Rick Eggert's “Dynamic Cosmos” series explores notions of creation and the nature of the universe. These groupings and installations use ideas like change, growth, and time to illustrate the way the universe has become what it now is. They stem from his origins as an animation student so movement has become the predominate visual component in his work. Motion sums up the cosmos succinctly. These pieces usually involve some type of progression or graduation. The time element is typically expressed as “frozen time” or stages of time. Each piece can be seen as a frame in a movie, changing over time, or as one complete organism. Because these sculptures are made of multiple elements, issues of interrelationships are brought up as well. It is also the goal to maintain a certain fluidity throughout all the works. The process of working with molten glass lends itself wonderfully. All the forms Rick use deal with the elastic characteristics of glass. The way he works is very much a part of the work. Sculptures rarely end up as they were originally envisioned. His approach is to be like nature using mutation and selection to let each work evolve and grow. Rick Eggert has always explored the creative arts. He was born in Southampton, New York in 1974 and enjoyed parental encouragement through drawing and painting lessons as well as access to a wood shop in the family’s basement. The mid 80’s brought a move to Vermont where Rick’s continued efforts in the arts led to a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design where he was able to discover glass. He completed his BFA degree at The Rochester Institute of Technology and travelled extensively throughout the South Pacific, Australia, Asia and the Caribbean in search for inner growth. Rick worked for numerous institutions and private studios after college until 2005, when he relocated to South Florida and started his first studio.Rick’s isolation among other glassworkers developed a drive in him to build a glass community in South Florida, so it was his joy to be able to establish the glass program at the Benzaiten Center of Creative Arts in 2014. Rick served as the Creative Director until 2018 when he stepped down to initiate the Artist In Residence program by fulfilling the role of first resident. Rick has since returned to working in his own studio and is currently building another facility to create his works.Rick has focused on his “Dynamic Cosmos” groupings since 2008 and it remains his signature series, earning him the Niche Award in 2009. This work is shown in galleries across the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Rick has exhibited at the Melbourne Museum and the Imagine Museum and in addition to being in numerous private collections; his works are also in the collections of Regent Cruise Lines and Seabourn Luxury Lines.Education2000 BFA, Glass Sculpture, Rochester Institute OfTechnology, Rochester, NY1992-94 Columbus College of Art &Design,Columbus, OHAwards2009 Niche Award; Winner, Blown Glass2008 Excellence Award, Brevard ArtMuseum, Annual Juried Exhibition,Melbourne, FL2006 1st Place 3D, 2nd Place Overall, MaryO’Fricke Art Show, Westhampton Beach,New York2000 Pilchuck Scholarship, RochesterInstitute of Technology1999 Sil Hall Award for OutstandingAcheivement, Rochester Institute ofTechnologyExhibitions2012 Solo Show, Studio E Gallery, Palm Beach Gardens, FL2011 “Sacred Animals”, “Abstracted Florida”, WatsonMcRae Gallery, Sanibel Island, FL2009 “SOFA Chicago”, T. Riley Gallery, Chicago, IL- “Glass Weekend”, T. Riley Gallery, Wheaton Village,New Jersey- “Looking Forward”, W. Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA- “Palm Beach 3”, T. Riley Gallery, Palm Beach, FL2008 “Art Basel Miami”, Chialma Gallery, Miami, FL- “Annual Juried Exhibition” Brevard Art Museum,Melbourne, FL- “Chialma Lifestyle”, Chialma Gallery, Miami, FL- Featured Artist, Navigazione Gallery, Lake Geneva,Wisconsin2000 “Thesis Exhibition”, Mill Gallery, HoneyoyeFalls, NY1995, 1999 “Honors Exhibition”, Rochester Instituteof Technology, New York