Custom Glass Commission for the Cai Foundation

We were commissioned by the Cai Foundation to create 3 custom glass works for the inaugural Archival Contribution Award, presented as part of Archival Thinking: Artist Archive Symposium in New York.

The awards were developed to honor individuals whose work has shaped the field of archival practice through long-term dedication, intellectual rigor, and cultural stewardship. Rather than approaching the project as a traditional award or trophy, the goal was to create a singular glass object that could embody the values of archival work itself.

Translating Archival Values Into Glass

The glass shape was sculpted to resemble a natural stone, then cut in half, to make the inside a canvas for the watercolor painting you see below. Then the two pieces were closed back together.

A Singular Object, Not a Category

Each award was developed as a standalone sculptural object rather than part of a repeatable system. The engraved text was placed subtly, allowing the glass to remain the primary focus while still recording the recipient, year, and institutional context.

The completed glass work was presented during a public symposium organized by the Cai Foundation in collaboration with cultural partners. Positioned within a broader conversation about archives, artists, and historical responsibility, the object functioned as both a ceremonial gesture and a material extension of the symposium’s themes.

Projects like this reflect our interest in working with institutions and cultural organizations where material, context, and meaning are inseparable—and where glass can serve as a quiet but powerful translator of ideas.