Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement on my “Broken Hallelujah” piece – here is another from that series – “Good Intentions”:
Tag Archive: glass
Art is a whisper, a prayer, a love song, a dying wish, an outcry, a story, an invocation – and sometimes it is a broken hallelujah…
I am thrilled to be part of 33May, an art exhibition in my old hometown stompin’ grounds, Webster Groves, Old Orchard -
Spring ArtWalk in St. Charles – this weekend!
I am honored to be asked to be a part of the St. Charles Riverfront Spring Art Walk this weekend. I will be at 116 North Main Street, in a chapel, with 8 other talented artists. In addition to my glass jewelry, I will have some of my mixed media pieces available for sale & viewing! See wonderful creative works – hear talented musicians – taste some lovely wines – have a great time!
While you’ve there, stroll through Old Town St. Charles to the Glass Workbench - one of my favorite stained glass shops is also hosting its own Spring Art Contest – I have one stained glass entry, an entry in fused glass, in collaboration with Pat Kenya, and my niece Micah Streubel has a stained glass & painted werewolf entry…
Mushroom/Earth Day Festival
Sun., April 22, 2012
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference
13653 Lodge Blvd.
Grafton, IL 62037
Ah…a day to appreciate the earth and all it yields. Come and relax at Pere Marquette Lodge for the annual Earth Day and Mushroom Fest. Participants will be hunting and judging the mushroom finds, as well as eating some pretty tasty specials. There will be music, vendors and activities for everyone. The event is free. For more information, call (618) 786-2331 ext. 0.
–I’ll be there with handmade & sustainable glass & recycled. upcycled jewelry & gifts–in beautiful Pere Marquette Lodge – INDOORS – rain or shine.
For Jim – love you, miss you!
OK, I don’t know if this is art or not, or what kind, but it was something I had to do to work through grieving for my friend Jim. It is called “A gift of Love – Unclaimed”. Not useful or functional and I have no idea what to “do” with it, but I made it with love and to remember my friend.
It is a slab of stained glass, rough-edged on one edge (leftovers from when they make glass – they roll it out like taffy & they chop off squares – this is the rough jagged edge leftover.) It is blues & greens & golds, all colors Jim liked. They are muted until you hold it up to the light and then light shines through & you see the textures, swirls & mottling & such). It’s about 2 feet long & 4-5 inches high. I wire-wrapped it so it could be hung.
In the middle of the glass I glued a piece of fused glass that is cobalt-midnight blue & has the words to the Serenity Prayer on it in gold lettering, about 3 X 4 inches. This is a gift I sent to Jim, to let him know we loved him and cared about him (I figured by then that he was sick and maybe couldn’t respond, or might have dementia, but it would still be a tangible token of love from his friends. I didn’t know he was already gone by then.)
This piece of glass was returned to me in its padded mailing envelope, which was all marked up by the postal people, with codes & checkmarks & dates of when they tried to deliver it, but finally decided it was “Unclaimed” – and sent it back to me. (Env. has my return address on it, with a Human Rights campaign (GLBT rights group) label.) It also has a big red FRAGILE – GLASS – HANDLE with CARE sticker on it. I thought this envelope told a story, so I attached it to the slab of glass. (I wired an agate on the glass, and glued the envelope to the stone – the envelope hangs down.)
I epoxied some other things on the slab – one is a fused glass piece with a rodeo cowboy on it (Jim loved rodeo). I glued a piece of yellow glass on it that says “Find a Cure” and a metal red ribbon pin (Jim had HIV-AIDS). Also a brass dragonfly (symbol of eternal life) & another piece of yellow glass that says “Jim”. There’s also a little bit I cut off from a magnet I had that says “Life is short”.
I really like the idea of using a piece of real everyday life (canceled envelope) to tell a story, and I did it in glass because Jim was always so encouraging about my glass experiments….
So I don’t know if that is art or craft, but it was a labor of love and from my heart…
Kerry Ellen
Just in time for Valentine’s Day – Swarovski crystal bracelets – red is $15 and pink & purple is $18
faceted Swarvoski red crystal earrings, 18mm, just in time for Valentine’s Day! by Kerry Ellen, $15
finish each day and be done with it. you have done what you could. some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. tomorrow is a new day. you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every fused glass artist knows – breakage happens. If you mix incompatible glass – if you cool too quickly - you can get stress fractures and cracks. It can be very disappointing - especially if you’ve already put time & effort into the piece – but it is not the end.
Glass gives you seceond chances – you can recycle it and try again – as often as you dare. It is a forgiving medium (karma’s way of making up for the cuts and burns fusers deal with?)
Don’t cry over broken glass – it’s just an opportunity to recycle it & start fresh!
