Making glass is an ancient and complicated process. Glass art displayed in museums dates back 2000 years. One must understand chemistry to produce color in glass. Minerals such as zinc, copper, nickel, silver, and gold, in the form of metal oxides, are heated and cooled; each mingling produces different colors depending on temperature and time. Today, most glass artists buy colored glass from a small number of large glass manufacturers, who can process the materials more efficiently and guard against the health hazards inherent in the process.

It wasn’t until the 1800s that prominent glass artists earned a distinction customary with artists in other media—their art was recognized by the artist’s name. Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933) was one of these artists. His work is in great demand today, with values that have vastly appreciated. A number of Central Texas artists are carrying on the age-old tradition of making art out of glass.

On Saturday mornings, Fire Island Hot Glass Studio in East Austin allows visitors to see first hand a glassblower’s art in progress. Opened in 1981, Fire Island has had its artwork displayed all around the world. For the first 13 years of operation, Fire Island mixed colored glass from raw materials. Today, they purchase glass mixed in hundreds of colors and in various forms—pellets, rods, frit, and powder. Husband-and-wife team Teresa Ueltschey and Matthew LaBarbera create elegant lighting fixtures, glass sculpture, vases, perfume bottles, bowls, ornaments, and oil lamps.

Ueltschey enjoys working with clients on custom-lighting installations. She says, “Clients bring samples of the granite used on their counter tops or the tile used on their wet bar, looking for lighting to accentuate the character of their home.” Fire Island customizes the colors in their Pendant Lamps and sometimes collaborates with blacksmith and sculptor Barry George. On the collaborations, Ueltschey and LaBarbera create the glass elements, and then George artfully wraps the metal structure around the glass. “Barry’s work often takes on a floral flavor—vines and leaves. The resulting combination has a surreal quality,” says Ueltschey.

The Wimberley Glass Works features stemware, colorful tumblers and pitchers, jewelry, beautifully accented ornaments, vases, one-of-a-kind lamps, and unique lighting fixtures. The gallery offers several lines of glassware, each with its own color scheme. The Mediterranean Collection combines a rich base color applied with layers of pure silver or 23kt gold, and colorful glass shards. The gallery artists have been developing their technique since 1992 and have a gift for creating intensely saturated colors. Tours and glass blowing demonstrations are available daily at the gallery, and it’s well worth the trip. The danger of fire combined with transparent beauty makes for an exciting tour for all ages.

At Studio-K Glass, Kathleen Ash creates fused and slumped glass. To fuse colors together, she cuts pieces of glass and fits them together like a puzzle. She then puts them in a kiln and fuses them together at a high temperature. When the pieces emerge from the kiln the next day, she sands down the rough edges and puts the piece back in the kiln in a mold. It is reheated until it softens and takes on the shape of the mold. Her production lines demonstrate her emphasis on clean, modern design.

The pieces are available in a range of sizes, shapes, and in some cases, a choice of colors. Colors can be custom matched to a client’s swatch for a fee. A collection of polka-dot dishes called Dotware (named for her grandmother Dorothy) and a line called Chiware, which features Chinese-inspired designs, are two of the most popular of Ash’s repertoire. The dishes are strong and food-safe, but they should be hand-washed and never microwaved, because of the metallic finish that is on Studio-K Glass work. Ash is adept at fused-glass techniques, as well as large-scale custom architectural glass, furniture, and lighting. She often creates commissioned work for individuals and corporations.

When selecting glass, you can choose between rounded blown forms, leaded glass panels, fused glass, and mosaic. Shapes may be combined and have patterns etched or frosted onto their surface. Leaded glass panels and mosaics may be purchased in standard sizes or commissioned to fit existing architecture. If you desire rich, warm-colored lamplight, a unique and welcoming front door, a vase that shines like a rainbow, dishes that announce it’s springtime, or a custom-designed mosaic, consider yourself fortunate: the tradition of fine-art glass is alive and well in Central Texas.

Hume, Helen D. The Art Lover’s Almanac. 1st ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.

Galleries/Studios Offering Glass Art:
1550 Gallery · Kerrville
Artisans at Rocky Hill · Fredericksburg
Avenue Gallery · Austin
Damian Priour Studio · Austin
DeCola & Eusebi Studio · Austin
Fire Island Hot Glass Studio · Austin
Gallery on the Square · Wimberley
Gallery Soco · Austin
Glassworx Studio · Spicewood
Haven Gallery & Fine Gifts · Austin
Jim Rummel Art · Austin
Kerr Arts & Cultural Center · Kerrville
Shorelines Gallery · Austin
Studio-K / Kathleen Ash (see Studios page for information)
Sunset Canyon Pottery · Austin
TIPS on Art · Austin
Wimberley Glass Works (see Galleries page for information)
Women & Their Work · Austin

By Rachel Koper, an artist, curator, writer, and the director of Gallery Lombardi in downtown Austin. She is a regular visual arts contributor to San Antonio’s Voices of Artists, Houston’s Glasstire, and The Austin Chronicle.

Photos courtesy of Fire Island Hot Glass Studio, Studio-K Glass, and Wimberley Glass Works.
© 2004 Art Lover’s Guide. Inc.