This series explores the combination of glass forms contained within copper cages. I am drawn to the tension between hard structures (copper) and soft forms (blown glass) and how they oppose and balance each other. There is a natural feeling of containment versus freedom in this work; as the glass bulges around the confines of the copper cage it suggests a potential for escape against the boundaries that contains it. The series includes purely abstract caged forms that have a strong geometric structure, and also representational forms such as insect bodies.
Technically, glass and copper have a unique relationship; they have very similar coefficients of expansion so can be combined hot (which is crucial for a finished piece to be free from cracks or breaks). However, combining the two materials can be a challenge; the working temperature of the glass must be hot enough to inflate and manipulate the glass, but not so hot as to melt the solder holding the copper cages together. There is potential for failure when combining the materials in a molten state, which adds to the excitement in the production process.
2017 – present (series ongoing)
