About the Art...
It was going to be garbage until I found my technique to recycle broken and scrap pieces of window glass, turning it into timeless and unique pieces of art.
When it first arrives, it is unloaded and sorted by size. Then the process truly begins!
Each piece is trimmed to the desired size for the piece I plan to create with it. Then, the corners and edges are ground smooth. Before really getting to work with it, the glass must be spotlessly clean, so it gets a meticulous scrubbing.
Once the prep work is finished, it's time to make it come to life!
As for many others, the economic downturn of 2008 caused me to ponder new career options. Perhaps not the best timing for a new business, but artists are rarely accused of being overly practical.
In my various client assignments, community projects, and personal artistic outbursts over the years, I have had the opportunity to dabble in pen & ink, photography, calligraphy, watercolor, jewelry, and sculpture. Kiln formed glass captured my imagination and drove my desire to bring something fresh to glass lovers.
I initially began with colored glass, but at the time I was living in Hawaii and the frustration of so much glass arriving broken left me rethinking my artistic direction. It was the persistent nudge from a fellow artist in addition to the local island mantra of "use what got" that convinced me to attempt working with window glass scraps. They were on their way to the garbage anyway, so why not?
My studio is dedicated to Earth Friendly operation by using recycled materials and more energy efficient kiln firing.
Naturally, I hope you fall in love with my art and purchase a piece or two for your collection. But just as importantly, I encourage you to try new things and explore your skills. Don’t wait for the next recession or for your friends to pester you!
Step into what you were blessed with!
Donna Mayo
About the "We, Me, I, Us,"
While I am the creative artist behind the artwork, I am certainly not alone in this venture. I am blessed with a husband geared for mechanical engineering who keeps all my equipment functioning and maintains my studio’s safety. My sister is an endless source of ideas and enthusiastic support. My daughters serve as counselors and coaches to keep me focused and my sons-in-law are brilliant technological gurus. My family and friends cheer me on and keep me well fueled with chai lattes and dark chocolate. What’s that saying… something about a village?
