Harry Anderson 1985 to 1989, a written account
In 1985 Harry Anderson receives an Individual Grant from BOOK SPACE, Chicago, IL. That year he is also an artist in residence at the FABRIC WORKSHOP in Philadelphia, PA. There he creates HARRY'S HUNT. The Fabric is still periodically available through the FABRIC WORKSHOP.
Though Anderson continues to work in a variety of media, sculpture and in particular functional sculpture in the form of lamps or light sculptures are becoming his primary focus. In September of 1985 RUNNING WITH A BRIGHT IDEA (a phrase coined by Bruce Helander) opens at The Gallery of Applied Arts in NY, NY. On exhibit are some 50 of Anderson's recent light sculptures.
In 1986 Harry Anderson will leave his tenured teaching post at Moore College of Art in order to pursue his art full time. That same year in order to gain a larger studio he purchases a warehouse with plans to rent the unused portion to other artists. In May of 1986 the first MEAT exhibit, organized by Michael McFeat takes place there. It is the first of many exhibitions to take place at the warehouse. An exhibition titled TRANSPARNT THOUGHT that Anderson curates is held there the following year. That exhibit was held in conjunction with the Glass Arts Societies (GSA) annual conference which took place in Philadelphia, PA in 1987. Anderson designs conference program.
Over the next couple of year Anderson continues to collect, create and exhibit. In 1989 he receives an individual grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.