Glowing and glittering glass at the Fallbrook Art Center

The colorful and fascinating “Galaxy of Glass” show is back! The 11th annual show, sponsored by Fallbrook Propane Gas Co. and Ruth and Harry Freeman, is open daily through August 10 at the Fallbrook Art Center, 103 South Main at Alvarado. This juried display includes glass works created with several processes: hot blown, cast, sculpted, fused, slumped, lamp-work and etched, to name a few. Many of the pieces displayed are also for sale.

Visit the show Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. During the Hot Summer Nites event on Friday, July 25, the show will remain open until 7 p.m. For ticket prices, visit http://www.fallbrookart.org.

“Bee in Blades” by Chris Everett is a delightful glass sculpture. Everett has been blowing glass since he was about fourteen and learned some techniques at the island of Murano in Italy, where artists have been blowing glass since about 1290. The Everett family owns Fallbrook Propane Gas Company and has been a major sponsor of the show since its inception.

Kathleen Mitchell has a display of lamp-worked vases and an elegant freeform vase by Buzz Blodgett is an interesting piece. Scott Kempton created a curiosity of blown and sand-blasted glass which also utilizes carved wood.

“Maiko” by Julie Nagsh is a haunting glass painting of a Japanese woman created by applying fine layers of powered glass by hand to a sheet of glass as it is fired in a kiln. The result comes from firing multiple layers of glass.

Those with a nautical bent will appreciate the works of George Jercich, who uses various media to enhance his blown glass ships. Jercich teaches the art of glassmaking, among other classes, at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He comments, “Thematic of the lore of the sea and seafarers, I like to think of each piece of glass and mixed media sculpture as a kind of voyager’s story. Sometimes, I blow a vessel into a bottle’s form as a container to refer to something about the sea.”

Lynn Leahy is back with her fascinating “reverse glass painting.” This three-hundred-year-old technique hails from Europe and requires painting on one side of the glass knowing it is going to be viewed from the other side.

Several of the small works of glass art are for sale. There is a large section where visitors can browse through a collection of necklaces, pendants, earrings and even Christmas ornaments! Glass picture frames and hummingbird feeders also make nice gifts.

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