Artists
Ray and Beth Nelson, and Jason
Amstutz and Dalenne Sauers
of Fombell, Pennsylvania, are two couples married to the constant
exploration of glass.
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Ray
Nelson at work.
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Beth
Nelson at work.
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Ray,
a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, derives most of his work
from classical pottery, but he is also influenced by natural things
around him. His glass work is of renowned quality and he is well
recognized, winning many awards for his art. Much of Ray's artwork is
created through a trial and error process. Training with many artists
who use only one technique, Ray has never felt there was only one way to
do something. By experimentation and researching different materials and
techniques, he brings pieces of nature, or a feeling, or a mood to his
artwork that hopefully will engage the viewer. Ray often records images
that pass through his thoughts or recreates an object he had seen the
day before in the deep woods. To translate the natural environment into
artwork takes a lot of practice, devotion, and even failure. Ray
explains, "I can remember a time when I struggled with how to make
a particular bug detail, and it took 17 trials before I had the one I
wanted. Creating artwork can be very rewarding and I often encourage
people to practice it in all aspects of life."
Ray's wife Beth, a graduate of Edinboro University and a native
Pennsylvanian, loves organic designs with natural elements. Her glass
jewelry accentuates bold and simple designs over the ornate and complex.
In addition to working with fused glass, Beth's work incorporates the
use of sterling silver, pewter, copper, slate and wood. She shares a
studio with her husband, creating unique custom hand crafted fused
recycled glass pendant necklaces with sterling silver bails and hand
forged sterling silver clasps. Beth enjoys the process of working with
glass and calls the experience "serendipitous." She explains,
"There is a sense of excitement when opening the kiln. The results
aren't always what I expect, and each firing gets better and better if I
pay enough attention." She also teaches middle school art.
Born in Blufton, Ohio, Jason attended the Cleveland Institute of Art
where he received a BA of Fine Art in Glass. Influenced by the fluid
curves of the Art Nouveau movement, Jason places great emphasis on color
relation and form. The ornate organic quality of the work created during
this period plays an influential force in his designs. The liquid state
of hot glass lends itself to creating art of this flowing and graceful
nature. The image of the molten movement of glass, its very nature, can
be captured as it cools and frozen in that moment in time. Jason also
places a strong emphasis on the way the colors he uses interact with
each other. Jason enjoys the subtle transition they create through the
work, how they play off each other while moving through the form. It is
his feelings and response to, his communication with hot glass, color
and form, that contributes to his own style. Ê
Dalenne Sauers was born in Muncy, PA in 1972. After graduating with a
degree in media communications, studio art and a minor in
philosophy/religion she moved to Cleveland and worked at the Sherwin
Williams' Headquarters. In 1997, Dalenne accepted an assistantship at
the Emily Davis Gallery to attend Akron University's graduate school for
arts administration. After working on several art administration
projects in the area, she took a job as a gallery assistant at The
Reinberger Gallery in The Cleveland Institute of Art where there was
access to figure models and the glass studio. Always interested in
learning new things; in the studio, at shows, with other artists, the
audience, gallery owners, Dalenne loves the expressive nature of glass.
She explains, "When you work with such an independent yet
expressive medium as glass you never know where a piece may go. You just
gotta be open. I try to plan, but often the glass has a another
direction for me." The fact that glass is such a fluid medium
encourages Dalenne's free spirited exploration. She often makes her art
outside in the sunlight of the forest with the sounds of nature around
her. She loves the way glass completely absorbs the natural sunlight and
energy around it. Inspiration, art and loveÊis meant be shared. Its
this constant communication with the medium, the world and energy that
inspires and fuels more exploration and the next project.
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Jason's
cut vase, shown above, with an optical insert measures 2 ft.
tall and 10 inches wide. The inside is a gorgeous metallic
sheen. The center of the optical insert is a blue fish net
design.
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Ray
and Beth Nelson as well as Jason
Amstutz and Dalenne Sauers
have recently finished converting an old YMCA lodge into a glass art
studio and small gallery in the rural setting of Fombell, which is
located outside of Zelienople. Recycled glass and metals from other
artists and local businesses are used as often as possible. After four
years of building equipment, the studio is now fully operational.
Furnaces are turned on every six months to make work and special
commissions.
For more information on these glass duos visit their web sites: Elizabeth
Nelson Designs and Silver
Lake Studios and Amstutz
Art Glass Don't miss the opportunity to meet Ray
and Beth Nelson at this year's A Fair in the Park. They will
be located in booth #G 46. You can find Jason
Amstutz and Dalenne Sauers
in booth #L 95. Jason was a 2006 A Fair in the Park Award Winner.
His glass was recognized for its fine quality, superb craftsmanship and
contemporary elegance. Jason and Dalenne were recently engaged, after 7
years together, and are getting married next year!
MORE GLASS HIGHLIGHTS
Stained and leaded glass has been the chosen medium of expression for Chris
and Lynn Corrie since 1981. Residing in Monticello, Illinois,
the Corrie's consider themselves fortunate to have been able to support
themselves full-time with a profession they love. For them, stain glass
embodies all the favorite elements of various forms of art: use of
color, metal manipulation, attention to detail, and expression in
design. Offering decorative leaded glass panels for the purpose of vivid
color, privacy, or restrained elegance, the Corrie's specialize in
several stained glass uses including: Front Door Sidelights, Door &
Passage Transoms, Bookcase & China Cabinets, Room Dividers, Ceiling
Panels & Skylights, Fireplace Screens, Free Hanging Window
Decoration, and Restoration Of An Existing Panel. Visit the Corrie's
booth, #E 28, at this year's A Fair in the Park.
Glass artist Ken Carter's intention
is to investigate early American glass shapes and methods, as well as
the influences European glass making has had on them. Particularly
interested in the techniques of Italian, Czech, German and English
masters, Ken's work reveals a fascination with the optics of glass and
the resulting transformation of space. Carter's studio, KC Glass Studio
in Canton, Ohio, serves as both a production site and gallery.
Experience Carter's glass creations in booth #L 90.
Glass beadmaker Jessica Rutherford,
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is actively involved in the 3 Rivers Glass
Beadmakers, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers, and the Glass
Art Society. Also an instructor at the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts and
the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Jessica's jewelry is inspired by the
natural beauty of the beads she collects and creates. Jessica began
designing jewelry in 1998 while working with her amassed collection of
gemstones. Later, she branched into glass bead making and began creating
innovative designs from both torch work and fused glass. Stop by
Jessica's booth and catch her demonstrating the jewelry making process.
Her booth location is #K 88.
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Rutherford's
glass icicle necklace.
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