Mary Ellen Larkins

I have been designing with fused glass for over 20 years. (“Fused” glass describes two or more pieces of glass that have been fired in a mold in a kiln at temperatures ranging from 1100° F to 1500° F.) I began by making small pieces, mainly jewelry, but I now concentrate on large display pieces, especially sculptures and wall hangings. Some of my larger pieces involve reaching into the kiln to manipulate the hot glass by twisting, tilting, and moving the ceramic molds, or by using tools to “rake” the molten glass. Many pieces require not one, not two but up to twelve firings. And each firing is likely to take 18 to 24 hours. The exciting thing about designing with glass, aside from the beauty of the glass itself, is that after this enormous investment in time and effort, you can never be sure what will come out of the kiln. Will the colors change? Will the glass be stressed and crack? Will the firing schedule be off? My work has been displayed in many galleries and juried art shows over the years. Many of my pieces are at the Vienna Arts Society. My “home gallery,” where I have been exhibiting for 19 years, is C’ville Arts, on the historic mall in Charlottesville, Virginia.

If you are interested in purchasing one of the pieces showcased here or viewing it in person, please contact Lu Cousins (lucousins@gmail.com) at the Vienna Art Center.