Lynn McManus
My first introduction to glass was a stained glass class I took at North Seattle Community College in the early 70’s. I knew at that time I wanted to give my pieces dimension but my instructor wasn’t sure how to do that. We experimented and it didn’t work. I was happy doing stained glass but then in the 90’s got antsy for something new to do with glass. Thanks to computers and the web I read many things about fusing and blowing and decided I wanted to try my hand at both. I attended classes at Pratt Fine Arts in Seattle. Deciding fusing was the most practical to do at home, I bought my first kiln and fusible glass and I was off to the races! Three kilns later, I find myself being inspired by many things in my environment, the colors around me and just life itself. I have worked with children in the Edmonds School District as a Para professional for 15years working with high needs students. I was able to teach art to many. At Maplewood Co-op I taught middle school students stained glass and they completed an Orca window panel which is a permanent fixture in the library. I also worked with middle school students at Cedar Valley Community School. The students fused glass tiles and made a mosaic on existing cement benches in their school. Both experiences were extremely rewarding to me on a personal level, both teaching and exploring the many possibilities out there with the children. I have assisted Patty Gray, renowned glass artist, teaching Intensive fusing classes at Pratt Fine Arts in 2008 and 2009. My work has shown at several galleries, shows, exhibits and homes in the area and abroad
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My main objective as a glass artist is to experiment and learn. I love to try new things by stepping out of the box. It is thrilling to have an idea in your mind and then to be able to take a sheet of glass or glass powders and any inclusions I might want in the piece, and bring your idea to fruition. I never want to stop learning or experimenting.