A follow-up on the Puppy Mask

Teddy is the beloved dog of a sweet girl. Her grandparents commissioned a glass portrait (mask) of this sweet little terrier.

She sent along a photo of the mask mounted on her bedroom wall.

Another Wedding Glass Gift

I made the couple a class vessel to smash after their wedding vows. The shards were retained until they decided what they wanted me to make.. The snow on the mountains doesn't show up well in this photo. It is a milky mottled glass with shards of wedding glass. The stream is also covered with a layer of chards and iridized clear frit.

The moon also didn't come out clearly in the photo, but is made from clear dichroic glass. The whole disc experiences color shifts as the light shifts.

Mazal Tov to the happy couple!

New Commissioned Mask Completed!

Meet Teddy....a miniature labradoodle!

His owner is a sweet 11 year old girl.

Her grandparents are surprising her with a glass mask in the likeness of her beloved pup. It comes equipped with mounting brackets for easy hanging on a wall.

RBG: Fused Glass Mask

I have long admired Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Two years ago I started designing a mask of her. I stopped, feeling like ..."who am I to attempt this? what kind of chutzpah do I possess to do this?"

Finally, I screwed up the courage to finish my tribute to her. Her left earring is a mini Constitution scroll that says "We the People."
Her right earring is a mini book titled "I Dissent!" Using my smallest penmanship , I penned many of her most famous dissents on the first several pages. Her brooch is fused glass with rhinestone letters glued on...and yes, she has a lace collar too!

This mask drew a good bit of attention at the Celebration of Art at the end of October. I wasn't sure I could part with her,  but then...a repeat customer came into my booth . Two years ago (or was it 3?) she had visited my booth and purchased my "grandma mask" for her daughter  in California. 

She saw the RBG mask and knew immediately that her daughter needed RBG on her wall!

Her daughter wrote me a sweet note saying that RBG is now keeping "grandma" company on her wall. 

I am sending blessings to RBG for speedy healing. What a remarkable woman.... even broken ribs won't keep her from her work! Refuah Shleymah Justice Ginsberg!

Another Mask: Albert's Bad Hair Day

Albert was fun to make. 
I like making masks of fictional and real life characters....
Perhaps my most favorite quote by him is:
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."

What if we were all so passionately curious? 
What could we accomplish? 
We may not all have his amazing intellect, but we all have the ability to be curious; to imagine that we can accomplish something of value that benefits everyone, and the wisdom to recognize where the dangers are if we take things a step too far.

Well, at least Albert and I have one thing in common...I too have bad hair days!

Vinnie, the Wine Guy!

His motto is "Life is too short to drink bad wine!"
I think he's right!

Glass Inserts for Wood

This sweet little plate will be installed in a beautiful hand-turned wooden platter.
This kitty disc is only 7" in diameter...but will pop once it is installed in the wooden base Jack (my neighbor) will craft.

I don't know if it's the "cat's meow", but it's cute! She'll be at the Celebration of Art '18.
scroll down to my previous post to get the youtube video preview and info about this show!

Pomegranates !

This time of year always makes me think about pomegranates! It's a fantastic fruit with incredible symbolism! These two are the first poms out of the kiln!

You can see what else I'll be featuring at our Celebration of Art '18 show on this video: (click on it!) oregonmjcc.org/ora

Why I haven't been posting!

This is the less than glamorous side of being an artist!

In nice weather I like to work outside. Both saws use water, as does my polisher so I sometimes have to work outside regardless of the weather. When it is beautiful I also like to cut my glass out there.
         The deck is old! We had half of it replaced ...then we needed to stain it. The other half needed to be power washed, sanded and stained. That meant moving all my glass, tables, saws, polisher, etc to the other side of the deck. It also meant doing all the labor involved ....phew!
         I am back to glass work now and will post things coming out of the kiln soon!
         In the mean time...check out this preview video of an upcoming show I will be in.... 

oregonmjcc.org/ora

And please....DO COME TO THE SHOW!

New Mask!

Meet Matok aka Toki. 

Matok means"sweet" in Hebrew. She is a lovely dog belonging to a friend. I thought I would try my hand at making a mask in the likeness of this sweet almost 3 year pup as a gift. 

This mask isn't for sale but I do plan to make custom-ordered dog masks. This mask will be on display at my next show coming up at the end of October. More info about that show will be posted soon.

The Start of Something New!

What is it going to be?

When I Am Not Making Glass

Well, it's been a little quiet in blog land...but I have been busy with a few things!

I just came back from an amazing retreat to the Oregon Coast ....where good food, relaxation, and lovely walks on the beach nourished my belly and my soul.

For several years I have taught a writing class at Rose Schnitzer Manor, an independent and assisted living facility right here in Portland. The group named themselves Older But Wiser several years ago. This is one of the most delightful groups of folks I know....and the average age hovers in the low 90's!

This year we have focused on the art of story telling, inspired by podcasts of THE MOTH.

They are now ready to perform. Each story is only 5-7 minutes long. They are humorous and wise.
They are also true stories. I can't boast enough about these incredible souls! I may be their teacher, but each of them is mentoring me in the fine art of aging well. Won't you join us?  We have a rehearsal at Rose Schnitzer Manor in Zidell Hall, August 21st at 7 pm but I want to encourage attendance at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland OR....September 4.
Admission is of course, free.

Roses Window...a Blast from the Past!

We're visiting family and in addition to the amazing food and hospitality, it's an opportunity to visit one of the last stained glass windows I made before my shift to fusion. 

One of the best parts of making glass for others is the joy in knowing where it is going. In this case, it is family. More often now, the glass is a commission either by someone I know or someone I get to know as we collaborate on what the theme/imagery will look like.

I am pleased to be able to see this older stained glass work....but I am even more grateful that I had the opportunity to learn fusion and could pursue warm glass. Even more special is this celebratory time with family. 

Glass for the Newly Weds

I haven't had the opportunity to make one of these bowls in a while! I was thrilled to be asked to make this bowl as a gift.

The commission stated that the couple liked natural colors so I selected this amber/hint of green glass. The surface is iridized so there is a lovely rainbow sheen that is visible from certain angles.

I cut two 15" circles of the glass and placed the smooth surfaces of the glass facing each other so the rainbow surface would be accentuated on both sides.  I sprinkled a light dusting of clear powdered glass across the face of the bowl to  give the piece a sheen and to also contain the iridescence, making the bowl food safe. I full fused it once, then added the letters cut from spring green irid glass, and dichroic dots to the surface. A second visit to the kiln allowed for a tack-fuse. Using my flat lap grinder, I smoothed out the edges and then the glass was returned to the kiln one last time to be slumped into a bowl.

There is always a written statement about the glass, with some information about the gematria behind the word Ahavah, and a blessing.

The piece is now signed and sealed in bubblewrap...ready to be delivered...tomorrow. Mazal tov to the bride and groom!

They Were Framed!

I've been privileged to work in the Mensches & Mavens program (M&Ms) at my synagogue (Neveh Shalom).  We match up 7th graders (mensches in training) with older congregants (mavens!)

The M&Ms met once a month for the entire school year doing a variety of activities , study, and some schmoozing. Secretly, the kids made fused glass photo frames for their mavens (and wrote lovely pantoums to them for the back side), while also secretly, the mavens made frames and pantoums for their mensches. Zoom in to see the great work. (There were two tables of frames!!!!)

I haven't posted much on my blog in awhile because my kiln was tied up with this project for some time. The gifts were traded a couple weeks ago ...and all seem rather joyous about the process. 

Next...I need to pull my studio together and do some clean up!
I am almost done with a commission...and then it will be time to begin creating new work for the fall ORA show. Posting will be sporadic this summer, but I will get some new pieces done!

Stay tuned.....and ...thanks for following my blog!

New Mezuzot for Chapel

These are the two new mezuzot I made for the remodeled chapel at Robison Jewish Home @ Cedar Sinai Park in Portland.

The Chapel has been named in memory Sarah Glasgow Cogan z"l and it also houses the ark doors I made.

The orange and the red glass is the same as was used for the flowers in the ark door windows.

Jewish Arts Month (JAM) is going strong in its third week at the MJCC here in Portland. This is a snapshot of my table in the lobby.
Someone is on duty daily from 8:30-6pm. The show closes Friday around 1pm.
This is a great opportunity to pick up a hostess gift, wedding or B/M gift. There are several tables of art here....something for everyone!
Come see us!

Mazal tov to a very special Bar Mitzvah boychick! 

My student was fabulous...bringing his complete heart to  his service today. 

His tallit is a hand-painted silk shawl created by Diane Fredgant. It reflects his passion for nature. His parsha, Tetzaveh, talks about the garments the high priests wore. The "choshen" were breastplates with 12 jewels representing each of the tribes of Israel. 

Each of us is thought to be a priest and I wanted to make him clips that would match in terms of color, but would also serve as a reminder that he too should see himself as a priest. 

Boychick will be a leader in his community; perhaps as an environmental activist and/or maybe a religious leader. He will be a leader regardless of his profession. Blessings to you boychick!!!! And a hearty mazal tov!!!!!

The clips are made of an aventurine green base topped with dichroic beads with a gold chain. 

Hummingbird Tallit Clips

 Iridized cobalt blue glass with dichroic glass

A silver chain will grace this sparkling set and will pair nicely with a beautiful hand-painted silk tallit. Mazal Tov to the Bat Mitzvah girl who has a passion for art and nature!

New Clips from the Kiln

The magen david and the doves have already been claimed! I need to add chain and box them...and then they are off to their new owners.

I have more but they need to be photographed. Jewish Arts Month is around the corner, so if you need to buy some affordable hand-made clips come see me at the Jewish Community Center here in Portland Oregon the week of March 18-23 or contact me directly to order custom clips.

Artist Statement Reviewed

Hebrew letters and other images often dance across a fanciful screen in my mind’s eye. Translating this dance of letters and images becomes a meditative experience. I journey deeper into the meanings and fight the limitations that a solid yet fragile medium offers me.  The rest of my world is put on hold, I lose track of time, and I become fully absorbed in  meanings beneath meanings and beyond meanings. The product of my meditation is rarely as complex as the journey I have taken. I laughingly refer to my work as shiny, pretty things....but beneath that language is a hidden urge to share my relationship with the sacred.

I'm going to start preparing for Jewish Arts Month in March. I'll have a table in the MJCC lobby for a week (more details will follow soon.)

Trying to take it easy as I recuperate from that nasty cold, I am trying to take on small projects that aren't too taxing. Today's effort was revisiting my artist statement. 

It was actually comforting to see that the same things that motivated me several years ago still holds true for me today. This one is shorter, but essentially the same message.

I worked in Stained Glass for a good bit of time...I introduced it to my high school students  who quickly developed the skills to make beautiful small windows. Ultimately, working with stained glass as a medium never really resonated with me in any significant way. I was blessed to stumble onto glass fusion and for the first time I had artistic visions.

Artist statements are challenging....often they are written in the third person...as if the artist asked someone else to speak about them. I do think it works in many cases...but I think my statement should reflect me. It should sound like me, and it should sound like it is coming from me. 

The exercise is important. Why am I doing this work? Why do I create? Why am I obsessed with these shiny, pretty things?

A Few Days Off...and a Few More!

We took a few days off at the beach. Blessed with some beautiful weather, we were able to take some lovely walks on the beach. Unfortunately, I have developed some bug that so far is just inhabiting my throat. I am hopeful that if I just rest up and take things slow, I might beat this bug quickly.

So, no glass updates for at least a few days while I rest up and get healthy. I have several small commissions due so I hope to be back in my studio soon.

Everything is in Place!

Everything is complete but the new Torah covers...which will be completed within the next two months.

It was quite special leading services last night. The residents were so appreciative of the new space. I  introduced the Sanctuary Song and they all sang loudly with strong voices. These lyrics embody the theme of the words adorning the ark...so we discussed what the words meant:  "Build for Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among you."  Here we were, sitting in a beautiful new space...a sanctuary dedicated to prayer. Another interpretation of those words is that we are to create a space within ourselves where we can welcome God.

Two individuals who attended services are not Jewish. One  spoke to me about how he can no longer attend church services. This was his first time in a Jewish service and he felt so comfortable even though the liturgy was a little different from his own! The second individual has been a regular for years!

One resident asked to speak with me after services and he referenced one of the lines in the song;  "...in thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for You."  He looked at me and proclaimed, " I want to be a living sanctuary! How do I do that?"

It was a lovely conversation and whether I answered his question satisfactorily or not, he seemed pleased.  I left feeling like the collaborative effort of donors, staff, architects, board members, and artists was absolutely worth it. We wanted to create a holy space where residents; all residents regardless of their faith or practice, could come to pray, meditate, or just be. 

וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם

The Ark is Finished!

    Build For Me a Sanctuary that I may Dwell Among You 
                 וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם
Exodus 25:8

These beautifully polished, laser cut steel letters were crafted by metal artist Stu Luxenberg. 

On a literal level, this passage from Exodus seems to have God  telling us to construct a building for God to live in.  Many commentators have also interpreted this to mean.....create a space for God inside of ourselves.

The beauty of this interpretation is that each of us has the capacity to embody godliness. In Judaism we list the attributes of God as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abundant in kindness and truth, forgiving...and more. If we strive to embody these traits in ourselves then we create space within our hearts for godliness.

This new chapel is a holy space. A space not only for  residents to come for religious services, but also a space for contemplation, meditation, or just quiet.  I am grateful to those who funded the renovation of this space and to Gary Pearlman who designed this Mikdash, this sacred holy space.
Stu Luxenberg generously offered his talent and materials to create the beautiful letters.  

NER TAMID: The Eternal Light

OK...it's not the best picture...and it isn't installed yet. 

What you see is a mid-century modern swag lamp that was just wood and metal. 

We found it hanging in an antique shop and snagged it immediately.

Gary (Pearlman) lovingly took it apart and spray painted the shiny brass metal rings (top and bottom, and the end cap a more pleasing pewter. I have glued in iridized red glass rectangles into the large spaces while allowing light to come through the the narrow slots.

I am looking forward to seeing the whole picture of Ark, still cut letters, glass and the Ner Tamid.

Stay tuned. I promise to pictures!

Windows Installed

4 year-old works with frit and small bits

I'm uncomfortable posting pictures of young children....especially when they aren't mine....thus, no beautiful punim (face) for you to see. This sweet 4 year old was on loan to me yesterday. She wanted a  mezuzah for her new bedroom. 

She drew a picture of what it should look like. I cut out the base glass and provided her with a selection of materials. She was pretty faithful to the pattern but was remarkably flexible in using colors she hadn't yet considered. 

Using chunky frit and some finer frit, she was confident and comfortable handling the glass. I pre-fired some of the smaller glass elements so she could safely handle the pieces without fear of cuts and blood.

It was a quick overnight fusing...a klaf, two small screws, and a bracha are all she needs now to mount it .

This special young girl saw beauty in each color and piece of glass. She was delighted with every effort she made and was very proud of her work when finished. Isn't that the aim of education? 

I used to teach high school students. They were all "at risk". But I can imagine that when they were young, they still possessed that spark of curiosity and joy. Something(s) or someone(s) deadened it for them along the way. May this little one be blessed to keep her sparkling personality, sense of curiosity, and pride in her efforts. May she always know that although things we try to do don't always come out perfectly, they reflect our best efforts....and that matters!

NER TAMID in the WORKS

The Ner Tamid or Eternal Light is essential to the synagogue space.
We selected a mid century modern swag lamp that is complimentary with the wood used for the ark and reading table. I thought putting glass in it would be easy...but I quickly discovered that the points of contact between glass and wood are slender. 

I have glued in just one piece as a test. For once I actually have a plan B (I hope I don't need it!)

Come back tomorrow....I'll tell you how it's coming along.

And now I am off to have a date with a charming 4 year girl who wants to make her own glass mezuzah for her new bedroom. I will post pix of that adventure later!

ALMOST!....so close!

This is Harold Vail, the amazing craftsman who built the ark and the reading table. He's pictured here checking the fit of the glass panes.
The right door fits perfectly but the left panes will need a bit of grinding.

Harold is a perfectionist and you can see the value of his craftsmanship in everything he makes! The doors weren't closing as well as he wanted (without the glass) so, the doors were taken home with him. On Thursday morning he will install the doors along with the glass panels. 

Next on the agenda is to cut and affix glass to a mid-century modern light fixture and convert it into our Ner Tamid; our Eternal Light.  One might think that should be our very last step in completing this beautiful chapel....but nope....more yet to come!
Stu Luxenberg will be adding some gorgeous polished steel lettering to be affixed to the ark, and Diane Fredgant is hard at work designing new Torah mantles.  She has shared some of her thoughts with me....and I think it will be positively thrilling to see and use these new items!

Kudos again to Gary Pearlman for his visionary designs and to Harold for his remarkable craftsmanship.

More gratitude goes to Dave Becker at CSP for coordinating between the architects, designers, contractors, and us humble artists.

I'll devote a later column to the Cogan and Glasgow families who have sponsored the remodeling of this holy space.... they are a blessing to our community and deserve to have much more said about their efforts.

Scraping Bottom

Today was chore day....I scraped off the old kiln wash from the shelf then repainted it with fresh wash....4 layers.

Once the shelf is recoated, it goes into the kiln and is fired to cure the wash.

After cooling off, it is ready for use and now pane #5 is firing.

Pane #6 still needs some clear confetti...I'll take care of that in the morning....and tomorrow afternoon it will go into the kiln.

I am hopeful that there will be no more distractions or interruptions. With a bit of luck, the panes will be completed by Sunday and will be installed sometime next week. I will definitely take pictures!

....And now the GRINDER!!!!!

This is my old Wizling grinder.....that has been sitting dormant for too long.

The rule of thumb is to remove the grinder bit if you won't be using the grinder for awhile...otherwise the glass dust turns into a cement and locks the bit in place..... apparently, I didn't subscribe to that rule!

It appears that I never even finished cleaning it after I used it last, so that's a double shame on me!

A couple applications of WD-40, a locking wrench and a screw driver are getting me somewhere....I'm just not there yet!

So why do I need a grinder now? The 5th pane is about to get fused (yes,  #4 is a success!!!!) and I will likely need to grind down the edges of each pane so they will fit in their slots in the new ark.

Sigh.....1 giant step forward....and a couple steps back.  Assuming I can remove the old bit and get the new one on...I will do better on maintenance......a giant self promise!

The Source of the Shut-Down!

Relay Switches!
Apparently if one goes bad, they all have to be replaced. 

Ellison Kiln Works to the rescue. Mr. Ellison arrived on time, completed the work and charged me what felt like a fair price for replacement parts and his time. 

The first test firing went well. Test # 2 is in process with something that counts but is small. If all goes well (it will!) then I can begin firing the first of the remaining three ark windows tomorrow.
Phew!  Fingers crossed as this last set of firings takes place. I am anxious to get these installed!

The Unglamorous Parts of Glass Art

SLUDGE! With time off from the kiln, it seemed like a good idea to focus energy on cleaning. In fact, I have been negligent about cleaning out my glass saw....something I am typically quite good about.

Glass particles mix with water and create sediment at the bottom of the saw. Some folks scrape it up, save it and fuse it. It is ugly. I don't do that. I throw it away....in the garbage.

So my saw is nearly spotless again...and I have only a few more pieces to cut before I can proclaim the ark door project complete. 

I cleaned up the kiln room as well.... the floor is swept, stray scraps of glass have been tossed, and tools returned to their rightful homes. The studio ( a separate space) is still a mess...but I'll get to that in late January.

Hopefully the kiln will be repaired in a day or two.... I can hope, can't I?

Three Dog Night!

What does one do to keep warm when your kiln is on the fritz???? Call in the dogs!
From left to right:
Django (almost 9!), a cuddly, sweet, Portuguese Water Dog staying with us for 2 weeks while his Mom and Dad vacation in Paris....
Bruno (5), my son's fabulous and handsome rescue dog (and alpha male of the batch) visiting us along with my son (yay!).....
Navi (1), our lovable and very active pup who will celebrate his one year adoption in two weeks! 

Last night we had a fourth dog visiting to help us ring in the new year...but it was impossible to get a photo of all four!

Jan 3 is just around the corner....I'm looking forward to welcoming the repair guy then!