​ SIGNATURE TAFFY GLASS SCULPTURES

So  named due to the creative process of reworking, stretching and  "kneading" the glass, much like saltwater taffy, to create the unique  colorations and shapes of these decorative, Collectible Vessels. Each is  One of a kind. Duplication is impossible. This glass tends to be  heavier than the other pieces. The process is long and tedious and these  pieces take a long time to create. I often try to get 2 sculptures from  a "batch of taffy glass "...so there may be 2 with similar colors, but  the shapes will be completely different. The process completely changes  in shape and coloration about halfway through. They average about 300 -  350 hours of kiln time and 150-200 hours of design time. They have a lot  of depth and weight yet give the visual illusion of blown glass.

As  a child, I would go to the State Fair with my grandmother, who  introduced me to Salt Water Taffy. (I never told her I didn't care much  for it), but I was mesmerized as a child, watching the process of it  being stretched and pulled and changed from something soft and almost  fluid to something so hard I could barely chew it. I also loved the  rainbow of colors it came in. When I was working on this glass  technique, that memory was so powerful, and definitely one that stood  out as a light in a childhood that held a lot of pain and darkness.

 ​though  I live in the Sonoran Desert now, I am originally from the Great Lakes  area of the Midwestern U.S. I spent much of my life near or on the  water. Nature has always influenced my work, and I'm fascinated by water  both in its fluid and solid forms. I recall the delicate beauty as well  as the terrifying dangers of Midwestern ice storms, and the changing  shapes and colors as the ice would melt and refreeze repeatedly,  morphing into a surrealistic land of fantasy. I think glass is the  perfect medium to portray those mystical qualities of nature. Each of  these pieces takes me on a fantastic, creative "journey". The pieces are  a blend of opposites...powerful, heavy elements often mixed with  fiber-thin strands of glass so delicate and fine it's almost like silk.  Each one is incredibly unique from every angle and with the right  lighting, casts amazing shadows in a room. I hope you enjoy the journey!  As with the Taffy GlassTM,  these pieces also take longer to create., and by their nature are  naturally less vibrant in color, with the focus being on extremes in  shape and texture. 

My  waterscapes sell pretty quickly and I don't have too many photos  available at the moment. The simplicity of the predominantly clear  glass, accented with bits of blues, or iridescents is much like the  beauty of black and white photography. As in photos or  cinematography....when not using color, the key is in the shadowplay.  Here, the key is in the light refraction created by the layers of  textures. SIMPLY Beautiful.

​The  Landscapes are directly influenced by my life here in Arizona. The  fragile ecosystem of the desert, and it's simple, raw beauty against the  majestic cliffs, and red rock formations and the colors of the skies  and the painted desert. Each piece also has a water feature, since, as a  "Great Lakes Girl" and an Aquarius, I am always drawn to water.

​The  4th piece "Richter Scale" depicts the angry force of Mother Nature  during an earthquake, and how quickly that delicate balance changes. We  are reminded in an instant that nature is precious and fragile, yet  powerful and strong. Glass, having the same qualities, is the ideal  medium to bring this series to life. These sculptures take an extreme  amount of time, patience and glass to create. Richter Scale is the  largest and weighs about 25 lbs. It contains elements of natural  materials from the earth added into the final design. These were  featured on my episode of the "Colour In Your Life" Australian Art  Series. Season 16.