“Annealing Point”
Glass & Metals
January 18– February 6, 2026
THE COMMONS GALLERY, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Annealing Point is a cross-section of some of the best sculptural work created in Fall 2025 glass and metal courses, including Introduction to Glass, Advanced Kiln Formed Glass, Metal Fabrication and Small-Scale Sculpture. The exhibition includes majors and non-majors, first year- to third-year undergraduates and graduate students. The high quality of the work included in Annealing Point is the cumulative result of each artist’s ability to develop a unique relationship with their medium. Glass and metal are physically demanding materials. They require heat and force – often in the extreme – as well as time and effort. Sculptors develop a patient temperament when working with glass and metals out of a profound respect for fire, not only because of the obvious necessity of avoiding serious injury but also for the amazing results that fire can yield. These results can be surprising, if not humbling.
“Annealing point” is a technical term applied to both glass and metal, in the former referring to the optimum temperature where strain can be removed by controlled cooling to prevent breakage, and in the latter, the temperature at which metal can be made more ductile and thereby increasing its workability. In both materials, annealing works by rearranging internal molecular structures, in essence relaxing them. Annealing Point, the title, is the so-called “sweet spot” of transformation in artmaking. It is a point in time when the right amount of dissonance creates harmony, yielding a change in perspective. Each of the artists featured in this exhibition has grown because of the time they spent envisioning and bringing their ideas to reality.
Gallery Opening
Location: Commons Gallery, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM)
Date: January 17, 2025, Saturday, 2:00–4:00 PM
THE COMMONS GALLERY is located on the ground floor of The Art Building. From Dole Street, take East-West Road, turn left to Correa Road, and then turn right for the Art Building.
Hours & Admission
Tuesday–Friday, & Sunday, 12–4 p.m.
Closed Saturdays, Mondays, spring break (March 18-22), and state holidays.
Free admission. Donations are appreciated.
Parking is free on Sundays. Parking fees may apply during weekdays.
For more information, please contact 808.956.6888 and gallery@hawaii.edu