ginkgoglass's Profile

Bio

Artist Statement

I am part artist, mad scientist and pyromaniac.

I began my love of glass at the age of eight on a trip to Murano, Italy with my parents. That love simmered until a few years ago I began taking classes in flameworking glass and I have never looked back. I love the dance of flame and glass; it never ceases to bring me joy and fascination, and sometimes surprise and amazement. Part art and part chemistry, working with glass is a sensual experience: the heat, the fire, the flow of the medium in the flame from solid to liquid, the way the colors change depending on how I treat the glass with the torch.

There are days when all goes as expected, and days when the glass takes over, and each piece has a mind of it's own. Those are the best days, and I can't wait to get my work out of the kiln and share it with someone. I am happy to share my love of this sometimes mysterious creative process with you.


Why Ginkgoglass?

Once thought to be extinct, the graceful Ginkgo has survived virtually unchanged for over 270 million years, long before dinosaurs roamed the planet. Called “living fossils” by Darwin, a single ginkgo tree may live up to 3000 years. Ginkgos are a link not only to our past, but to our future.

I began my love of ginkgos many years ago, when my sweetheart made me a bouquet of bright golden leaves one Autumn. They continue to inspire me with their graceful form and symmetry. Since then, I have been fascinated with the tree's shy appearance most of the year and it's amazing explosion of gold in the Fall, showering us with a carpet of leaves as they drop.

The oldest dated specimen of pure glass is a lion's head bearing the name of an Egyptian King of the eleventh dynasty which was molded more than 2000 years. BC. This piece was made with a skill which shows that the art was nothing new. (New York Times, September 7th, 1879)

Like the Ginkgo tree, glass endures as glass artists continue this age old craft.

All glass art is hand flameworked or blown in my home studio and kiln annealed for strength and durability so you may enjoy your glass for many years to come.

Female, Born on September 9

Favorite Materials

Glass, Silver, Love