The Craft & Folk Art Museum presents “Bamboo,” a group presentation of 30 historical and contemporary works that explore the trajectory of Japanese bamboo basketry and sculpture, and “Katherine Gray: As Clear as the Experience,” a solo presentation of the Los Angeles-based glass artist on May 27.

Katherine Gray’s “A Rainbow Like You” showcases how the artist plays with light, shadow and color with her glasswork. (photo by Fredrik Nilsen, courtesy of the artist and Heller Gallery)

Drawn mostly from the Los Angeles-based Cotsen Collection, “Bamboo” reflects the evolution of the unique art form of basketry, from fine Chinese-style tea ceremony baskets to striking contemporary sculptures. A large-scale, site-specific installation by Japan-based artist and architect Akio Hizume evokes the possibilities of bamboo as an artistic material.

Fine bamboo basketry gained a foothold in Japanese culture during Japan’s medieval period as the tea ceremony was adapted from China and became an important part of Japanese lifestyle. The demand for fine Chinese-style bamboo tea and flower arranging vessels resulted in numerous talented artists and apprentices devoted to the art form.

With “As Clear as the Experience,” Gray draws on the rich traditions of glassblowing, as well as her personal explorations into unique surface treatments, dramatic lighting and viewer interaction. Her work urges viewers to experience glass beyond its function.

Curated by CAFAM exhibitions curator Holly Jerger, it features 10 large format works, including an immersive installation that brings visitors into the sights, sounds and smells of the glassblowing studio, also known as the hot shop.

“Katherine’s work is a poetic reminder that our daily lives are shaped by the objects that surround us. These objects serve as the backdrops for life events and reservoirs for memories, often extending their function far beyond their maker’s original purpose,” Jerger said. “Although Katherine’s medium of choice – glass – is usually transparent, she never thinks of glass as ‘clear.’ It is always tinted by the intangible emotions and experiences embedded in the material.”

By layering multiple vessels together and exploring the interplay of light and shadow, Gray’s works transform the scale and presence of the ubiquitous glass form by making the “invisible visible.” Many of her vessels are based on a traditional American pitcher form and feature three kinds of glass: clear, colored and opaque black.

An opening reception for the two exhibitions takes place on Saturday, May 26, from 6-9 p.m. The reception is free for CAFAM members and open to the public for a $12 entry fee.

CAFAM is located at 5814 Wilshire Blvd. For information, visit cafam.org.