When silica, soda and lime meet high heat, a beautiful alchemy occurs. The result — a taffy-like substance otherwise known as glass — has inspired creative minds for centuries. Artists and craftsmen today often combine old-school techniques with new technology to create one-of-a-kind works of art for the home.
New Yorker Peter Byrum displayed his paintings on glass at May's International Contemporary Furniture Fair in Manhattan. Using acrylics, he paints natural elements like leaf fronds and coral on layered sheets of tempered glass, sometimes half a dozen or more. The effect is three-dimensional, an organic, ephemeral diorama. (www.peterbynum.com)
"In its liquid state, glass glows with intense heat and moves slowly, as if self-propelled," notes North Carolina glass artist Jennifer Bueno. "Mercury glass has the appearance of liquid metal, undulating and three-dimensional."
If you're interested in acquiring art glass, ArtfulHome.com has an extensive collection from North American artists at a range of prices.
You can also learn more about the history, art and science of glass at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, N.Y.
Try your hand at glassmaking in one of the museum's many classes.
