stained glass on the deep playa

Eklypz · Post by **Eklypz** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:29 pm

Hi, I am starting to plan my first playa art project and my medium is mainly glass on glass mosaics. I have a few ideas but wondered if anyone has ever done any stained glass or something with glass panels in the deep playa that may have some tips on withstanding the environment or know any leads to someone that has done something involving that.

Very inspired by the theme and excited to do my first project to share with the citizens of black rock city!

Thank you for any help!
Jeffz

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:10 pm

I don't know to what degree glass is welcome in onplaya art projects.
Although as mosaic that might be enough to prevent or at least cut down on breakage.

Eklypz · Post by **Eklypz** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:12 pm

Thanks for the response. I have a couple ideas about making it safe from moop (like sheathing it in plexiglass). I just love the way that light reflects through glass so would love to make it work somehow.

I have seen a few mosaic concrete things so that is a possibility also of course.

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:45 pm

Considering the hundreds of feet of neon on the man each year ...

There have been plenty installations of glass on playa before.

Figure out a way to contain it should it break. There are lots of thin-film options that would be better than encasing everything in plexi or polycarbonate or lexane.

Glass is a wonderful medium. I have done more hot glass than stained, but the end result is equally grand if executed well, regardless of technique.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:47 pm

Some has made it out.
A grand project was planned, but I don't know if it made it.

Eklypz · Post by **Eklypz** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:44 am

Thin-film sounds interesting. Will think of that. Still in the design phase so there are a couple ways I can go with it. Thanks for giving me structural ideas!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:00 pm

Token wrote: Glass is a wonderful medium. I have done more hot glass than stained, but the end result is equally grand if executed well, regardless of technique.

Agreed. Love glass. Love hot glass, although "warm" is what I've done the most of.
I miss it.

Eklypz · Post by **Eklypz** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:38 pm

I am really leaning towards some lost wax cast pieces. Have 3 possibilities how it will go but wouldn't it be cool to have some cast glass with some kind of laser or something shining through it at night...may have to make sure I don't start fires during the day though with the sun going through it :D

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:01 pm

Would a matte finish work?
Or would you want it crisper for the laser.
I don't think it's really all that easy to make a fire that way. YOu gotta get teh focus length right and hold it there for a while...

Eklypz · Post by **Eklypz** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:05 pm

[quote="theCryptofishist"]Would a matte finish work?
Or would you want it crisper for the laser.
I don't think it's really all that easy to make a fire that way. YOu gotta get teh focus length right and hold it there for a while...[/quote]

you prolly are right, have seen many people use magnifying glasses to start fires in BRC but that is a different material really. matte does look pretty too and love pate de verre (ok I love all glass pretty much, such a glass addict here :D). getting excited about the possibilities. I love the metal sculpture and such on playa but my heart is made of glass ;)

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:18 pm

This is at the Maritime museum in SF.
Worth seeing.

Angel Island Museum

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:18 pm

Mistress of the Obvious:
[youtube][/youtube]

Eklypz · Post by **Eklypz** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:25 pm

Gyre - those are very sweet, wonder how strong they hold up? I am recruiting my mentor who is a very accomplished metal sculptor that happens to be going to his first burn next year to help with the forms for it. Have been thinking some type of panelling similiar to that so it will be easier to transport the 2400 miles from Iowa to BRC.

Crypto - thanks, all time favorite there!

So much to think about ! This whole extreme environment thing really adds a twist but I make outdoor sculpture to last through freeze/thaw of Iowa winters so am thinking if I adhere to those standards then should be ok, other than not being able to pour concrete into the playa and bolt it down hehe.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:37 pm

This company makes a high quality stain that can be used on panels.
I have used this for some patterns that are physically difficult or impossible for cut glass.
It can reproduce the english streaky I can no longer get.

http://www.jurgenindustries.com/

flexfemme · Post by **flexfemme** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:02 pm

There's a coating that you can use that will prevent injury...
flex-tec anti-shatter coating. There's only place I know of where you can get it, but they're awesome.
www.hisglassworks.com

A lot of people are using the flex-tec for installation situations where safety is a concern.

flexfemme
glass geek extraordinaire.

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:32 am

ah glass is like porn to me, i spend my day working with the mundane so i love seeinf people make art with it, i try making intersting stuff from what i have but i am about as artisitic as slime

oh bump

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:33 am

There is a dover book of traditional english glass patterns.
Really terrific stuff.
Every one is a gem.
Some are easy to do and they are suited to UK lighting.
Some of my favorite patterns.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:27 pm

I would love to see one of those Fresnell lenses with a couple of strobed lasers inside it.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:43 pm

Chapel by Finley Fryer, 1998.

http://www.snowcrest.net/finleyfryer/chapel/

All recycled plastic, on steel frames.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:50 pm

The Chapel was on the playa in 2001, my first year. An amazing piece, and one of my dearest memories.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:56 pm

graidawg wrote:ah glass is like porn to me, i spend my day working with the mundane so i love seeinf people make art with it, i try making intersting stuff from what i have but i am about as artisitic as slime

oh bump

Oddly enough, glass is a very forgiving medium. I don't do stained glass, and I think that demands a lot of exactness, but the hot and warm stuff will reward you if you have the basics down. That shine covers a multitude of sins.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:57 pm

I enjoy the historical memory Bob brings to the board.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:11 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:Oddly enough, glass is a very forgiving medium. I don't do stained glass, and I think that demands a lot of exactness, but the hot and warm stuff will reward you if you have the basics down. That shine covers a multitude of sins.

Hot and warm?

An amateur can do some very challenging pieces if they take the time to do it right.
If you can cut glass and solder, you can probably take on most pieces.
I could help you avoid the main pitfalls.
Some errors compound as you go in a piece.

Traditional glasswork with came will be more forgiving than coppered pieces, though I started with hand blown coppered pieces with a lot of variation in thickness.
It made everything after that seem easy.

stained glass on the deep playa

stained glass on the deep playa

preventative measures.