THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 24, 1994 TAG: 9407210196
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 42 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Nancy McWilliams
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Through Aug. 7, the windows of the Duck Blind gallery in Duck shimmer with the exquisite stained glass of Richmond's Janet Smith. Missing this show would be a shame, as Smith's glass stands out, stating that there is indeed beauty in this world and it deserves to be celebrated.
It's obvious the artist is a creative and caring woman, someone you'd like to meet. Gazing at her glass is like being transported to another dimension. Gallery owner Anna Smith said part of the explanation is Janet Smith's use of the finest handblown glass from Europe. ``I like the quality of light better,'' Janet Smith said. Glass from the United States is usually flat plate glass without texture. Looking at the trees outside the Duck Blind through the rich textures of Smith's glass gives a whole new dimension to the outdoor scenes. Her glass is thin, allowing more light through, and her unusual patterns and use of color are unbelievably beautiful.
Born and raised in the Washington, D.C., area, Janet Smith's interest in art began at a young age. Her father was a writer and her mother a dancer. She assumed she'd grow up to be one or the other, but in college she fell in love with painting and earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting and printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Upon graduation, she looked for a way to make a living with her art skills. ``I realized with glass I could do fine art and design in the same medium,'' she said. ``I liked having the range and I thought I could make it into a business and work for myself, not work somewhere else and do art on the side.''
Smith often vacations on the Outer Banks. ``It's my favorite place to go to the beach,'' she said.
Color is what makes her glass expressive, Smith said. For her, light has all sorts of incredible energy. ``I'm fascinated by the way it plays upon things,'' she said. ``The designer in me is fascinated by quality of light.''
Smith starts out with a loose idea of what she wants to achieve. Working spontaneously, she is apt to change focus throughout the process. ``I work in a painterly fashion, adding and taking away.''
The results are breathtaking. At the Duck Blind show, Smith has a variety of glass from a $35 bench box to a $4,000 room divider. There are mirrors, window hangings, lamps, fireplace screens, even three-dimensional works that appear to move in the light.
In Smith's work the viewer will find a mixture of old and new, with unlikely color combinations such as green, purple and peach that come together delicately.
Combining glass with paper or fabric by sandwiching them between glass, Smith has made some stunning works. A favorite material for her is Tyvec, used in construction work. Smith likes its stone-like finish and its durability. After painting or dyeing the Tyvec in gradations of color, she puts it between glass, giving the pieces a contemporary look.
Smith also tries different kinds and shapes of metal to solder, so the metal becomes an element of the design rather than merely the means to hold the glass together. ``I'm excited by the way in which glass can move into the realms of painting and sculpture,'' Smith said.
At 38, this artist simply wants to continue doing what she's doing. ``Art making is a natural part of living,'' she said. ``It's taking the world I see around me and breathing it in, putting it through my own filter and breathing it back out. I love doing that; I hope it touches other people.''
The Smith show is part of a series of celebrations the Duck Blind is holding this year in honor of its 20th anniversary. Started in 1974 by Anna Smith and Peggy Lewis, the Duck Blind was the area's only contemporary gallery at that time. Starting out with the work of 20 artists, the Duck Blind now represents 120 professional artists. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Janel Smith's stained glass is on display at Duck Blink Limited art
gallery in Duck
by CNB