About

I began working with fused glass in 1996. My work is characterized by at least two of the definitions of the word ‘fusion.’ The first definition is ‘the procedure of melting by the application of heat.’ The glass art and jewelry produced in the Juno Glass Studio are all kiln-fired, many several times. But fusion is also defined as ‘the merging of different elements into a union.’

I begin any project by cutting, smashing, painting and gluing different glasses together and then firing them in the kiln. The resultant ‘fabrics’ vary: some are patterned, some striped, some textured, and some have brilliant colors or iridescence. These swatches are then cut and assembled with other pieces until a harmonious composite is created. Thus, my glass construction is much like sewing. I did not become an artist until later in my life, but learned the domestic arts of sewing, cooking, knitting and embroidering in my youth. My work has a clear reference to my early education.

This focus on interconnectedness also has familial origins. My immigrant grandmother made quilts from snippets and swatches of all sorts of fabric. My father made photographic collages of seemingly discordant elements. My work is often colorful and expansive. Even in the darkest of times, glass has illuminated my path.

While all art produced in the studio has similar origins, jewelry is particularly demanding because of its small scale. Each piece needs to be both artistically pleasing and also exhibit a high degree of technical proficiency. After the finished slab of fused glass is produced, the final shapes for jewelry are cut and fired again to achieve a smooth ‘fire-polished’ finish. Some earrings and pendants are then wire-wrapped and beaded. The final products are sleek and alluring.