AQUILA ART GROUP started in 2002, with five laid-off
computer geeks from the high tech industry. We got together and looking at
all our options that were available to us we decided to create a company
that would produce hand made kiln-formed functional fused glass products as
its cornerstone.
Our backgrounds are as different as we are. From
being in the Peace Corp to a Vietnam era vet, an equestrian to off road
motorcycle racer, producing marketing graphics for ten years in the
corporate office of a multi-national company, to restaurant line cook, to
Corporate Recruiter, to computer programming, to computer peripheral
support, to spending five years managing an art glass company
.
Our skills range from glass fusing to metal working, torch working to wood
working, glass blowing to oil painting, bead making to pottery, glass
casting to painting with water colors, and photography to sewing.
Educational high lights range from Bachelor’s degrees in Education and
Fermentation Science, Associates in Electronic Engineering, certificates in
Management/Supervision and The American Production & Inventory Control
Society.
Even though each of us has a unique eye for design
we continue to find patterns all around us. We discovered one of our popular
patterns called “Fractured” while using a hammer. Other simple patterns,
“Little Squares,” “Hill & Valley” were discovered on one of the many scratch
pads we continue to accumulate. Some of the simple rules in geometry as well
as the “Golden Rectangle” have had an influence on several of our shapes and
patterns. We developed our Soap Dishes, Business Card Holders, Oil Lamps,
Sinks, Bird Baths, and Extra Long Rectangle Trays (for Sushi) in response to
the many requests of our customer’s clientele.
Each piece of art glass begins its transformation
from a hand made sheet of BULLSEYE glass. We hand cut and “FUSE” assembled
pieces of glass in kilns at temperatures in the 1,400º range. This joins the
layered assembly into a single layered piece. After cooling we “SLUMP” the
glass into a “Best Mix” mold, heating it a second and sometimes third time
between 1,250º and 1320º. At this temperature the glass is softened and
gravity pulls it into the mold producing the desired shape. The result is an
individual piece of useable handcrafted art glass, suitable for display and
day-to-day use. The surfaces are non-toxic, food safe and you can wash our
glass in the dishwasher. Treat it as you would any fine glassware.
Our 750 square foot studio is part of a 7,375 square foot
barn that was built at the turn of the last century in north Portland,
Oregon. A rail spur was added in the 20’s when metal rebar was delivered
here. Now there is a cabinet shop, a plastic bottle manufacture, a
contractor and of course Aquila Art Group.
During our second and third years in business we added these
artists to our company of Artists. Each of these artists has their own
unique eye for color, design and functionality and add wonderful new ideas
to our ever-expanding line of products.
·
Annette P. – Fused glass bowls and plates.
Some of Annette’s work has a word or phase painted in Chinese
characters between two layers of glass, while others have metal designs in
them.
·
Bernadette A. – Pocket Wall Vases.
Bernadette’s Fused Glass Pocket Wall Vases are able to hang
on their own or with a decorative Copper Hanger.
·
Karen M. – Jewelry and Fused Glass Wall Tiles.
Karen makes intricate glass beads of varying shapes and sizes
with some having detailed critters on them. Karen also makes several sizes
of floral glass wall tiles.
·
Leslie N. – Fused Glass Tiles.
Leslie creates fused glass tile Faces that are becoming her
trademark. They can be used on Desks or hung on walls. She has other designs
with Aquatic, Sun, and Abstract themes.
UPDATE – July 2005
June and July of 2005 has turned out to be our most
aggressive, exciting and exhausting time. Gallery 33, a long time gallery in
downtown Portland that had been selling our work pretty much from our
beginning closed its doors. With their closing Leah P., one of their
employees joined our team.
·
Leah P. – Fused Glass Mobiles.
Three sizes of fused glass
Mobiles in three different shapes.
A unique part of Gallery 33 is that they had been teaching a
couple of basic glass art classes for the past three years. We had the
opportunity to integrate their school into our studio. At the same time a
new and much larger space, 2200 square feet, opened up in our building. Thus
AQUILA GLASS SCHOOL was born.
Current teaching staff:
·
Leah P. – Artist in Residence.
Leah teaches all of our Basic torch working classes. She also
helps with the
coordination and organization of new classes and getting new
guest
teachers.
·
Don B. - Mold making and use of BEST MIX MOLD
MIX.
·
Scott C. - Fusing and slumping.
Other guest teachers:
·
Paulette I. – Organic/Abstract Bead Making.
·
Leslie N. – Experimenting with Color and
Design.
·
Karen M. – Silver, Gold and Dichroic Glass Bead
Making.
Our other business “BEST MIX PRODUCTS” has needed some more
space for some time now so it also is being moved into the new facility. For
those that don’t know, BEST MIX PRODUCTS produces and sells a great mold
making material. They also have several sizes and shapes of plastic master
molds that fusers can purchase to make their own molds. Also exciting, but
in another (better) way, one of the original five partners wife has had a
baby girl.
Thank you for visiting our About Us page.
