The Fire God

My interpretation of the Fire God. Unfortunately not a great photo. There is a blue irridized cast-glass face in the upper circle and the border glass was brand new at the time, a sheet called Indian Corn found by my wife at a stained glass store in Grand Rapids, MN. The Fire God-2006

The Fire God

This is Sulawitsi or "Fire God", one of several katsinas adapted from the Zuni. I bought it directly from the artist during Hopi week at the University of Northern Arizona Museum. After that trip I built my first katsina window.

Katsinas

In Hopi and Pueblo cultures Katsinas are powerful beings that can represent anything from a revered ancestor, to an element, a location, a quality, a natural phenomenon, or a concept. They interest me because they look so otherworldly, a kind of natural sci-fi being.

What’s on the work table?

The Galaxy-maker. I’m using glass at hand and dipping heavily into my box of choice little glass pieces. I hope to build 3 to 4 large windows (approx. 20 x 30 inches unframed) by end of May to hang in June at the Dunn Bros. on Lake and Bryant.

King of the Sea progress

This big window took shape when I found a sheet of maple Linds glass and a sheet of Oceana. Perfect octopus stuff. The head and torso is black opaque glass with Hawaiian petroglyphs etched into it. The octopus’ eye is a glass replica of a Dall Sheep and the border pattern is in homage to the Northwest Coast button blankets. King of the Sea-2004

King of the Sea redux

I wanted to build a more literal interpretation in an islander direction.

King of the Sea

A few years ago I saw this carving in a Vancouver gallery. It was called King of the Sea by Aubrey LaFortune. The carving represents a Shaman. It was about 3 feet square and if I had 6K to drop for anything at the moment, it would’ve been mine.