Through the Looking Glass

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The Doss Heritage and Culture Center is inviting the public to view glass work in a different way, through their new exhibit Through the Looking Glass. Above are some pieces that will be on display. BRIAN SMITH

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August 21, 2012

Through the Looking Glass

Doss Center premiers new exhibit

Brian Smith WEATHERFORD DEMOCRAT The Weatherford Democrat Tue Aug 21, 2012, 08:02 AM CDT

WEATHERFORD —

Most people look at a piece of glass, see it for what it is and move on. An exhibit at the Doss Heritage and Culture Center may have you thinking differently.

Titled “Through the Looking Glass,”, the exhibit features 26 glass artists from the Texas Glass Artists Association use different media to showcase the wonders of glass. Curator Amanda Rush said the exhibit features North Texas artists, many from the Parker County area.

There are many different types of glass art from fused to mosaic, which are displayed in different areas of the gallery. Entering the gallery is a colorful piece from Phylis Vaughn titled “Explosion of Life” which explodes with a burst of light. The piece has no grout in it, which is commonly used to bond glass pieces together. The piece uses a fusing method to bond the pieces of glass together.

Fused glass is primarily used to create bowls where a kiln is used at a much higher temperature than what is used for pottery, Rush said.

Many of the artists use creative touches in their art. Patricia Donaldson’s “Colorado Rainbow” has the artist actually painting with powdered glass to create a stunning 3-D effect.

Artists show appreciation of their state throughout the exhibit, which runs through Oct. 3. Jill Noble’s “Texas Pride” features a large snake with references of the Alamo, NASA and others. A number of jewelry pieces in the exhibit have Texas references as well.

“It’s all Texas art,” Rush said. “Some have decided to bring it out while others are more subdued.”

Several traditional mosaics are in the exhibit. Rush says it’s interesting to come at different parts of the day and see how the light coming through can change what you actually see.

It wouldn’t be a Texas exhibit without a Longhorn in the mix. Noble’s piece “Poppies at Sunset” features a real Longhorn skull with glass embedded in it for a fascinating piece.

Kaleidoscopes have been a fascination with many people for generations. Glenna Wooten has made several, completely of glass, that are as interesting on the outside as they are on the inside.

Several artists believed in recycling items as part of their art. Many artists used wood for their frames, including one who even left the latch from an old window frame as part of the piece.

In the jewelry/mixed media display, several artists used bones and bricks as a fun way to highlight the glass. In Janet Swisher’s “Crow Family,” the artist used actual electric wire to recreate the crows’ resting place.

Most of the items are for sale, with 30 percent of the proceeds going toward the center and its exhibits. Selling pieces actually enables the artists to bring additional newer and more pieces to the exhibits.

A number of workshops are planned for September where the artists themselves will demonstrate their techniques. No dates have been set as of yet, Rush said.

“We’re going to have to do it later in the month, because many of the workshops will have to be done outside,” Rush said.

Saturday, Sept. 29 will be a Glass Spectacular as the TGAA hosts its annual sale at the Doss Center. Rush said more artists will be able to sell and showcase their art in a booth style format as well as talk about their work. The sale will run form noon to 7 p.m.

For more information, please call 817-599-6168 or visit www.dosscenter.org.