Art Glass by George Ponzini

"Architecture is one of my interests which has had a major influence on my work. Though I had at one time considered becoming an architect, I enjoy glass as a medium and have directed my architectural energies into my glass works.”

George started his glass career creating stained glass windows. His current style of work originated with containers that were a reaction to the stained glass box. These containers were art deco influenced; free of the traditional lead came that is typically used in the stained glass window. These are composed of fabricated glass parts that are glued together. A piece is typically designed hands-on, using an inventory of glass parts instead of drawings. These parts consist of glass rods, textured glass, structural glass, borosilicate rods and tubes, wire safety glass, black glass, marbles and glass and metal beads. The glass is either cut on a saw or with a carbide tip glass cutter. Then the parts are ground on a diamond impregnated grinding wheel or on discs of varying grit. The etched patterns are sandblasted. The parts are then glued with ultraviolet sensitive glue or with silicone adhesive, completing the piece.

George has been working in his current style since the mid 1980's. His glass career has spanned 3 decades. His other architectural projects include the designing and building of a post and beam salt-box style house, a barn-like studio, a 4000 sq. ft. contemporary house-studio combination, and he recently completed his latest project: building a new house and studio.