More of the Blue Spiral Gallery/Asheville

Square footage wise, one of the largest galleries in the South East. A wide variety of fine crafts and art is represented in this gallery. While many galleries have struggled through these touch economic times this gallery seems to thrive.

I apologize that I do not have the names of the artist work you are seeing, but if you go to the websites of interest, click on the Blue Spiral it will take you directly to their site and you may ask further information.

Cathy, one of my fellow

glass art classmates, is working on glass leaves. She constructed her own molds out of clay, cut and shaped her glass. She is not ready for firing. I will show you the results next week.



Cutting glass intimidates me, even now. I watch those who have been doing it for much longer, and am in awe with the ease they can get a straight line or curved..the way they invasion it! My friend Monica laughs at me..because I am more the fine artist than craftsmen. So if I get frustrated I just hammer it in to little pieces and start collaging the pieces together!

This is one of the molds that can be used for glass plates. It is made of clay and one that has been purchased by the Hyde Park Studio for student use.

New Work from Glass Class

My first memory of glass as art, other than church windows, was Marc Chagall and his stained glass windows. On a trip to Israel I was mesmerized with the dream like images with light pouring through. This is new work by other classmates from my most recent weekly class. The first picture is one of pendants being made using diachronic class. Yo may recall some of my earlier work in diachronic...each artist has their own approach and style this is using a black glass background.


The picute showing the tray with multiple projects is interesting because it shows a range of student work. One with a triangular shape, one using grit, and two using slump molds to make plates or dishes. The large yellow plate with the still life of wine and fruit is striking. Controlling glass as it melts is not an easy matter, but as you can see my classmate was very successful. The photo on the upper right shows a mold use to form four separate squares the same size and design. If you are working in glass fusion, there are a variety of techniques to use.

Funky Fused, Blown and Cast Glass

I would love to be able to do glass on this level.

I was recently at a gallery opening and saw this work. It is fun, edgy, and spirited. The colors are wonderful and I love the three pieces shown together. I know we all see artist at shows and catch a piece just at a passing glance that we might have missed. I looked at my photo's and there this was just peaking out at me. Now I will have to go back and find out the name of this artist to share with you. Every artist should be honored!

Duncan McClellen is a glass artist whose work is absolutely stunning. He is a friendly generous person who promotes other artist and his community. His blown glass vessels are are large, colorful and etched with rich imagery. On a recent art walk in St. Petersburg, Florida I visited his studio. His studio is a work of art itself. He renovated an old sea food packing building into his hot shop, studio, galleries for rotating artist, office and his home. Off two decks are large areas of exotic fruits trees that thrive wonderfully in the middle of sandy Florida soil. He has a magic touch. The dog sculptures are new and I have yet to find who to honor with the creativity.

The photograph below shows some of Duncan's work and that of other artist. The mobile hanging above is made of rolled film negatives. Showing other artist work is a generous and supportive roll an artist can do for their community. Duncan is a wonderful role model.

These are not stellar photo's of Duncan's glass work, but if you go to Duncan's website you will find a wide range of work and better images. http://www.dmglass.com/
Blown glass continues to amaze me. If you have ever watch someone blowing glass with hot molten liquid glass, beyond searing hot, rolling out a blob on a long metal pipe, blowing, turning, blowing, turning, large leather gloves holding tight, sweat dripping..it is an awesome sight. St. Petersburg is also the site of the only Chihuly Glass Museum outside of Washington State.