About Allegra
In the mid 1980’s a series of life changing events led to a rush of images from which I’ve never recovered. Some were based on fantasy. Some described everyday events in an exaggerated way. Others interpreted age-old fables as vehicles for expression of universal experience.
In realizing these graphic images on glass I've never separated from my background as a printmaker. The high contrast, limited color and emphasis on shape were all in place as large complicated relief prints… more
Cut Glass and Thread
When I chose to combine copper and glass I wasn't thinking about any classification of my work such as "multimedia" or "cross over" art. I just thought the pieces looked best that way.
The next development was a background for the glass cut-out figures. I didn't want it to be glass. Paper and drawing was not an answer and even copper wire seemed clunky. Instead I began to consider thread.
Out came my old sewing machine rarely used since I made clothes for my daughter. It took weeks of trial and error but during all that, new possibilities for color, texture and especially line, opened up. I've been missing linear elements since I started using glass.
I learned I could stitch on a water soluble plastic material and when done with all sewing I could dissolve the plastic and only the threads would be left leaving an open, delicate looking background panel that complements and comments on the glass shapes which are mounted slightly in front of it. The glass and the threads are so fragile in different ways.
The first piece to come into being was "Dancer One". The woman in the spotlight throws off lines of action in red and gold as she dances before an audience of an old goat, hound dogs, a pig, an ass, a Tom cat and a cock. Their colorful, or off- color, yells are represented by red, yellow and purple diagonals.
Then came new interpretations of The Princess and the Pea, and Jack and the Beanstalk.
Now work with thread and glass is dominating my imagination.
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The Hare in the Moon2016, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx. 28"x 28", 7 lbs.
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The Rhinoceros and Elephant Argue2016, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx. 28"x30", 5 lbs.
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The Cat Who Wanted To Be A Woman2016, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx. 24"x40", 6 lbs.
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The Cat Who Wanted To Be A Woman (detail)2016, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx. 24"x40", 6 lbs.
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The Coyote Who Wanted To Dance With The Stars2016, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx 17"x 23", 2 lbs.
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The Princess and the Pea2015, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx. 14"x28", 2 lbs.
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Frog Considers the Dragonfly (Prey in the Garden series)2018, Eight cast, cut, painted glass shapes mounted over threaded panel, 15"x40"
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Dancer I2015, Cast, cut, painted glass w sewn thread panel. Approx. 14" x28", 2lbs
Cut Glass Shapes
Here the animals have been liberated from the boundaries of the square or rectangle. Now they're free to roam and carry on in human-like ways. The narrative is not so tight either but the characters and the situations are familiar; from a jazz band and a jug band to a hippo lounging on the beach to a lascivious fox eying a pink rabbit on the bus. All the figures are wall mounted with standoffs that fit into brackets. The animals in a bicycle race and the bands include shapes acid cut from my old copper etching plates.
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Red Glass Jazz Band2015, Cast, cut, painted glass and copper, Approx. 40"x 40", 7 lbs.
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Red Glass Jazz Band (detail)2015, Cast, cut, painted glass and copper, Approx. 40"x 40", 7 lbs.
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Blue Glass Jug Band2015, Cast, cut, painted glass and copper, Approx. 30"x 30", 6 lbs.
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On Bicycles and Skateboards2014, Cast, cut, painted glass and copper, Approx. 4'x 6', 10 lbs.
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On Bicycles and Skateboards (detail)
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On the Beach2014, Cast, cut, painted glass, Approx. 4' x 8', 14 lbs.
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On the Beach (detail)
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On the Beach (detail)
Narrow Glass Panels
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The Sky is Falling2009, fused, sandblasted glass, 8"x 44", approx. 12lbs.
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The Elephant's Child2009, fused, sandblasted glass, 8"x44", approx. 12 lbs.
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Sour Grapes2010, fused, sandblasted glass, 8"x 44", approx. 12 lbs.
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The Duck and the Kangaroo2010, Fused, sandblasted glass, 8"x44", approx. 12 lbs.