Leigh was inspired by the need to craft something beautiful that can heal and bring people together through shared experiences and memories. She also aimed to pay tribute to her mother and the way she gracefully, joyfully, and gratefully embraced life.
Her newest glass collection is incredible!
We Give Thanks - Coral Turks Cap Lilies
This collection draws inspiration from the various transitions that punctuate our lives. While some transitions are easier to navigate, the experience of loss is undeniably challenging. Leigh's mother's recent passing left her feeling as though the world had fallen silent, becoming somewhat subdued. The pain of loss is a universal experience that serves as a poignant reminder to cherish life and its simple yet profound beauty.
Stargazers
During this challenging time, she found solace in the captivating beauty of lilies, which led me to reflect on the concept of transitions. Lilies undergo dormant periods before resurfacing in a seemingly celebratory fashion. They gracefully emerge from the darkness of the earth, revealing their splendid magnificence as they bask in the light. Some lilies appear to bow their vibrant heads in prayer and gratitude, much like the tiger lily. In contrast, others reach skyward with radiant elegance, embodying a sense of glory and thankfulness akin to the spider lily. Eventually, they fade and return to the earth, mirroring the cyclical nature of transitions. Like lilies, we, too, experience dormant phases before transitioning back into a life filled with vibrancy, gratitude, and magnificence. Leigh likes to envision her mother as a graceful lily who embodied gratitude and beauty, dazzling the world for the duration of her presence.
We Bow Our Heads
"My daily inspiration was found in the desire to create something beautiful that heals and connects us through shared experiences and memories, and to honor my mother and the way she approached life gracefully, joyfully and in gratitude," said Leigh.
Surrendering - Tiger Lilies
Working with glass can be quite challenging!
Leigh collaborates with her kilns to fire the glass at extremely high temperatures. Throughout this process, the glass is susceptible to stress and may fracture, so each firing must be meticulously calibrated. Some of her sculptures require three or four separate firings to achieve the desired results. To create these sculptures, Leigh crafts unique sheets of glass by layering different colors and shapes of cut glass and frit (crushed glass), which are fused at high temperatures for 10-12 hours. This method allows the glass to melt and flow into a radiant, painterly effect that cannot be replicated in a sheet of glass from a manufacturer.
Emerging - Spider Lilies
Although the resulting sheets are beautiful, they are thick and challenging to cut. This presents a problem because creating my sculptures is akin to assembling a puzzle – the glass pieces must be cut into shapes that fit together in the designated design. Each piece is scored, broken with pliers (and sometimes a hammer), and then carefully shaped with tile nippers if necessary to achieve the desired form. Subsequently, every piece must be meticulously cleaned and free of debris before being placed in the design. The entire process of cutting, shaping, cleaning, placing, and firing can be quite challenging, but ultimately, it is incredibly rewarding!
In Celebration - Tiger Lilies
"Through this collection I hope to share a spirit of joy and ease and offer the viewer quiet moments of reflection, beauty and gratitude."