PrintSometimes the course of our life takes a completely unexpected turn. For Festival of Arts artist Sherry Salito-Forsen, it happened in 1976. She was 23 years old with no idea of her specific direction. On a tour to Europe, Salito-Forsen was dazzled by stained glass windows. Then and there, she decided that she wanted to learn more about the art. Thus, began an unexpected journey from Europe to the world of glass. Today, Salito-Forsen is a recognized glass artist, and has been exhibiting at the Festival of Arts for 25 years as well as at many other prestigious festivals, winning a variety of ribbons and awards.
When Salito-Forsen returned from Europe, she took a private stained glass class where she immersed herself in study. The owner/artist offered her a job, and she worked in the studio almost nine years. Salito-Forsen learned all phases of technical skills and developed a huge repertoire of glass knowledge. When the owner sold his business, Salito-Forsen saw an opportunity to become self-employed; and so she, and her husband Hal Forsen set up shop in their home/studio and Glassics was born. Forsen is not a glass artist, but his skills in working with high quality woods and metals have turned her functional production into non-functional, decorative art and sculpture. Having Forsen to realize her designs from her drawings, to build a variety of classic supports, allows Salito-Forsen opportunities to expand formal possibilities and move in several new artistic directions. She could not create as she does without her husband. Glass needs supports; and his graceful and beautifully crafted work is an enhancement to her art.
For Salito-Forsen, she would rather go glass shopping than clothes shopping. While glass is one of the most ancient of arts and not much has changed, glass manufacturers are continually coming up with new colors. On these sojourns, she may purchase a new sheet of glass and later and test it to see what it would become when it is fired. Her work involves cutting, assembling, layering, and firing, often repetitively, working with a variety of different colors and fusing them as one. Salito-Forsen has several kilns: a small one for testing colors, a midsize for jewelry, and a larger kiln for the new and bigger pieces.
A unique feature of Glassics is that Sherry uses no patterns, no molds, takes few pictures, and deliberately tries not to copy herself. It is common for artists, when coming up with a successful piece to build on that success and repeat and repeat what has proven effective. In this way Glassics remains original with a willingness to experiment with new possibilities.
Visit Booth #86 at the Festival of Arts. For more information and to arrange a private appointment, go to www.glassicsart.com .
Contact the writer: roberta.carasso@gmail.com
