Press Release: Capturing Molten Light
CHICAGO - Chicago artist and metalsmith Gillion Carrara has never been satisfied with commonplace materials. In fact, she is undaunted about finding and learning to work with the most unique and challenging raw elements. Fascinated with the way crystal captures, channels and reflects light, Carrara is creating exquisite lead crystal rings, cuffs and pendants, manipulating the glowing red-hot molten crystalline material to capture light in spontaneous, flowing forms.
From her artistic investigation, a breathtaking new line of delicate pieces with heft is emerging. Each luminous piece is singular no two are alike. They capture and diffuse light on the hand, wrist and at the neckline. "Experimenting with lead crystal impels me toward finding the perfect balance between weight and thickness," she said. "I'm also investigating making lead crystal blades for knives that could serve as letter openers, or for butter, jam or marmalade. Handles would be various combinations of horn and wood and bone and silver. But right now I am perfecting these dense lead crystal rings that are exceedingly clear."
Cararra likens working with lead crystal to harnessing the flow of the material when it most resembles waters edge, like a wave lapping up on the shore. One technique she employs, bollicini, traps tiny bubbles in the lead crystal, like seafoam, visible inside the form. Another, scavo, ages and distresses the crystal as if it were recently excavated from the earth after millennia. Bollicini and scavo were long ago perfected on the Venetian island of Murano, known for centuries as the artisanal center of exquisite blown and manipulated glass and lead crystal. Carrara's also forming pieces from opaque red, black and blue dense glass. After each piece is finished, it must gradually cool for two days, as it hardens in a hotbox.
According to Carrara, she began thinking about working with lead crystal because in the ancient world, many artifacts that have survived, both practical and decorative, were hewn from this beautiful and sturdy yet delicate form of glass.
"I'm taking an ancient material and bringing it into a contemporary design landscape. The objects I create are both useful and decorative, like the lead crystal rings, blades and cuffs, which are designed to tightly fit the actual elliptical shape of the arm, as opposed to a traditional bracelet, which is round."
At the same time, Carrara continues to expand her signature collection of timeless accessories made from of metal, wood, horn and bone, including spreaders and letter openers, blades, cuffs, pendants, brooches and rings. The Gillion Carrara collection is available at Hejfina and Elements in Chicago. In addition, custom work can be ordered directly by emailing her at gcarrara@saic.edu, or from www.gillioncarrara.com.