Fire in the Madhouse

Fire in the Madhouse, fused glass. 3 panels. 2016

Where’s Chicken Little when you need him? Yea, I keep forgetting only a few listen to a conspiracy theorist; also, word is Homeland Security has Little on the no fly list. And most importantly what is falling from the heavens in my story are not acorns nor is the king ignorant of the ‘falling sky’ because in my story the royals are the conspirators.

My current glass art series entitled Fire in the Madhouse, especially this title piece, may seem chaotic and may agitate or perturb. Fine, too many people don’t recognize or especially want to see the seemingly vast array of serious threats in our world. I’m looking up from parched California into our sky and there are long threads of what appear to be clouds; some think contrails from jets but that just ain’t so. I have no factual data, just 66 years of observations as a native northern Californian. For data look here:geoengineeringwatch.org  This particular cloud formation is a man made nightmare; instead of fantastic cumulus cloud animals & wild cirrus horsetails parading across azure skies it has the look of a gigantic unravelling fabric with giant discordant threads. Oh, nice metaphor and is western civilization unravelling?

People are zombies, heads bowed, praising almighty ‘Cellular’ contacts/content/friend me! Look up! A week ago while hiking I looked up to see a darkly painted jet aircraft ejecting it’s load into the blue sky as it headed from north to south and shortly after as I gazed skyward this same apparent craft was returning north with no contrails. Hm-m, what’s wrong with that picture. At the same moment farther to the west off the coast another sister jet aircraft was seen spewing it’s thread of noxious cloud materials. Never mind.

If the moral of the Chicken Little fable is don’t believe everything you hear then fine. Never mind and forget me, artistic sublimations, etc., because I think I hear your phone a ringing ding dinging and it could be your new friend Foxy Coxy, Ducky Lucky, or oh my god Turkey Lurkey.

 

Teaching fused glass in Sonoma

Stacey & I taught a fused glass class at the Lodge at Sonoma this past January. Normally my classes are in my Sebastopol studio, however,  my new business card should read;  Have Glass Will Travel. Participants made a tile, or pendants in just three hours. Super cool!

You guys are awesome and were so much fun. Thank you! Nils, workshop participant

 

Student work

student’s pendant

Dish by first time fuser

New class – image transfer Photo Decals for glass

“Summer Fog”
12″ by 16″

 

In this 3 hour class you’ll explore the use of photo decals in glass fusing, beginning with a small (but high resolution) image of your choosing. It could be a sailboat, a pet, a logo or other symbol, a flower, or (almost) anything you choose. Stacey will work with you to help you find an optimal image for this process given the technological constraints. She’ll then process the photo in Photoshop so it can be sent to the decal makers. They require 10 -14 days, so this step must be completed a couple of weeks before the class begins. But don’t worry, we’ll have some extra decals of our own designs made so those who want to join the class later will have something to play with.

During class, each person will create two small art pieces incorporating their photograph. Sized from 3″ by 4″ up to around 4″ by 6.” We’ll use frit (powdered glass), stringers (long skinny pieces of glass), sheet glass in transparent and opaque, and extra sparkly dichroic glass to embellish our designs.

Projects will be fired after class and available for pick up within a few days. We can also ship.

The cost for this fun day is $125, which includes everything you need (glass, use of tools and kiln firing) except for eye protection. Please bring safety glasses that fit your face. If you wear prescription glasses you won’t need extra eye protection. Class size is limited to three, so each person has plenty of space and attention.

Other classes we offer include: first fusing class, dichroic glass jewelry making  and plant fossils in glass. Call or email for more info.

Plant fossil (fossil Vitae) glass fusing class

Make a beautiful 6″ square piece of glass art with Plant fossils or Fossil Vitae for you Latin buffs.

Leland Dennick teaches this class in his home studio in Sebastopol, CA.

We’ll hit the trail right outside our studio to find foilage for the Leaf Fossil dish.  Learn to use powdered glass, called frit, for lovely leaf impressions on iridescent glass.

More info coming soon…

Learn Advanced Fusing Techniques One on One

You asked for it, I’m offering private lessons in glass fusing at our studio in Sebastopol.

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

Here’s how it works.  For an hour fee (two hour minimum) I’ll provide instruction and tools – cutters, grinder, tile saw, kilns, polishers, etc.  You only need to bring your own eye protection (glasses or safety glasses) and wear appropriate clothing (including closed toe shoes).  The fee includes some glass.  Additional glass and materials are available for purchase. Buy just enough to complete your project. In addition to Bullseye brand’s vibrant color palette of 90 COE  glass, my students can also use one of a kind components that I’ve made, incuding raked, painted and layered glass.

Learn a new technique, make gifts, have fun!  Adults, and children age 8 and up with parental supervision. One to two people at a time.

BAKE AND TAKE PROJECTS

Here are a few project ideas to pique your imagination:

• Coasters – suitable for beginner to advanced
• Self portrait – great for kids
• Sushi plate- suitable for beginner to advanced
• Sun catchers and ornaments
• Pendants, cabuchons, and earrings
• Heart dish or wavy bowl
• Box with fused glass inset

 LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES

• Basic fusing & slumping
• Frit imagery (using powdered glass)
• Using color reactions for texture and depth
• Create and fuse your own decals (additional supply fees apply)
• 22 Kt gold leaf inclusions (additional supply fees apply)
• Paint with Sunshine vitreous water based, non-toxic enamels
• The art of cold working with diamond polishers
• The Bubble up technique for creating organic patterns in glass
• Working thick – multi-layered imagery

Sound like fun?  It is.  Call or email for more information.