THE ART OF GLASS FUSING

Glass fusing is the process in which glass is heated to shape it, mold it, or combine pieces into a single piece. It is done in a glass firing kiln capable of reaching temperatures of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The process begins with fusing, during which pieces of glass are formed into a pattern or design and fired until they form a single piece. It is here that the artist’s talent and technical skills come together. Because glass is brittle, precise temperature control and timing in heating and cooling the glass is essential. If not done correctly the glass will crack or shatter. Because the heating and cooling is done incrementally it can take up to 24 hours in the kiln for the glass to properly fuse. 

But the creative process does not end with fusing. A second and sometimes a third firing in the kiln is needed to form the pieces on display in the gallery. This process is called slumping and involves heating the fused glass in or over a mold until it takes the shape of the mold. Here again the artist’s technical skills are essential in creating the piece. Heat the piece too quickly or cool it too quickly and piece is ruined. 

Each piece offered in the gallery has taken hours and hours of cutting, forming, heating, and re-heating to create. They represent not only the artistic talent of their creator Rose L’Abbate but also her skills at glass fusing.