Braille and fused glass

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Braille and fused glass

Glass pieces fused with Braille have some of my newer work. I have been worked with a Braille instructor who has opened a whole new way for me to look at glass. He has shown me how he, as a visually impaired person, "sees" the work I do by reading the glass in ways that I haven't. The imperfections, the unseen bubbles, even the change in colors or inclusions in the glass are seen by his touch. I, on the other hand, have shown him the texture of glass, the shapes, the designs I use and my understanding of the material. By having worked together, we have both expanded our sense of vision.

My approach is to combine Braille into fused glass designs which work for both the sighted and non sighted person - too much design, the Braille is lost; too little design, the glass is only the "paper" for the Braille. The texture is also essential. It allows the dove to ascend, or the river to flow, or the cloud to float. But, if the texture is not done right, it becomes only texture without meaning. The feel of texture completes the work and creates the vision. To accomplish all this means working both as interpreter and artist. For me, this is what art is all about - the excitement of creativity.