Basics

Channel:
Art
Genre:
Arts and Crafts
Roles:
Artist, Craft Artist, Designer, Glass Artist, Jewelry Designer, Mosaic Artist
Specialties:
I am mainly a stained glass Mosaic Artist. I do use a broad variety of materials in my mosaics at times though, China shards, jewelry findins, bit and pieces of this and that. I mosaic on found objects aka "other people's junk and cast aways " as well as new. From mailboxes to Bali masks to jewelry I have altered the surfaces of many objects. Some are re-purposed and other's simply reborn. I do custom work locally on small scale. I haven't done an "installation" as yet, just the thought is frightening to me but my path seems to want to go there. We'll see.

Statements

Artist’s Statement

Kathleen McKenna
Mosaic Art
GlassyLass

Having been involved in the creation of art since a very young age my interests and talents have evolved over time. Since building diorama’s for my “troll” dolls as a kid in the basement of my family’s home in Rhode Island to working in my own little studio here in New Jersey art has been life’s constant presence. From clay sculpture to painting, felt to papier mache, the evolution process has brought me to a manic desire to create MOSAIC, mostly stained glass mosaic. I have a small room in my home that has become my studio. This is where I have my fist cup of coffee every morning and where the last light is put out every night. My obsession began with a simple query to having a stained glass lamp repaired. I met my muse in a stained glass shop.

I imagine all artist’s feel at a loss when it comes to explaining their art. I read an artist quoted as saying something like “ if I could explain it I couldn’t create it. “ Sounds a bit terse but I can understand the remark because I too create from feeling. It can be hard to put feelings into words. Inspiration for art comes from everywhere around me. Most of my present work is obvious, no hidden meanings, not meant to jar thought. I reclaim unwanted items from various sources and breathe new usefulness, beauty or whimsy into them through mosaic. The thought of being able to paint with glass is what I was drawn to. Using stained glass to create mosaic was the perfect fit for me. My tools are rudimentary, their power source is me. I wield a glass cutting pen, running pliers and tile nippers. Never having a stained glass course or a mosaic workshop I admittedly have “winged” my way through. With no background to draw from or to use as a restriction I have been discovering my own style, my own unique niche in the vast world that is Mosaic Art. I am not shy about a new idea, a new material or direction for my work to take. Gradually branching out and incorporating materials such as ceramic, gems, stone, shell is opening up new and exciting avenues for me to explore.

I have begun work on what will be a panel inspired by a sculpted pilaster on the Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, Autun titled “Dream of the Magi “ . It hasn’t made the jump from my paper to panel and glass yet but it relentlessly occupies my thought’s and dream’s so it’s only a matter of time before it finds it’s way out of my head and into the real world.

I have sold many pieces to private collectors. Some of my works are also displayed locally. When working with a client it is my intent to involve them in the entire process from conception to fruition in an attempt to have their vision become a reality through my art.

Specialties

I am mainly a stained glass Mosaic Artist. I do use a broad variety of materials in my mosaics at times though, China shards, jewelry findins, bit and pieces of this and that. I mosaic on found objects aka "other people's junk and cast aways " as well as new. From mailboxes to Bali masks to jewelry I have altered the surfaces of many objects. Some are re-purposed and other's simply reborn.

I do custom work locally on small scale. I haven't done an "installation" as yet, just the thought is frightening to me but my path seems to want to go there. We'll see.