When Glass Arts Collective artist Barbara (BJ) Fitzgerald received the commission, she had no idea it would lead to one of her most heartfelt ones yet.

But knew this piece had to feel like a blooming celebration of the bond between the two women. She carefully chose each color and form to echo a vibrant garden in motion. Layered poppies, bird of paradise, and leaves of various greens and blues flow across three glass panels, anchored by a playful band of geometric elements. A visual conversation, playful and unstructured, just like the easy conversations that happen between sisters.

Local resident Carladawn had never been to Glass Arts Collective before, but she reached out to Nancy with the hope that she could help with a simple but touching request: she wanted to surprise her sister, Linda, with a stunning piece of glass art that would brighten the space between the kitchen and living room of their home and mirror the lovely view of the outdoor garden— a gift of joy, color, and sisterly love.

BJ knew this piece had to feel like a blooming celebration of the bond between the two women. She carefully chose each color and form to echo a vibrant garden in motion. Layered poppies, bird of paradise, and leaves of various greens and blues flow across three glass panels, anchored by a playful band of geometric elements. A visual conversation, playful and unstructured, just like the easy conversations that happen between sisters.

When Carladawn brought Linda to the studio to pick up the finished piece, Linda-speechless at first-stood gazing at it and tracing the lines of color and texture, fascinated by the piece and the process it took to complete it.

What started as a surprise became something far more enduring.

In the image: Carladawn, left; Linda, right.

Glass Arts Collective is delighted to participate in the City of Thousand Oaks

OPEN STUDIO TOUR

Sunday, June 29

Please see the flyer below for more details. The Thousand Oaks Community Gallery is located at 2331-A Borchard Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320