June 12, 2010, Eileen Martin

Eileen Martin, Martin Glass Creations, 155 Gibbs St. Studio #300 (in Visarts), Rockville, MD 20850.  301.704.4613

www.martinglasscreations.com

I opened my studio in 1997 after spending 24 years with a variety of contractors and government entities. I had always been fascinated with glass, and when my career stopped satisfying me I decided to take some stained glass classes.  I found that I was quite good at it, and when I left my job I opened my studio and took on commissions.  A few thousand panels (literally) later, I have expanded my repertoire beyond lead and copper foil stained glass fabrication and glass painting, to fused and kiln-formed glass, laminating and sand-blasting. I also work with a variety of other media including ceramics, metal, stone and wood in my sculptural pieces.

            My first studio was in a barn; my next studio was a studio/art gallery, providing a different source of income and headaches.  All of the pieces in my gallery, whether they were one of a kind or production pieces, were all made by my hands.  It was a successful endeavor – I was able to create the kind of work that I enjoyed doing, people would buy that art, and I was able to teach.   And although this was a satisfying experience, I wanted to try working with other artists in a collaborative setting.

            I am currently a resident artist at VisArts - the Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts.  In this venue I am able to work with a variety of artists; fiber, ceramic, painting, and metalwork.  I am also the head of the glass department, in which capacity I am responsible for the classroom, inventory, and education programs.  I work with the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public school system as a guest lecturer, and from those contacts I have been able to work with hundreds of students, enriching their art experiences and my life.

            I am one of the very few people in this region who do on-site restoration of stained glass, so you can periodically find me on scaffolding in a church in the area.   My commission work is highly sought after.  I exhibit in shows either independently or as a member of the National Capital Art Glass Guild (NCAGG), which shows in the Maryland, DC and Virginia region.  I am also the co-chairman of the Creative Crafts Council, an association of nine craft guilds which manages and presents shows for their members. I teach art (fused, stained and mosaic) glass at numerous locations in the Metropolitan area and also judge and act as juror for glass and enamel guild shows and exhibitions.  

Temperature determines texture

About 25 SAA members and guests attended.