In 1996, Bengt Hokanson and Trefny Dix opened their first glass studio in Greenport, NY. In this studio, they primarily cast glass to use as elements for their individual glass and mixed media sculpture and for custom architectural projects.
In 2000 they began a collaborative body of blown glass vessels. This early work was developed and made under the studio name, Boar Glass. This work experimented with the use of vibrant colors, murrinis, cane work and incalmos. This collection of work incorporated large blocks of color, color wraps and painterly abstract patterns, all flowing across the surface of their sculptural forms. Much of the work was created as pieces in a series; however, the nature of the working process and the application of the patterns made each piece unique.
Greenport’s beautiful seascape and maritime environment was an early influence on Bengt and Trefny’s work. They also found inspiration from the great abstract painters: Rothko, Gorkey and early Mattisse. Other sources of inspiration have been: world textiles, aquatic life forms, landscapes and urban graffiti.
Bengt and Trefny use a combination of traditional Italian and Swedish glass blowing techniques as well as many experimental techniques that they have developed in their studio.
In March 2010, Bengt and Trefny moved to Durango, CO for four years. They set up their glass studio and a glass gallery in Durango. The beautiful Southwest was a welcoming and inspiring location. It's vast desert landscapes and muted color schemes quickly became a new source of inspiration for their work.
In 2013, Bengt and Trefny again relocated to Bengt's childhood home in East Hampton, NY. They moved their glass studio to their house were they are surrounded by the beautiful maritime environment of Long Island, NY.
Bengt received a B.A. in Anthropology from Tulane University in 1991. He also studied glass blowing at Tulane from 1987-1991. He worked as a gaffer for Gene Koss, Head of Glass, Tulane University, from 1991-93. He studied at Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA for many sessions between 1991-2002. In 1993, Bengt was a T.A. for Pike Powers at Pilchuck Glass School. Again in 1998, he was a T.A. for Gene Koss at Pilchuck. Bengt has also taken classes at The Studio at Corning, Corning, NY and at Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY. He has been working in glass for more than 25 years.
Trefny Dix received a B.F.A. in Sculpture and a B.A. in Art History from Indiana University Bloomington in 1993. She learned glass casting while working at Studio Inferno, New Orleans, LA and has studied glass casting and glass blowing at Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA. Trefny has also taken classes at The Studio at Corning, NY. She has been working in glass for over 20 years.
3 Phoebe Scoy Road
East Hampton, NY 11937
631.365.9730
Download the Hokanson•Dix Glass Bio in PDF format here.
photos on this page by: Kennan Harvey