By Quincy Kirn
At Pensacola State College, the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts is taking a closer look at a seldom-seen artistic form. Joe Hobbs is a mixed media artist whose exhibition consists of hand-blown and hot sculpted glass, found objects, wood, and paint. While attending art school, he enrolled into what he assumed was a stained-glass course; however, upon arrival, he was met with an alternative form of glass expressionism and an overwhelming sense of belonging. After graduating from University of West Florida in 2010, Hobbs began examining how our individual experiences define us and the impact that is left behind as a result. His pieces are reflections of his upbringing as a son of a naval family in coastal communities, such as Key West, California, and the Bahamas. Hobbs admires the permeance of glass once it cools and uses this stability to contrast the fleeting memories of his life. He states, “I stand here, a reflection of times and places that have colored the canvas of my life.”
