Marie owns her glass studio in Georgetown, ON, where she creates functional art pieces made of
fused glass. An art form less known than blown or stained glass, fused glass dates back to 2000 B.C. and has enjoyed a revival in popularity since the 1960’s.
The basic idea behind fused glass is that art objects can be created by melting glass in a kiln. Contemporary fusing methods involve stacking - layering thin sheets of glass - often using different colors to create patterns or simple images. The stack is then placed in the kiln and heated through a series of ramps (rapid heating cycles) and soaks (holding the temperature at a specific point) until the separate pieces begin to bond together. Once the desired effect has been achieved at the maximum desired temperature, the kiln temperature will be brought down quickly through the temperature range of 1500ºF to 1000ºF in order to avoid devitrification. It is then allowed to cool slowly over a specified time, soaking at specified temperature ranges which are essential to the annealing process. This prevents uneven cooling and breakage and produces a strong finished product. A full cycle in the kiln takes 12 hours.
To learn more and/or to visit Marie’s studio, please
contact her.