GARY ROSENTHAL Gary Rosenthal has been sculpting in welded metals for almost 30 years. Together with a team of talented craftspeople, he creates one of the most popular and unique lines of Judaic art in the country: The Gary Rosenthal Collection. Combining copper, brass, and steel with brilliant fused glass, the collection has a contemporary style rooted in tradition. Inspiration comes from the rich history of the Jewish people, which tells us it's a blessing, a mitzvah, to make beautiful functional art. Work from the Gary Rosenthal Collection has been presented to Presidents from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, and to celebrities as varied as Bette Midler, John Travolta, and Tony Randall. The Collection can be found throughout the world in many fine galleries, private collections, and the following museum shops: Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, Corning Museum of Glass, American Craft Museum, B'nai B'rith Museum, The Jewish Museum, Skirball Museum of Culture, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Pridon Goisashvili - Lead Metal Designer A native of Tbilisi, Georgia (of the former USSR), Pridon Goisashvili came to The Gary Rosenthal Collection in March of 2002, bringing with him a strong background and education in fine art and illustration. Pridon’s artwork has been shown in many galleries and museums, including the State Museum, the Academy of Arts, and the National Gallery in Tbilisi. It was through the Theater School of Rezo Gabriadze that Pridon’s creativity first brought him to the US--his designs and mastery of puppetry were presented at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Winner of the celebrated Youth Illustration Concepts Award, Pridon’s elegant yet whimsical drawings have appeared in both children’s books and publications for such notable organizations as UNICEF. At only 28, Pridon’s artistic ability abounds in a wide spectrum of mediums, including watercolors, oils, welding, and sculpture, as well as puppetry, costume design, and set design. Sara Foraker - Lead Glass Designer Sara Foraker came to The Gary Rosenthal Collection in 2001. As a student, Sara studied biology with the intent of becoming the next Jacques Cousteau. Realizing that it was the visual aspects of our intricate world that intrigued her, Sara left the biology lab and entered the art studio, graduating from the University of Delaware in 2000 with a BFA concentration in Sculpture. Those who are familiar with the artist may find her glass pieces reminiscent of her previous work in bricks and cement, for it is this same unique approach which makes the glass medium, for Sara, as limitless and as tactile. Sara’s work has been shown in a number of galleries, including the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art. With her eye for color and an innovative vision, Sara continues to be a vital part of The Gary Rosenthal Collection glass studio.