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By Ted McIrvine, Hendersonville Times-News
October 28, 2007
All Kinds of Glass Art Available on Main Street
Last week's column was devoted to the fine art of Randi Solin, whose
blown glass pieces are at the Silver Fox Gallery in historic downtown
Hendersonville. Another artist at the same gallery is Gilles Payette,
who works in cast glass. This French Canadian sculptor began with
wood sculpture 35 years ago, transferred his skill to bronze and
aluminum castings, and then began casting glass. For a number of
years, he did production glass work in his studio near Montreal, but in
recent years has been moved to create only one-of-a-kind art pieces.
He literally breaks the mold after each piece is finished.
Payette explained his recent works in a charmingly Gallic gallery talk
recently. His works now on display, such as Ancient Garment and the
several Kimono pieces, have a theme of clothing. His commentary
was that a person's choice of clothing reflects what is inside a person
and his or her mood that day. In a similar way, his sculptures' exteriors
reflect the thoughts that lie inside the art and the artist's mood of the
moment.
While highly attractive, Solin's blown glass and Payette's cast glass
pieces are the one-off work of fine craft artists from Vermont and
Quebec who are internationally known. Each piece of their work costs
hundreds or more often thousands of dollars. For those of us on
budgets who want art pieces using glass, there may be a better way.
Highly talented local stained glass artists provide open editions at
economical prices through Divine Stained Glass at 351 N. Main St. in
Hendersonville, a working gallery specializing in stained glass art.
Gallery owner Holly Gardner has operated on Main Street for 15 years,
at five different locations, but she is most satisfied with her present
corner gallery. Trade pieces from a variety of sources are displayed
near the Main Street entrance, while in the back of the store, next to the
Fourth Avenue entrance, is her work space. There you will often find
her assembling commissioned work. Windows on the Fourth Avenue
wall provide excellent natural light for her work area.
A stunning representation of the Queen of Hearts playing card is
hanging in a place of honor in a show window in the front of the store.
This is not for sale, but provides an example of the quality of Ms.
Gardner's art to those who might be inclined to commission
architectural pieces for their houses. That would get into the higher
price ranges, but also available are small panels with mountain
scenes at more modest prices.
The work of stained glass artisan Kathy Goldstein is also offered in the
gallery. At present, Goldstein has a series of pieces that represent
spider webs. Wire "spiders" occupy the webs, providing a third
dimension to the pieces, which are a foot or two in the major
dimensions and are priced in the vicinity of $100 apiece.
A third local stained glass artist whose work may be examined at
Divine Stained Glass is Elsa Callendrillo, who teaches at Blue Ridge
Community College. For over 10 years, her work has been shown
along with Holly Gardner's. Recent Callendrillo production includes a
20x24-inch floral pattern and a similarly sized dragon, with prices
around $500 apiece.
So whether you want to promote local artists or internationally
renowned artists, and whether your taste is for blown glass, cast
glass, or assembled stained glass panels, Main Street can provide
you with glass art.
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