Bio
Name:Meeli Koiva
Field of work: Glass sculptor
Education
1979–1984 Estonian State Art Institute (degree equivalent to MA)
2004 Continuing education at architecture companies, glass companies (Seattle, WA, US)
2000 Continuing education at different architecture companies (New York, NY, US)
1996 Continuing education in the leading glass studios and stained glass studios
(New York, Philadelphia, US)
1993–1995 Continuing education in different glass studios and lighting companies (Finland)
Professional experience
1988 free-lance artist
1997 self-employed company Mery Crystal Ra Finland /UK/US
Fields of work: lampworking, laser lighting, stained glass, sandblasting, hot glass techniques, casting, engraving, mixed media, water-color, acrylic paintings.
Exhibitions
2006 “Reactive River” – solo-exhibition (main building of European Parliament,Brussels, Belgium)
2006 Interactive installation „Bowels of a synth” with the composer Margo Kõlar (Estonian Music Days, in Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Tallinn, Estonia)
2000 Personal Exhibition (at the oil-shale mine “Viru”, Jõhvi, Estonia)
2000 Land art exhibition of glass on the beach (Toila, Estonia)
1998 Lighting object – personal exhibition (bank Ühispank, Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 Group exhibition “60 Years of Estonian Glass” – 2 monumental stained glasses and lighting objects
1997 International group exhibition – 32 water colors (ART 54 Gallery, New York, US)
1997 Personal exhibition – a stained glass object and a stained glass cake (Tallinn, Estonia)
1994 Applied art exhibition of monumental stained glass (representing Estonia at the festivalBaltic Jubilee, Malmö, Sweden)
1994 Group exhibition of Estonian glass artists (Hvitträsk, Finland)
1993 Exhibition of water color and stained glass (bank Arengupank, Tallinn, Estonia)
1991 Personal exhibition (First Pavilion of the Estonian Exhibitions Center, Tallinn, Estonia)
1990 Applied art exhibition – exhibited lighting objects (Tallinn, Estonia)
1989 First trash installation exhibition “Trash 89” – consultant (Tallinn, Estonia)
Selected architectural works
2009-2010 Monumental glass painting for the private residence in Tallinn, Estonia
2007-2009 Monumental glass paintings and videos, monumental glass sculptures and videos for the glass walls (for the administrative building of Glaston Ltd.Oy
Tampere, Finland).
2006 –2008 Monumental glass and lighting sculpture (for the administrative building of Glaston Ltd.Oy ,Tampere, Finland).
2006 Stained glass picture (private commission, Tallinn, Estonia)
2004 Stained glass picture (private commission, Helsinki, Finland)
2004 Stained glass picture (private commission, Jõhvi, Estonia)
2003 Stained glass picture (private commission, Helsinki, Finland)
2003 Stained glass picture (private commission, Tallinn, Estonia)
2002 Stained glass picture (private commission, Haapsalu, Estonia)
2002 Stained glass picture (private commission, Rakvere, Estonia)
2002 Stained glass picture (private commission, Helsinki, Finland)
2000 Lighting object (private commission, Tallinn, Estonia)
1998 Stained glass picture (private commission, Tallinn, Estonia)
1998 Stained glass picture (private commissionTallinn, Estonia)
1998 Lighting object of acrylic, glass and lighting systems (bank Ühispank, Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 4 stained glass pictures (private commission, Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 Stained glass picture (for company Karhinen Helsinki, Finland)
1997 Stained glass picture (for the company Steel Line Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 Stained glass picture (for company Estonian Gas, Tallinn, Estonia.
1996 3 stained glass pictures (Supreme Court of Estonia, Tartu, Estonia)
1995 11 stained glass pictures on the (private residence, Tallinn, Estonia)
1995 Stained glass by the spiral stairs (private residence of Mr. Heino Junolainen, Tallinn, Estonia)
1995 Stained glass pictures “Direction I-V” (bank Tööstuspank, Tallinn, Estonia)
1995 Sand staining mirror window with the company`s logo (Tartu subsidiary of the Bank of Tallinn, Estonia)
1995 Sand staining circular windows (private residence of Mr T. Veeber, Viljandi, Estonia)
1995 Sand staining door glaze (private residence, Tallinn, Estonia)
1993 3 stained glass pictures (bank Hansapank, Tallinn, Estonia)
1993 Stained glass “Dragon-R” (restaurant “Katamaraan”, Tallinn, Estonia)
1993 4 stained glass windows “Scratching horizon” (for the administrative building of Port of Tallinn Tallinn, Estonia)
1991 Stained glass wall (bar of cinema “Sõprus”, Tallinn, Estonia)
1990 2 stained glass pictures on the windows (Printest Ltd, Tallinn, Estonia)
1989 Stained glasses “Road Against the Mountain” (House of Public Health Workers, Tartu, Estonia)
1985 “Tele Echo”, composition of quartz bars (Tallinn TV tower, Estonia)
Ordered works
2007 The Parliament of Estonia. Ordered Gift. Stained glass for Estonian Bank president
2005 Stained glass for the office of Sweden in Brussels (Brussels, Belgium)
2005 20 stained glass pieces for the company Kiviõli Chemical Industry (Kiviõli, Estonia)
2004 20 stained glass pieces for the company Kiviõli Chemical Industry (Kiviõli, Estonia)
2002 Main prize for the International Industry Conference. Lighting sculpture (Estonia)
2002 Prizes for the company Kunda Nordic Tsement. 10 stained glass pieces (Estonia)
2001 Main prize for the International Industry Conference. Lighting sculpture (Estonia)
2000 Prizes for the bank Eesti Ühispank. 5 stained glass pieces (Tallinn, Estonia)
2000 Prizes for the bank Hansapank. 2 stained glass pieces (Tallinn, Estonia)
1999 Prizes for the bank Eesti Ühispank. 7 stained glass pieces (Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 Souvenirs in sand staining technique for the Info Bureau of Nordic Council of Ministers.
1992–2000 Mini stained glass pictures for galleries, companies and private homes (Estonia,Finland, Sweden)
1992–2000 Water color series for companies and private houses in Estonia and abroad.
1992 Adornments, candelabra and luminous objects
1992 Main prize for the jazz festival Fiesta International (Estonia)
Designed monumental works
2006 Monumental glass luminous Interior Sculpture for Fairbanks International Airport (Alaska, US)
2006 Monumental glass luminous Exterior Sculpture –Fairbanks International Airport (Alaska, US)
2006 Monumental stained glass for private house (Jõhvi, Estonia)
2004 Monumental luminous object for Jõhvi Concert House (Jõhvi, Estonia)
2003 Monumental stained glass for Mr Kulakov private house (Tallinn, Estonia)
2002 1 monumental fibre optics object for Business Centrum “Lemon” (Tallinn, Estonia)
2001 2 monumental fibre optics objects for Business Center “Forum” (Helsinki, Finland)
2000 3 monumental luminous objects for Business Center “Forum” (Helsinki, Finland)
1999 Stained glass for the Economicum of Tartu University (Tartu, Estonia)
1999 Monumental luminous object for Tallinn Airport (Tallinn, Estonia)
1998 Stained glass ceiling for the bank Eesti Ühispank (Tallinn, Estonia)
1998 30 meters luminous object for the new building of the bank Eesti Ühispank (Tallinn, Estonia)
1998 “Lighthouses”. Small and monumental sculptures, Kotka, Finland.
1997 Stained glass for the bank Erapank two big windows (Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 Stained glass for 4 windows for the Embassy of Estonia (Washington DC, US)
1996 Stained glass for the foyer of Hotel Palace (Tallinn, Estonia)
1994 Stained glass for Hotel Olympia, restaurant “Elysee” (Tallinn Estonia)
1993 Stained glass for Tartu Social Bank (Estonia)
1992 General design with luminous objects for the building of Fiesta Management (Pärnu, Estonia)
1992 Stained glass for Scandia Insurance Company (Stockholm, Sweden)
Selected conference presentations
2009 Art attacks engineering and architecture”, the 11 th International Glass
Performance Days Conference, Tampere, Finland. Presentation
2007 “Metamorphoses in glass room installations”, the 10th International Glass Performance Days Conference (Tampere, Finland). Presentation
2003 ”Rapid image alterations in environments below and above land surface”, the 8th International Glass Processing Days Conference (Tampere, Finland). Report
2001 “Light, glass and fibre optics give a new dimension to architectural forms”, the 7th International Glass Processing Days Conference (Tampere, Finland). Report – poster presentation
1999 “Stained Glass and Luminous Objects Bring Uniqueness and Mystery to Architecture”, “Today and in the 21st Century”, International Conference on Architectural and Automotive Glass (Tampere, Finland). Report – poster presentation
Selected other presentations and workshops
2008 “Future visions – Innovations in Glass Façades”. Invited main speaker. At Tallinn City Government “Tallinn 2011 European Capital of Culture”. Presentation (Tallinn, Estonia)
2006 “Innovation by Glass and Light”. At Tamglass, Ltd. OY (Tampere, Finland)
2005 “Glass and Lighting Sculptures”. At Stockholm House (Brussels, Belgium)
2004 Presentation on lighting objects and stained glasses, In Estonian Art Academy (Tallinn, Estonia)
2003 Presentationin Estonian Glass Artists’ Union (Tallinn, Estonia)
2001 “Monumental Lighting Objects for Glass Façades” In the Stockholm Glass Façade Symposium by Diana Avasoo (Stockholm, Sweden)
2001 Presentation “Monumental stained glass and monumental lighting objects”. in the company Bamo (Moscow, Russia)
2000 Presentation about monumental stained glass and monumental lighting objects at the Rhode Island School of Design (Rhode Island, Providence, US)
1999 Workskop of C. Kennedy (Tallinn, Estonia)
1998 Presentation in the bank Eesti Ühispank (Tallinn, Estonia)
1997 Presentation in the Estonian Rotary Club (Tallinn, Estonia)
1996 Presentation about stained glass and lighting objects in the bank Eesti Tööstuspank (Tallinn, Estonia)
1993 Presentation about stained glass and lighting objects in the bank Arengupank (Tallinn, Estonia)
Collections
Stained glass object (Embassy of Estonia, Washington DC,US)
Series of water colors (Estonian Consulate, New York, US)
Stained glass objects (Kennedy family, Maryland, US)
Luminous object “Lower than Grass” (Tallinn City Museum, Tallinn, Estonia)
Luminescent film object “Hawaii” (Historic Museum, Tallinn, Estonia)
Luminous object (Estonian Air, Tallinn, Estonia)
Stained glass object (Juhani Pelanne, Budapest, Hungary)
Series of water colors (Telecom Finland, Helsinki, Finland)
Series of watercolors (Hansab, Tallinn, Estonia)
Series of water colors (A. Lehto & H. Holmberg, Helsinki, Finland)
Series of water colors (Estonian Telephone, Tallinn, Estonia)
Series of water colors (Estonian Gas, Tallinn)
Stained glass object (Ekku Peltomaki, Helsinki, Finland)
Stained glass object (Finnair, Tallinn, Estonia)
Statements in the media
2008 Koiva, Meeli “The naked king. Stone became glass” in Postimees
2008 Rand, Oliver, Koiva, Meeli “On how long the statue of liberty will endure” in SL Õhtuleht
2008 Saever, Urmas, Koiva, Meeli “Glass artist: “The original draft of the statue of liberty was a visual fraud” in Postimees.ee
2008 Kodres, Mari, Koiva, Meeli “Expert: For the statue of liberty, glass is not a suitable material” in Päevaleht
Selected reviews publications
2010 Hint, Gitte Only artist s handwriting is convertible via historyin the INterjöör
2010 Metsis ,AnneInnovative and fragile in the Eesti Naine
2008 Wallenius, Olavi “Lighting sculptures by Meeli Koiva” in The World of Glass
2007 Kastanias, Vicky “Pioneer Glass Artist from Estonia” in The World of Glass
2007 Varblane, Reet “Glass is a strong and durable material” in Sirp
2007 Svetlana Loginova, “Reactive River” in Vesti Dnja
2007 Svetlana Loginova, “Meeli Koiva-composer of glass andlight” in VP
April 2006 Rebane, Triin „Game with glass and lighting” in Sisustaja
March 2006 News, in Sirp
March 2006 News, in Just
March 2006 News, in Kroonika
March 2006 Gnadenteich, Uwe “Glass River flowed in the European Parliament” in Linnaleht
March 2006 “Reactive Glass River in EU Parliament Glassfiles.com, (www.glassfiles.com/news/article, in English)
March 2006 Copertina “A river of glass for the EU Parliament” (www.gimav.it/glassinstyle/giugno2006/newstecniche.pdf)
March 2006 Glass Global News “Reactive Glass River in EU Parliament” (http://www.glass-news.com/news/reactive_glass_river_in_eu_parliament.html)
2005 Klaus Weschenfelder, “New Glass in Estonia” in New Glass/Neues Glass
Dec 2005 Merit Välba „Player with glass and illumination”, in Femme www.femme.ee/uudishimulik/persoon/1820?P=3, in English)
Sept 2004 Gnadenteich Uwe „Estonian artist illuminated Stockholm” in Linnaleht
2003 Elena Lumi, “Glass miracles” in Infopress
July 2003 Tarasova, Olga “Idiology of Light” in Estonija
July 2003 Lumi, Elena “Dreams of Glass” in Infopress
Feb 2001 Kask, Daisy “Self-confident glass wizard” in Diivan
August 2001 Rozental, Väinu “Too expensive art” in Äripäev
Spring 2000 Hagelberg, Tõnu “Glass Art” in Global Estonia
Jan.2000 “Meeli Kõiva: Only unique environment draws attention” in Pealinn
Jan 2000 Karik-Hallimäe, Malle “Passion of glass,the might of light” in Eesti Päevaleht
June 1999 Vaks, Robert “Meeli Kõiva in glass conference” in Sirp
June 1999 “Meeli Kõiva`s works in international glass conference” in Eesti Ekspress
May 1998 Saare,Lii “Meeli Kõiva`s passion is light” in Õhtuleht
Feb 1998 Vaks, Robert “Americans are delighted of Meeli Kõiva`s glass art” in Eesti Ekspress
Jan 1998 Tool, Aivar “Stained glass by Meeli Kõiva in the global journal” in Kupetzheskaja Gavanj”
Jan1998 “American journal introduces Estonian artist” in Estonija
Jan 1998 Eriksson, Rein “Meeli Kõiva`s stained glasses in American Stained Glass magazine” in Sirp
Winter 1997 Weis, Helene “Dreams of the Transparent Room”, Stained Glass in the Quartely of the Stained Glass Association of America
Oct 1997 Sikk, Monica “Meeli Kõiva`s stained glass for eating” in Õhtuleht
Oct 1997 Koppel, Annika “Glasseaters party” in Postimees
Oct 1997 Seero, Tõnu “Meeli Kõiva`s eatable art” in Sõnumileht
Aug 1997 ”The World of lighted glass by Meeli Kõiva” in Kupetseskaja Gavanj
May 1997 Martson, Ilona “Meeli Kõiva is in love” in Eesti Päevaleht
Apr 1997 “Meeli Kõiva`s Broken River is flowing in New York” in Postimees
Spring 1997 Lawrence, Thomas “Meeli Kõiva Creates a World of Luminosity, Space and Metamorphosis” in Manhattan Arts International
Feb.1997 Saare, Lii “A game with glass and light” in Sõnumileht
Apr 1996 Eriksson, Rein “I like scraching, like coming to the end” in Sõnumileht
March 1996 Sikk, Monica “Intrique in the new interior design of the bank of Tööstuspank, in Õhtuleht
March 1996 Viik, Rein “Bank new stained glass windows ” in Postimees
1995 Valmsen, Riina “Home is our own small part in the World” in Ehituskaar No 3
Oct 1994 Saluveer, Epp “I am the Bird” in Favoriit
Sept 1994 Koppel Annika “Only bankers and pastors are interested in the work of Meeli Kõiva in Postimees
Aug 1994 “Estonian Art was fantastic in Sweden ,in Baltic Jubilee” in Kultuurileht
Apr 1994 Vaks, Robert “Watercolors and stained glasses in Arengupank” in Päevaleht
Apr 1994 Saare, Lii”Arengupank is the owner of Broken River”, in Kultuurileht
Apr 1994 Veiksaar, Katrin “The bank Arengupank bought the whole exhibition” in Õhtuleht
Dec 1993 Saare, Lii “Under the spell of light and glass” in Pühapäevaleht
Aug 1993 “Glass und Laser” in Hanse Zeitung
1993 Lott, Raivo “Milano exhibition – window to the world” Kaubandus-Tööstuskoja Teataja
Feb 1993 Lott, Raivo “To the mystical room” in Äripäev
Oct 1991 Käesel, Tiina ”I can guess that you weren’t there…” in Sirp
Oct 1991 Veiksaar, Katrin “Light refracting exhibition” in Õhtuleht
Oct 1991 Pukk, Piret “The best day for hunting the light” in Päevaleht
TV and videofilms
2010 Virtanen, Rauli “Feuille qui vole” (3min, Finland)
2000 Mälberg, Kalle “Cave Art” by Estonian Nature OY (27 min, Estonia)
2000 Mälberg, Kalle “Cave Art in Brown Gold Mine” by Estonian Nature OY (28min, Estonia)
1998 “Nurgakivi”, TV show on construction, by TV3 (Estonia)
1997 Interview with Meeli Koiva by New York cable TV (US)
1997 Veskus Merike Best artists in Estonia (Estonia)
1996 Kurvitz, Raoul “Life styles” by ETV (Estonia)
1994 Laanjarv, Hendrik “Fiir” (Estonia)
Study visits
2004 Frankfurt (Germany) Derix Glasstudios, Taunusstein-Wehen – trainings in glass painting, fused glass and etching technologies, study tours introducing stained glass windows of ecclesiastical architecture
2004 Seattle, WA (US). Meetings with and visits to glass studio owners, glass artists, glass art dealers
2004 Portland, OR (US) Bullseye Glass Co. Visiting the glass factory, meeting the management and art dealers
2004 Tacoma, WA (US). Visiting Tacoma Glass Museum, glass galleries. Meetings with glass art dealers
2000 Rhode Island, Providence, RI (US) – Rhode Island School of Design meetings in RISD’s departments.
1999 GPD Glass Processing Days. International Architectural Glass Workshop (Tampere, Finland)
1996 New York, NY (US). Visiting architects and sculptors, arranging stained glass studio cooperation (James Carpenter Associates, The Gil Studio). Visiting top glass galleries, meetings with glass art dealers.
1996 Philadelphia, PA (US). Cooperation with Stained Glass Association of America
1989 International Milano, Italy- Furniture exhibition, workshops.
1986 Prague, Czech Republic -Academy of Applied Arts -meetings in glass dep