Glacier Decorative Glass – Glass in Motion
Glacier Decorative Glass. Icebergs that seem to hold a glimmer of the summer sun throughout long and frigid winters; the restless winds of the northern fjords; immense glaciers calving into the open ocean. These are just a few of the inspirations for our latest play session, in which we set out to create a glass panel with boldly deep textures.
We call the result “Glacier,” decorative glass so dramatically shaped that the light moving through it enhances the iron content to create a beautiful emerald hue. Along with the echoes of ice flows, its undulations evoke the currents of wind and water and the beauty of the human form.
Nathan Allan director Barry Allan points out that Glacier’s texture and the unique way it holds the light reflect its composition:
“We used nothing artificial – it is made up of entirely natural elements.” Marveling, Allan says, “When something like this is the result, how can we not love what we do?”
Like many of Nathan Allan’s “playroom projects,” Glacier was inspired by an architect with a dream. “He wanted walls of glass that looked like sheets blowing in the wind, so we started experimenting to see what was possible,” explains lead designer Greg Carter.
The challenge inspired Carter to develop a kiln method that uses a “sacrificial” sheet of glass to capture the texture of the mold before being broken away to leave icy smoothness beneath.
Footnotes from our lead artist, Greg Carter:
“I think it’s the way we work with heat,” says Greg, when asked what it is he finds most compelling about working with glass as a medium for artistic expression, explaining that the intense temperatures of the kilns interact with natural materials and molds in a way that can’t ever be completely predicted in advance. “We mold, we carve, we form – and then we wait to see the awesome creations that come out of our kilns.”
Reflecting for a moment, he smiles and adds, “And it’s the light, of course – the unique textures we create in these glass panels let us play with light, creating an incredible synergy.”
Credits | Writer: Lori Bamber, Photo: Dana Scobercia