dg Visual Effects

A special section of USGlass magazine

project news
Big Boy, Big Job
Sans Soucie Art Glass of Palm Desert, Calif., recently finished etched glass windows and decorative door glass panels for the new Big Boy restaurant in Moreno Valley, Calif.

The sandblasted, frosted glass consists of four panels that are 38 inches wide x 110 inches tall. The two center door glass panels feature the “Big Boy” of the famous Bob’s Big Boy logo brand, with the adjacent panels featuring a checkerboard band that coordinates with Bob’s attire of checkerboard pattern overalls.

“Big Boy” is 40 inches tall and is a multi-stage sandblast that is dimensionally etched on the glass surface.
www.sanssoucie.com

Jon Kuhn to Present Crystal Cross to Pope Benedict XVI
North Carolina glass artist Jon Kuhn and his representative, Al Priest, president of Salem Stained Glass, have been granted a September 29 audience with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome to present the gift of a radiant Kuhn cross to the Pontiff. The 32 1/2 x 19-inch work of art contains 15,000 facets of clear optical grade crystal and symbolizes the Light of God. The center of the cross is tinged with crimson to represent the Sacred Heart. Acknowledgment of the gift was made April 28 by the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, during a preview presentation of the cross by Kuhn and Priest at the Apostolic Nunciature (embassy) in Washington, D.C.

According to Kuhn, the archbishop’s reaction on seeing the cross for the first time was “immediate; he got it right away,” said Kuhn who heard the archbishop remark that he thought the Pope will be very pleased “and would want to use it in his masses.”

In an e-mail to friends and patrons the next day, Kuhn wrote that he was “honored and humbled” by the experience.

The cross that will be presented to Pope Benedict is the first of a variety of Kuhn crystal crosses designed and created by the artist under an agreement between Kuhn Studio and Salem Stained Glass for the marketing of Kuhn Sacred Glass. Kuhn Sacred Glass includes crystal crosses and other religious objects created by Kuhn, as well as stained glass windows inset with Kuhn’s jewel-like glass that are created by Priest and his artists.
www.kuhnstudio.com; www.salemstainedglass.com

event news
Panelists Discuss Decorative Glass During NeoCon
Offering insight about the artistic, environmental and technical considerations associated with the installation of glass, a presentation titled “The Art and Science of Glass” took place June 15 during NeoCon. Sponsored by the Glass Association of North America, panelists were designer Suzanne Tick of Suzanne Tick Inc., Al Leonard, vice president of sales for Trainor Glass Co. and Charles Rizzo, president of Skyline Design.

Tick, who designed a collection of glass for Skyline Design, began by taking the audience through her artistic approach to developing decorative glass. When developing the collection for Skyline, she said, at one point she was in Seattle, where there are numerous showcases of decorative glass. Clarity, she said, seemed to be a predominant theme in many displays.

Another inspiration, she said, was the icon for Apple products.

“It’s all about the look of technology in glass and that was also inspiring,” Tick said.

She said she also found inspiration through many of her travels, which took her to India, Japan and the Middle East.

“You can tap into inspiration from anywhere and not be afraid to apply it to a material [such as glass],” she said.

Leonard spoke next and talked about some of the considerations architects and designers should take when working with decorative glass. For starters, he stressed the importance of staying within budget.

“Does the project, as designed and developed, fit within budget?” asked Leonard. “Next, you have to address its availability [i.e., does it have to be imported or is it readily available here] and does it meet the job schedule? All of this has to be addressed once you pick out the product.”

Whether the application will require safety glazing also needs to be considered.

“Some decorative glass products cannot be tempered or laminated,” said Leonard. “This means they can only be used in places where safety glass is not required.”

He also pointed out that when such products are used, the required safety glazing label can be a hindrance to the design, particularly when glass is used in small quantities.

“When you do use [decorative] safety glass, get verification in writing from the manufacturer so you don’t have to have the labels on the glass,” he advised.

Other considerations when designing with decorative glass can include the type of system in which it’s going to be installed. Leonard pointed out that, depending on the height of the glass, certain sizes or thicknesses may be required.

Rizzo spoke last, and talked about the history of glass and also environmental attributes of glass.

In looking at the history of glass, he showed project examples—some of which were thousands of years old—to show how durable glass is. He also talked about the technologies that were developed to manufacture glass (i.e., the float glass process).

In looking at the environmental features, Rizzo noted, “Glass is inherently green.”

He explained that it can be used in architecture in many applications; allows for easy space planning and changes; and provides daylight, which helps make people feel good.

Likewise, he added that glass products can also help a project earn LEED points. Some of the environmental features that glass can offer a project include the fact that it can be energy-efficient and durable; once it’s installed it stays in for the length of the building’s lifespan, “which reduces the need for landfills,” Rizzo said.

“Few can imagine a world without glass; it’s ubiquitous,” Rizzo said. “As architects and designers [you have a] decision to supply aesthetic beauty as well as function and financial feasibility, but also to the environment. Make sure the materials you use are recyclable and can be re-used.”

He added, “We believe in the relationship between the glass craftspeople and the design community. We can help you with your concerns and we can help you through the process.”

association news
GANA Decorative Division Launches New Website
The Glass Association of North America’s (GANA) Decorative Division has launched a new website featuring decorative glass products at www.decorativeglazing.com. The site offers educational information for architects, designers and others in the industry. It includes a comprehensive glossary of terms and product types, a gallery illustrating the aesthetically pleasing nature of decorative glass products, and more.

“We have worked on this project for the better part of a year, and the results are fantastic,” said Cathie Saroka of Goldray Industries Ltd., chair of the division’s website committee. “The purpose of this site was to offer information in a dynamic way, so that architects and designers could draw inspiration from other projects, learn the terminology we in the industry use, and maybe even learn new ways to use the product by seeing some of the amazing things that have been done with decorative glass.”

The site features company profiles for each of the division’s members, segmented into manufacturer, supplier and glazing contractor. “Our goal is to offer the architect and designer a quick way to learn about specific types of decorative glass, see examples, then learn where they can purchase those products for their projects, as well as who may be able to bring forth the experience in installing the product,” explained Saroka.

The site also has a technical section and a green section. “Green technologies have become a way of life in the glass industry,” said Saroka. “We offer our LEED® white paper illustrating the ways decorative glazing products may help earn LEED certification points, and soon architects will be able to view our Introduction to Decorative Glazing AIA-accredited presentation on the site for even more easy-approach education and learning units.”
www.decorativeglazing.com

USG
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