Heron, fused glass
Mary O’Shea has been working with glass for over 25 years but it was fusing that melted her heart 20 years ago. Glass fusing dates back to the Ancient Egyptians and the process hasn’t changed much in over 5,000 years. Due to the melting process, no two pieces are ever the same. You’ll notice little bubbles; these occur as the glass literally begins to boil. Glass always does what it wants to do. And, Mary lets it. She guides it with soulful respect and understands what it ultimately wants to do…form a round glob. Glass just loves to be round. But, who wants to look at a bunch of round globs all the
time? So, she gently manipulates the glass to do what she wants it to do.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Mary studied glass in Portland, Oregon. Within two years she was being shown in over 100 glass galleries across the nation. Although working with glass is a very technically challenging process, Mary has found that it is the single best medium to express her unique take on life. Her work is very free-spirited and fresh.
Mary lives in Portland, Oregon, works solo, and has created an entirely original look in glass fusing. She works with an exciting palette of colors (entirely from glass, no enamels are used), creating innovative designs and shapes, inspired by the native beauty and people of the many places she’s lived, including Hawaii and Key West. Her signed plates and platters have been fumbled and dropped in some of the finest homes and restaurants. They are very sturdy and dishwasher safe.
