The Guilford Art Center is delighted to welcome celebrated glass artist JAMES MONGRAIN as the juror for its 2006 Biennial of North American Glass Exhibition. Once again, this nationally juried, every-other-year exhibition will feature the finest glass art being created in North America today, including blown, fused, drawn, and stained glass.

James Mongrain's love of glass, and his experience working with this complex material, is long-standing. He owns and operates MongrainGlass Studio in Mukilteo, Washington, where his work is focused on designing and crafting Venetian goblets, Veronese vases, and custom works, including sculptural chandeliers. He was initially introduced to glass at Moorhead State University, under the instruction of his brother Jeff Mongrain, an internationally-recognized artist. He later studied glassblowing at Massachusetts College of Art and Appalachian Center for Crafts.

Through his work as a co-gaffer at Pilchuck Glass School, Mongrain met famed glass artist and mentor Dale Chihuly. Since then he has collaborated on numerous projects with Chihuly including the "Fiore Di Como" in the Belliago Hotel in Las Vegas, the "Bridge of Glass" in Tacoma, Washington, as well as the "Jerusalem Cylinders" in Israel, for which he received the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award. Mongrain's work has been exhibited nationwide, including at numerous galleries and at the American Craft Museum and Louisville Museum of Art.

"Inspired by the Venetian tradition of goblet making, I strive for a level of precision that unites traditional elegance with contemporary flair, "Mongrain says of his most recent work. "These elements also manifest in my newest creations, sculptural chandeliers. It's my intention to continue to produce pieces that incorporate modern elements of form, color, and craftsmanship."

Mongrain's selections for the Biennial will be on view May 12 through June 25.