Thursday, June 26, 2014

Studio Organization= Tough Love


As our remodeling projects draw to a close (for now), I am finally able to move my racks and molds out to the new kiln room!

The studio is a disaster! I mean, it's really bad! I was so cramped having to house stuff that has always been in the kiln shed that I lost all common sense and just kept cramming more stuff into the studio. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

When the weather has been nice (pouring rain right now), I clear off a table on the deck and work there. When the weather is awful, I try to use my time to clean, sort & organize a ridiculous mess.

I realize that ergonomics is important so once I sort through my scrap glass, toss things I won't/can't use, and create real homes for things...I will need to move my cutting area so I can move about more easily and protect my aching back.

No more promises to post new stuff soon....I have descended into a deep, dark, messy hole . If I ever get out of it I will post pix of the reclaimed studio and any new work.

Toodles!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Art Trunk Sale....August 3


I'll be there....will you?
OK, I don't have a cool truck but I will have a van full of glass items at great prices. There will be some functional art pieces, some jewelry, and random "stuff" left over from earlier sales. Come see me!



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

A Good Name







Bill Stinnett served the Cedar Sinai Park organization  for many many years. Tonight he was honored on the eve of his official retirement. It was such a pleasure to be in the audience to hear how this man mentored his colleagues; always acting with wisdom and grace. 

I was so proud to be asked to make a piece of glass to honor this man. Bill isn't Jewish but because he served the elders of this Jewish community , the staff and board wanted to honor him with  something that was Jewish but also touched on his own Christian faith.

This is the written document I crafted to accompany the glass piece.

The Board of Directors and Staff of Cedar Sinai commissioned this piece of art in honor of your many years of service to the organization.
The hebrew lettering quotes a passage from Ecclesiates 7:1: “ A good name is more precious than oil.”
It is explained that the scent of aromatic oils travels but a short distance within your house, while a good name travels from one end of the earth to the other.
In addition, you will find two red letters bookending the central tablet. The red letter on the right is first letter of the hebrew alphabet, aleph. On the far left is the final letter of the alphabet, tahf. The middle letter of the hebrew alphabet is a mem (there are two in the line that scans across the middle tablet.) These letters aleph, mem, tahf  spell the word Emet which means truth.
The glass was fused in the kiln at 1450 degrees for 15 hours. Visible through the clear glass tablets is copper mesh. Copper represents longevity and durability and is frequently mentioned in the old testament as an adornment for the Tabernacle. The central letters are cut from dichroic glass, a precious glass made by burning minerals in a vacuum chamber. The fused glass is mounted to a piece of acrylic which is mounted to a piece of hand-polished aluminum.
May you be blessed in your retirement. May your memories of Cedar Sinai Park be joyous, and may your good name continue to be known .

Monday, June 9, 2014

Wall Mounting


This little U-channel mirror mounting is made of aluminum.
I've been practicing my hack saw skills on these, custom fitting them for my aluminum backed wall art.

I use one on the bottom and one on the top. Mounting the art is simple and requires small nails and a hammer...that's it!

I dropped off the Tov Shem commission today and will be there when the art piece is presented on Wednesday evening. I'll try to post pictures then.



Sunday, June 8, 2014

Fresh Out of the Kiln!


I'll post the full shot once the gift has been presented.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Steps 2 and 3...commission work continues

A layer of copper mesh is sandwiched between
a base layer of brown iridized glass and a clear cap.
Strips of the same mesh adorn the plaques below.

A few drops of glasstac helps hold the letters in place until
I  can safely deposit the glass in  the kiln.

The tablets and plaques are  set on some streaky glass
and some of the letters are set in place 
Embellishments  and some new letters will come next. I'll explain the meaning of the words and design in a future post....stay tuned!



Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Step 1 of a New Commission!


The design is drafted, the glass is selected, and the letters are just waiting to be cut.