Vitreosity

RIP Betty MacDowell, Stained Glass Archivist

Sad to learn of the death of Betty MacDowell, who was the Co-Director of the Michigan Stained Glass Census at Michigan State University Museum, and was well known to many as the List Editor for H-Stained-Glass, a discussion forum on architectural stained glass.
She was not a stained glass artist herself but served the community well. If stained glass is to survive in the midst of rapid cultural changes and even faster technological developments, we would do well to nurture, foster and give praise to those who take the time to archive the work done in all aspects of stained glass, past and present. The Michigan Census and the H-Net forum fostered community, communication and the full and free dissemination of information, all things sorely needed in the field of stained glass in the 21st century. Betty's dedication will be missed.

Stained Glass "ReVamped!"

Nominee for weirdest stained glass production of the year?

LED Stained glass kits for all of you 4 x 12 cab owners!! NAMM debut 2012!, via Revamped Glass Design

Printing Reflectance Functions

(via BoingBoing, then the University of Santa Cruz website and finally to the Printing Reflectance Functions webpage)

An experimental process where a 3D object is scanned in a special manner and printed on special dimpled paper, allowing for a unique 3D illusion, where the 3D effect reacts to a live light source.
All very scientific and researchy, as it's from a paper presented at SIGGRAPH 2012, but could it have any application to flat glass art? Maybe not, but interesting to think about it. How might this work if the light is at least partially transmitted, rather than just reflected? How might some degree of translucency alter the effect, perhaps even enhance it?

The 2012 Olympics, Games, and Glass Art - part 1

A slideshow from the BBC Wales website - In Pictures: Swansea Olympic 'Games' glass art display

This is related to the exhibit Games, a glass art exhibit currently at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, Wales, UK. This is another in a string of excellent group exhibitions from the the British Society of Master Glass Painters.

I'm not a big sports enthusiast, but I like to see the occasional themed exhibit like this. I only wish there was a more comprehensive website dedicated to the exhibit, with all the pieces shown and artists identified and background info given, etc. I haven't found much about it on my own. On searching I only found a website for a UK stained glass artist named Dave Griffin and his panel for Games, called Hide and Seek, which I like.

This turns out to be only one in a series of glass art exhibits centered around the 2012 Olympic Games. More on that and other aspects of this coming in part 2...

Shelf Pieces

Recently, over the July 4th holiday, I put together a new set of shelves for my nice, if motley, collection of glass pieces. This is a picture of one of the shelves with the pieces laid out roughly. I'm still tinkering with the placement.

There was one piece I especially enjoyed getting out of storage -
A gift from a friend. At first look at this angle it looks like a simple blown glass piece. But no...

There is something curious about it...

Looking inside it has, inset, a miniature stained glass panel, which happens to be a tiny cartoon portrait of me, made some 20 years ago.

and closer. That's me, in my 'plaid phase".

Thanks, Alice, for this unique treasure.