration from distinct colors and forms. Additionally, they have designed an installation for a wellness center in Queens, highlighting the significance of art in healing spaces.
Key facts
- Nancy Wu and Jean Davis founded Resurrect Studio, a sculptural practice using glass fragments collected along Dead Horse Bay in Brooklyn.
- The collaboration began during the pandemic, when their Flatbush neighborhood was severely affected and public spaces became inaccessible.
- Both artists had established relationships with painting before turning to sculpture.
- Wu and Davis knew each other through their daughters, Chloe and Naomi, who were best friends; Chloe died from altitude sickness in 2016.
- The artists developed a method they call “3D Watercolors,” stacking bottle sections and dimensional fragments so transparent colors overlap.
- For Universe in Utero and Lotus, they searched specifically for curling green glass and colorful pieces suggesting new growth.
- A smooth blue glass fragment became the central figure of Incarnation, the studio’s contemporary crèche, after Wu saw the kneeling Virgin Mary in its silhouette.
- Resurrect Studio is creating an installation for a wellness center under construction in Queens, New York.
Entities
Artists
- Nancy Wu
- Jean Davis
- Chloe
- Naomi
- Zachary Finkelstein
Institutions
- Resurrect Studio
- Resurrect Studio LLC
- AATONAU
Locations
- Dead Horse Bay
- Brooklyn
- United States
- Flatbush
- Queens
- New York
Sources
- AATONAU —