Location: United States
Cynthia Ann Swan www.terrapaxstudio.com
Life is an interesting journey. Cynthia Ann Swan has taken the 22 year-long scenic route between earning her M.F.A. in glass and her “emergence”. Her roads less traveled, often taking her far and wide off the beaten path, have led her back to her true identity of ARTIST!
After years of helping other children give an artistic or musical voice to their personal dreams and emotions as a K-12 arts educator, it is time to allow her inner- child to speak.
Ms. Swan now lives in Los Angeles and concentrates on being a professional fused glass artist and owner of Terra Pax Studio. Her professional qualifications include:
• Post doc mentoring with Boyce Lundstrom
• M.F.A. in Glass 1990 Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts
• Bachelor of Music 1976 SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music
• 35 years experience as a fine artist
• 27 years experience as a public arts educator
She has always considered herself to be a multi-media artist. In addition to glass fusing, she is an avid painter, a violinist in two community orchestras, and a poet. Her current fusing techniques reference Boyce Lundstrom’s raku process, while encouraging the glass to distort and reassemble in multiple layers along with its various inclusions. She considers the unique result to be an appropriate visual for the unconventional evolution of her artistic creativity.
This is a new, cohesive body of work created in the spring and summer of 2012, in mentorship with Boyce Lundstrom. It celebrates the essence of the sea, exploring our relationship to the natural world around us, and the delicate internal connection between innocence and maturity. The actions of fusing and painting cross their traditional boundaries, melting together to form an organic, modern-abstractionist landscape that invites the viewer's interpretation. In this world, the glass work represents the adult and the embellishment process embraces the inner child.
These pieces are fluid, abstract images loosely influenced by natural content. They capitalize on refractory irregularities, texture and contrast, balancing transparency and opacity by layering metals and reactive oxides within the glass, subtly referencing the raku techniques originated by Boyce Lundstrom. I am actively pushing the applications of glass fusing and painting, using glass, mixed media and color to induce a reflective mindset that encourages the awakening of spirit and self awareness.
"Angel's Shield" is a sculpture in three parts. The main disc features raku processed fused dichroic float glass with copper, oxide, and reactive inclusions. This disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina suggesting sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the first of three pieces in the Sea Circles 4 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 29 x 22 x 7 inches.
"Molten Seas" is a sculpture in three parts. The main disc features raku processed fused dichroic float glass with copper, oxide, and reactive inclusions. This disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the second of three pieces in the Sea Circles 4 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 29 x 22 x 7 inches.
"Emerald Atmosphere" is a sculpture in three parts, suggesting an aerial view of a volcanic island crater surrounded with a lush tropical veil. The main disc features raku processed fused dichroic float glass with copper, oxide, and reactive inclusions. This disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the third of three pieces in the Sea Circles 4 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 29 x 22 x 7 inches.
"Sea Silly" was born beside the sea in Oceanside, CA, in the spring of 2012. It is a three part sculpture featuring a 16" fused and kiln-carved transparent glass disc with copper, aluminum, and oxide inclusions.The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing undersea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. Suggesting the whimsical frolic of abstracted sea forms, it is the first of three pieces in the Sea Circles 1 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 26 x 20 x 7 inches.
"Moonlight Bay" is a three part sculpture featuring a 13" fused and kiln-carved transparent glass disc with copper, aluminum, and oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing undersea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the second of three pieces in the Sea Circles 1 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 22 x 16 x 7 inches.
"Kelp Forest" is a three part sculpture featuring a 13" fused and kiln-carved transparent glass disc with copper, aluminum, and oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the third of three pieces in the Sea Circles 1 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Mermaid's Court" is a three part sculpture featuring a 13" fused and kiln-carved transparent glass disc with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the first of three pieces in the Sea Circles 2 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Sea Foam" is a three part sculpture featuring a 13" fused and kiln-carved transparent glass disc with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the second of three pieces in the Sea Circles 2 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Salty Charades" is a three part sculpture featuring a 13" fused and kiln-carved transparent glass disc with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the third of three pieces in the Sea Circles 2 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Flag Coral" is a three part sculpture featuring a 12" fused and kiln-carved black and dichroic glass disc with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the first of three pieces in the Sea Circles 3 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by underwater photography of the Great Barrier Reef and the nighttime phosphorescence of the sea creatures which inhabit it. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Moonlit Discovery Pool" is a three part sculpture featuring a 12" fused and kiln-carved black and dichroic glass disc with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the second of three pieces in the Sea Circles 3 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by underwater photography of the Great Barrier Reef and the nighttime phosphorescence of the sea creatures which inhabit it. This piece is the darkest of the three works in the series, inviting the viewer to peer deeply into the dark, mysterious layers of this tidal pool to discover its secrets. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Nightlife" is a three part sculpture featuring a 12" fused and kiln-carved black and dichroic glass disc with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The main disc is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the third of three pieces in the Sea Circles 3 series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by underwater photography of the great barrier reef and the nighttime phosphorescence of the sea creatures which inhabit it. 20 x 14 x 7 inches.
"Deep Lagoon" is a three part sculpture featuring an irregular rectangle roughly 20.5 x 10 of fused and kiln-carved transparent glass with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The rectangular "melt" is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the first of three pieces in the Ocean Reef Melts series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by underwater photography of the Great Barrier Reef and schools of fish in sunlight, and the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 26 x 24 x 7 inches.
"Summer School" is a three part sculpture featuring an irregular rectangle roughly 22.25 x 12 of fused and kiln-carved transparent glass with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. The rectangular "melt" is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the second of three pieces in the Ocean Reef Melts series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by underwater photography of the Great Barrier Reef and schools of fish in sunlight, and the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 26 x 24 x 7 inches.
"Portal" is a three part sculpture featuring an irregular rectangle roughly 20 x 11 of fused and kiln-carved transparent glass with copper, aluminum, and cobalt, vanadium and chrome green oxide inclusions. Aluminum predominates, and its texture is evidenced upon the surface of the glass. The rectangular "melt" is suspended in a custom copper stand, surfaced with acid patina referencing sea corrosion, and weighted by a second fused glass panel. It is the third of three pieces in the Ocean Reef Melts series from the Oceanside Collection 2012, inspired by underwater photography of the Great Barrier Reef and schools of fish in sunlight, and the fluid and spiritual nature of the Pacific Ocean. 26 x 23 x 7 inches.
"Let's Dance" is a flat, translucent wall panel, the first of three from the Swim Party series suggesting a whimsical scene from a swim party for mythical creatures of the sea. It was the very first work resulting from my mentorship with Boyce Lundstrom. It's initial fire in Boyce's Oceanside, CA studio set the compass for all of the work in the Oceanside Collection 2012 to follow. That first fuse was later cut and reassembled into the panel that exists today. It is a landmark work, the harbinger of change that signified the start of my new artistic vision. It is fused with raku and rock techniques, and includes copper and oxides with frits and powders. 21 x 14.5 inches
"Mingling" is a flat, translucent wall panel, the second of three from the Swim Party series suggesting a whimsical scene from a swim party for mythical creatures of the sea. It is fused with raku and rock techniques, and includes copper and oxides with frits and powders. 21 x 14.5 inches
"Hot Tub Cool" is a flat, translucent wall panel, the third of three from the Swim Party series suggesting a whimsical scene from a swim party for mythical creatures of the sea. It is fused with raku and rock techniques, and includes copper, oxides, and reactives with frits and powders. 21 x 14.5 inches
“Angel's Shield”
“Molten Seas”
“Emerald Atmosphere”
“Sea Silly”
“Moonlight Bay”
“Kelp Forest”
“Mermaid's Court”
“Sea Foam”
“Salty Charades”
“Flag Coral”
“Moonlit Discovery Pool”
“Nightlife”
“Deep Lagoon”
“Summer School”
“Portal”
“Let's Dance”
“Mingling”
“Hot Tub Cool”
