Our Glass - Fused Glass Art

A year and a half ago my sister Anita proudly showed me the glass art she had crafted using the warm glass process, also known as fused glass. I had just started Stevie's Artisans and she and her partner, Mike Sweek, were happy to join my curated collection of artisans. I was excited to represent their work.

Then Anita was diagnosed with liver cancer. But, my sister was a fighter and she was optimistic about her chances. Anita and Mike and her daughter Alyssa kept making beautiful glass. Anita died September 1, 2010, in the loving care of her daughter Alyssa, her three sisters, Mike, her Aunt Bert, her best friend Thalia and Alyssa's boyfriend, Russell.

Our Glass and Anita's spirit and creativity continue in the work carried on by Alyssa Trudeau and Mike Sweek. Mike feels Alyssa's work is every bit as inspired as Anita's glass art. I agree. Alyssa's boyfriend Russell Borne - a graphic artist and photographer - has joined the group, contributing lots of creative fire and energy, plus he documents all the work. BTW, Russell also designed and constructed the Stevie's Artisans website - lots of family involvement in these enterprise. and endeavors.




Like Anita, Alyssa, Mike and Russell also share a love of and aim to capture the play of light on glass. In addition to coasters and plates, they especially like crafting sun catchers and mini landscapes created from mixtures of opaque, iridized and transparent colors. I am struck how they manage to impart warmth to a medium that by its nature is brittle and hard and in the fractured patterns of some of their work, they are creating glass art with an edgy vibe.

Last month I made a site visit to Portland, OR where Alyssa, Mike and Russell live and work. Russell and I worked pretty solidly for two days to finish the Stevie's Artisans website but there was definitely time to visit the Our Glass studio sited in Mike's garage. They showed me prototypes, works-in-progress and all the glass ready to go up for sale on the website. We kicked around lots of ideas over a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir. It was a very productive week-end.