I began
the art of glass fusing and slumping recently. I begin by cutting
small/various sized pieces of glass and placing them together
on a flat tile. The pieces then fuse or melt together to become
a single piece. That piece is then reheated and slumped into
a mold, usually in the shape of a plate or bowl of varying sizes.
The colors excite me most.
I lay out all the colors I have and the magic begins as I
cut and assemble different shapes and sizes into geometric
patterns, becoming totally absorbed, transcending time and
space and getting completely lost in the experience. I stand
back periodically, take a breath, and look to see what I have
accomplished, often finding the path I started down has taken
a detour. I then find myself saying, “Huh, that’s
interesting; I’ll keep going,” or, “Hmmm,
this isn’t really working; I’ll start over.”
Once the piece is assembled,
it goes into the kiln. After firing, the piece is completed,
and the results are always surprising—sometimes exciting,
sometimes disappointing. My analytical self rises with an
array of emotions and responses. And once I release my own
judgment, I can accept what I have created and the process
I went through to get there. I find great joy and delight
working with glass, in discovering these new creations of
color, light and form.
