Unleashing the Unconscious: Fused Glass Tiles on Aluminum Panels
In making art, I was not merely seeking the real nor the unreal, but rather the unconscious, the mysterious layers of self, and the profound shift that comes with being awake.
During my business career, I traveled extensively, visiting electronics circuit card manufacturers around the globe and collaborating with engineers on design challenges and component selection. Circuit cards themselves are works of art—their intricate arrangements of components are a marvel of precision and creativity. The sophisticated assembly lines that produce everything from smartphones to guided missile rockets never ceased to amaze me. This experience naturally shaped my inclination toward incorporating technology into my creative process. It ultimately inspired me to explore innovative materials, beginning with plexiglass sheets and evolving to printed aluminum as complementary foundations for fused glass—culminating in the creation of visually harmonious works of art.
I found additional inspiration in the Light and Space art movement, which originated in Southern California during the 1960s. This movement embraced cutting-edge post-WWII materials like fiberglass and resins and was characterized by abstraction, minimalism, and a polished, glossy aesthetic. Eager to experiment, I began exploring different media, enrolling in art classes at Santa Monica College and attending various workshops.
My introduction to plexiglass came during a house renovation project when I sought a bold, visually impactful focal point for a room. Plexiglass offered the perfect solution: a broad, uninterrupted, colorful surface to which I mounted several painted canvases. A glass-like material made from Polymethyl Methacrylate, plexiglass has existed since the 1930s. It is more robust than glass or plastic, available in various colors and thicknesses, and widely used in commercial advertising, window coverings, and skylights.
Later, while attending a fused glass workshop, I encountered glass tiles with a mesmerizing glossy finish. It occurred to me that these tiles could be mounted on plexiglass sheets, combining two materials that shared a shiny, sensual allure. At that moment, I was merely experimenting with materials, unaware of how profoundly this exploration would resonate with my personal story.