Geologic Light into Layered Time

For the last 20 years I have been exploring the intersections of geology, natural forms, and fractured light through sculptural cast glass. My journey began with a transformative expedition to Palmer Station, Antarctica with the National Science Foundation in 2006, where I collected texture molds from glacier ice and stone. I have used these to construct glass forms and architectural panels that activate and scintillate light to feature the urgent realities of our changing planet coupled with an awe for the light-filled world we live in now.

In casting glass, my sculptures are infused with a prismatic effect, capturing the ever-changing interplay of light and refraction. In the course of the day and year, sunlight plays  on my pieces in a continuously variable beam.  Adding local rock to my Antarctica library of textures, I see evidence of plate tectonics from rock formed underwater millions of years ago, now thrust up into the hills behind my studio, illuminating layered time.  The changes are from minute to hour and season to the great geologic ages of the earth, stepping back into the infinite past towards creation. 

The immersive experience of viewing glass, especially in sunlight, provokes contemplation on the fragility of our earth. Each artwork serves as a tangible reminder of our interconnectedness with the natural world and the imperative of responsible stewardship in the face of planetary change. In a rapidly evolving landscape, my art urges viewers to remember that the planet has always changed and to embrace their role as stewards of our planet's future.Top of Form

By translating geological formations and ice into glass, I capture the essence of time, refracting sunlight to mark our planet's history. Observing the ever-changing interplay of light and geologic patterns yields an ever-changing view of different time-scales.  The glass, made now, refracts the traveling sunlight, which in turn shows the geologic evolution of our place, the up-thrusting of undersea rock with the movement of our North American tectonic plate against the Pacific Plate.  The view becomes an interactive experience, where time itself seems to stretch and contract, inviting viewers to contemplate the passage of time and our planet's evolution made tangible simply by viewing the glass.