Play Nice!

I suppose a good way to teach one’s children to be nice would be to build them a playhouse like the one pictured. Surely they’d quickly come to know throwing sticks and stones shatters glass and hearts too. If they liked their cool playhouse well enough, they’d resist. Building such a structure for kids to play in would involve a certain amount of risk, but I guess you’d have to put your faith in your children!

I came across an interesting article the other day. Did you know there is really a Stained Glass Playhouse? It’s in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Being a fan of live theatre, I found the information about it quite interesting. My skills and experience as a graphic designer have been put to good use designing tee-shirts for a summer community theater in Hereford, Maryland for many years now!

Check out this information about The Stained Glass Playhouse.  After reading about this organization I am willing to wager a bet that some of their productions are focused on playing nice too!

 

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Learning Opportunity

“The arts are the best insurance policy a city can take on itself.”
–Woody Dumas, former Mayor of Baton Rouge

Ok, all you artists in Baltimore, this one is for you. You already know that what happened to the Orioles this season and how the crabs ran this summer. But, are you up to snuff on what’s happening in the stained glass world here in Baltimore?

As all artists know, no matter how accomplished, the learning never ends. And there aren’t many who teach the craft of stained glass making.There is a fantastic opportunity that awaits in December at the Walters Art Gallery. Instructors from Terraza Stained Glass are offering a workshop. Find your inspiration from an exhibit hanging at the museum about Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a watercolorist, designer and Scottish architect.

Follow this link to learn more about the workshop. The fees are so reasonable at $45 ($35 for members of the Walters Art Gallery), so why not sign up and expand your knowledge of the art you love?
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The Unveiling

MZ Glassworks looks forward to unveiling our latest lampshade design in the future. It’s nearly  finished and we’ll post photos soon. It’s been time consuming, yet fun, seeing it all come together.

Meanwhile, In Salt Lake City Utah this week the United Nations will meet for the 68th time to host The Civil Society Conference. It will be the first time the United Nations has hosted the conference away from their headquarters in New York City.

This week three stained glass panels entitled faith, love and unity will be unveiled. The opening display will be witnessed by representatives from 130 U.N. member countries. Tom Holdman of Holdman Studios, a Utah stained glass artist of international acclaim, is in the process of creating a total of seven panels. Each glass window is based on a value known to bring coalescence to humanity in different countries. The other four glass panels will represent freedom, courage, creativity, knowledge.

Learn more about The Roots of Humanity Exhibit. The colorful stained glass is a metaphoric representation of all the colorful people whose leaders represent them at the U.N.

(Photo below: three panels created by Holdman Studios for The Roots of Humanity Exhibit.)

“You can’t have unity without diversity.” ~ Richard Twiss, Native American educator

 

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Foundation Helping Young Artists

“It is my dearest wish to help young artists of our country…and assist by helping them establish themselves in the art world.”  ~ Louis Comfort Tiffany (pictured below)

Much before his death in 1933, Louis Comfort Tiffany began planning for his legacy. In 1918 he established a foundation and a plan to use his home, Laurelton Hall (pictured below) as a retreat for young artists. Although the real estate property on Long Island was sold, his foundation still exists and it’s focus has changed.

Grants to young artists are now awarded.However, an artist can not apply for a grant, they must be nominated by a person of prominence in the art world as an up and coming artist of promise and talent.

It is interesting to read about previous and recent grant award-winners on the website for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. 

What an honor it must be for young artists to be recognized as someone who is worthy of following in the footsteps of this highly esteemed glass artist. Makes me wish I’d found my passion working in this wonderful medium years sooner but doing “Art for Art’s Sake” is reason enough and for that reason I find fulfillment in it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Honors for the Shattered

This blog post is not about flags made of polyester or nylon. I promise you it is not! So read on and learn something about a flag made from a different kind of fabric! It always feels good to show off the red, white and blue no matter what medium its made from.

Did you know? The largest stained glass flag in the world is right here in America. So, today, let’s put political preferences aside and enjoy this image, posted for all who are patriotic and proud to be an American.

This stained glass installation hangs in a public place named after one of America’s wounded warriors, which seems appropriate given the fact that the ancient poet of love, Rumi once said,  “The wound is the place where the light enters you.”

Want to know what city this glass installment hangs in? In Lawrence, Kansas at the Dole Institute of Politics.

Want to know another interesting fact? It’s bookends are two steel “I” beams from the World Trade Center.
Today I feel gratitude for Bob Dole
and all the other wounded warriors and civil servants (past and present)
who have so honorably served our country.
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Art & The Brain

 

When it comes to science and art, research has found the two can not be talked about independently because creativity involves brain activity. Did you know through neurological processes used in creating art, a person’s perspective on life can be changed in a positive way?

Including the arts in a child’s education is healthy for brain development and in my opinion, it should not be left out of the curriculum. Otherwise how would a child be able to explore his or her creative capacities?

One of the most convincing books I have ever read about creativity and the brain is by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor called My Stroke of Insight. If you have not read it plan to do so. I don’t want to be a spoiler and tell you too much but Dr. Taylor’s personal story relates to today’s theme.

That’s all for today. Do return to this page on our website.Our goal for our blog writings is to shed light on art which adds color to our life.

 

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Pass it On

Today’s blog is simply to re-share one of our previous blogs because we’ve been asked the question –  who is Elizabeth Kubler-Ross?  She was a pioneer in the hospice movement. A psychiatrist and humanitarian who deeply understood people and their emotions during the most difficult stages of life.

Thoughts like hers are worthy of remembering and passing along to other people. Every single living person around the world regardless of age and background go through times of darkness and light. And today we hope you have your glitter on!

Join us next time as we explore how art brings beauty to the soul.

This blog is brought to you by MZGlassworks: Scattering Light and Color Everywhere.

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Favrile Favorite

“Art history is littered with work that involves light.” ~ James Turrell

Step inside this historic building and you will see a wonderful example of a favrile glass mural.

So what makes favrile glass different than other glass? It’s iridescent qualities is ingrained in the glass itself not just from the refraction of light. Favrile was developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The term favrile glass may be less known unless you are antiques dealer or appraiser or a stained glass enthusiast. 

One of the most beautiful examples of favrile glass is a 1916 installation of a glass-mosaic mural by Maxfield Parrish and Louis Comfort Tiffany called ‘”Dream Garden.” Cyrus Curtis of Curtis Publishing hired Mr. Parrish, a prominent magazine illustrator of the era and Louis Comfort Tiffany to design and make the mural which is 16 ft high and 50 feet wide. It has an astonishing number of hues – 260 to be exact which makes the scene “breathtaking.” It is the only known collaboration between Tiffany and Parrish.

In the year 2001, the mural was at risk for being removed from the lobby of the Curtis Publishing Company. To make a long story short, Pew Charitable Trust stepped in and the art will remain because of it’s historical importance to the building. Want to know more about the controversial reasons for why it was almost removed? Here is a good article from the Association of Public Art.

Looking for an art journey? Head to Philadelphia! The mural is in the Curtis Building at 6th and Walnut Streets and can be viewed by the public. A photograph certainly can’t do glass work justice in fully capturing it’s reflective qualities. It would be worth seeing up up close.

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Coat of Colors

You’ve heard of the story Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors?

Well, today, I’m going to introduce you to Missy, the cat with fur of a spectrum of colors. Her uniqueness is brought to you by her laying in the reflection of a stained glass window!

Psychologist say there is something behind the colors we chose to wear and surrounding ourselves with a little color can do something not only for appearances but also the spirit. Don’t believe me? Read the article for yourself.

As for Missy, I’d say she’s a pretty colorful character.

What are you going to do to add more color to your life? Share it with a comment on this website because “The world needs your prismatic soul!” ~Amy Leigh Mercree

 

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