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 “Magpie art” might be a better name for fused glass because of
the bright shiny colors. Starr started working with the torch, on beads and things, in 2000 in Austin, Texas, and started focusing on kiln work in
2002, after she moved to Atascadero. Functional glass is her focus, with tiles, knobs and backsplashes and cabinet and window inserts, but jewelry,
plates and art pieces are also popular.
Fused glass is made by stacking glass, adding powdered glass, crushed glass, either purchased or whipped up in a blender, and strings of a glass, and
fired between 1300 to 1500 degrees to get different effects. Additional firings are necessary to get different effects and to bend a piece to a certain shape.
As her biggest kiln is “only” bathtub sized, to go bigger she expanded into mosaics that incorporate large fused glass pieces. As part of Leadership SLO,
she completed one mosaic for the Healing Gardens in 2006 at the Growing Grounds in SLO, and one at her studio in 2007, with a 2-foot wide fused glass
Hibiscus. Fused glass is safe for home installation. Custom work for murals, fused glass, or classes are available by appointment. Starr is a member
of the Society of American Mosaic Artists.
Starr and mural in progress 10-07 |
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