The Artist and Process
In 1991 I took a stained glass class and immediately fell in love with the medium.. Having the privilege of studying glass and working under William Darwin II of Darwin's Stained Glass Studio eventually lead to working with kiln-fired glass. Fusing and slumping are methods of kiln-fired glass developed over 3,500 years ago by the Egyptians.
As an artist I am always striving to create unique functional glass pieces. All of my platters, bowls, and plates are food safe. I want my glass to look just as good on display as it does on the table filled with food. My creative process involves getting to know the client and their residence to design and create a piece that is truly custom. I enjoy working with clients on small to medium custom windows, along with functional display pieces. All of my glass is signed and are original designs.
The Kiln Process
Fused and slumped pieces require at least two firings. Each piece is designed and then assembled in the kiln. To stick or fuse the pieces of glass the kiln is heated slowly to approximately 1450 degrees Fahrenheit, then lowered to 955 degrees and held at that temperature for an annealing period. Annealing removes the stress from the glass and the annealing time depends on the size and thickness of the glass. The kiln is then cooled to room temperature.
To curve the glass is the slumping process. The fused piece is laid over a mold with the desired contour. The kiln temperature is taken up very slowly to about 1150 degrees where the glass slumps down into the mold. Another annealing and cooling follows the slumping process. Altogether each piece spends 36 to 48 hours in the kiln.
Past Board Member and vendor of the Ann Arbor Artisans Market, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Fused Glass teacher at Chelsea Center for the Arts (CCA), Chelsea, Michigan.
One of four artists that designed and created a community public art sculpture,
"Quilt the Hands of Time", through the CCA. Scheduled to be installed in the Clocktower Complex, Chelsea, MI in Spring 2006.
Created fused pieces for a silk sculpture, "In Our Image", Chelsea community art project, 2004.
Participant #66 in 2004 Magless Magnet Exchange, WarmGlass.com.
Created the fused center piece of the "Pathway to Renewal", Chelsea community art project, 2003.
