Marianne Hite (b.1962)
Interpretations III, 2018 and 2019
The two parts of this triptych, completed in 2019, were commissioned by Summa Health.
Materials: Fused glass with glass cane, silver foil, dichroic and iridized glass, 31.5” x 35.5”.
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), sixth floor, hallway outside patient rooms H6-135 and H6-136.
About the Art and Artist
This triptych began with an earlier work of fused glass that inspired the commissioning of two additional panels to enhance its presence in its current location. Marianne Hite primarily works with fused glass, incorporating inclusions of silver foil, mica, and glass paints, which she then etches and sandblasts. Her expertise also extends to kiln casting and slumping, techniques that require years of experience and a deep understanding of materials, tools, and processes.
In Hite’s work, these intricate processes coalesce into a celebration of vibrant color and abstracted form. The viewer is invited to interpret the geometric and organic shapes within the flowing washes of vivid blue in Interpretations III. References to inset stones, the movement of water, or the balance between nature and human design may emerge, but the artist encourages a personal and exploratory engagement with the work, allowing each individual to discover their own meaning.
Hite creates works ranging from wearable art to large-scale public installations and commissions. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Glass from Kent State University’s School of Art and now operates her own studio, Hiteland Studio, in Green. She has taught classes at her studio, the Peninsula Art Academy, the former Steinert Glass School in Kent, and various institutions and public programs across Northeast Ohio. Continually refining her craft, she has also participated in specialized workshops across the country.
Where you can see more of this artist’s work:
Hite maintains a comprehensive website showcasing her diverse portfolio. Her work has been featured in installations at the Coral Reef exhibit at the Akron Zoo, the Green Branch Library, the Firestone Memorial Library, the butterfly conservatory at Stan Hywet Hall, and multiple locations within Akron Children’s Hospital. She exhibits extensively in Ohio and Pennsylvania, with representation in galleries in Akron, Cleveland, and at the Canal Fulton Glassworks.