About

As part of a child’s development they are allowed free time to experiment. Adults provide them with materials like play-dough, washable paints, old magazines and scissors - whatever can be found to occupy a kid’s time. And because young minds are not cluttered with any rules of design the creations are ultimately unique.

For local glass artist Tara Burns, when she was young it was an artistic Aunt that allowed her to dig around in her paints and clay or assist with a quilting project. The days of pasted pipe cleaners and recycled wallpaper swatches are long gone, but the spirit of experimentation is still strong for Burns. When it comes to her glass art she is in the self-described ‘experimentation phase’ of her work. As she learns more about the technical aspects of glass the discovery feeds her creativity.

It was convenient for Burns to choose glass as an art medium; her parents were proprietors of a glass business in Stillwater, MN named Glasspectacle. Although the tools of their trade had been stored away Burns was inspired to bring them out of retirement after seeing a piece of glass jewelry in an art gallery. It was her “Ah-ha” moment to resurrect a craft she had once dabbled in as teenager.

Burns now creates glass jewelry that is radiant and vibrant with color. With a background in graphic design, her creativity is constantly flowing. In her words, “Much of my work is influenced by the elements and principles of design. In order to create visually pleasing pieces of jewelry, I pay close attention to lines, shapes, colors, textures, balance, symmetry, emphasis and unity of the glass and components.”

Many other art media are technical but glass has a direct connection to modern science. In some of her pieces Burns uses ‘dichroic’ glass; inferring that it exhibits more than one color. As she describes it, “Dichroic glass was originally invented in the 1950's for the space industry. It is created in a high temperature chamber in a vacuum furnace. Thin layers of metallic oxides, such as titanium, silicon, and magnesium are deposited upon the surface of the glass. The coating is transparent, rigid and stable and withstands temperatures as high as 3000 degrees.”

In that scientific vein Burns’ passion for glass is maintained by her experimentation with its properties. It is a versatile material. Adding other elements or materials all contribute to the varying and infinite outcomes the look of a piece of glass can have. Kiln fusing is used to shape glass using extreme heat. Other techniques are used such as molding where heated glass is placed in a mold or slumping, where the glass is draped over an object, allowing it take on a specific form.

“Inspiration can come from just about anything in my life.” Says Burns. “I keep a sketchbook handy to record ideas.” For her, glass is a limitless creative outlet. Jewelry is only one way to develop art glass. She sees her next phase evolving into bigger designs with both functional and non-functional pieces: plates, platters and wall art, for example.

As a member of ArtReach Alliance Burns likes the connection to her roots in Stillwater and the access to other local artists. She is inspired by other emerging artists and enjoys camaraderie and networking with fellow artists. They help her in her work by mentoring and sharing ideas. Their friendships offer great support as well.

Tara Burns is a member of the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery where her work is available for viewing and purchase. It is also available at the Phipps Center for the Arts Gift Gallery in Hudson, WI as well as The Nest in White Bear Lake. She is a member of the Glass Art Society, the American Craft Council and the White Bear Center for the Arts. For additional details go online to taraburnsdesigns.com.

By Greg Lathem
651-275-1019
glathem@msn.com

Memeberships

Glass Art Society www.glassart.org
Stillwater Art Guild Gallery www.artguildgallery.com
White Bear Center for the Arts www.whitebeararts.org
ArtReach Alliance www.artreachalliance.org
Artists of Minnesota www.artistsofminnesota.org