It's the Little Things

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower,” said William Blake. Magnified 250 times common sand which is found found all over our Earth takes myriad forms and striking colors.

What is sand? Where does it come from?  Sand is tiny fragments of rock that have been worn away over thousands of years.

Contrary to popular belief, sand is made as rocks crash and break in rivers and streams on their way to the sea, rather than the ebb and flow of the tides.

Deposits left by breaking rocks in the sea turns to silt and is much lighter so is dispersed over a much wider area out to sea, rather than on the shore line.

Some of the rock is soluble, but other bits remain and as they are slowly rubbed down over time they get smaller and smaller until, Voila! C’est magnifique! 

So next time you are at the beach or a bit of bare ground shows itself to you as sand, take a moment to contemplate it's complex history.

Glass making sand at Nourot Studio comes in two forms. We get it in big bags, really big bags of 50Kg (110 lbs) each.  Times were when we would get a half rail car full. Hence the dilapidated fork lift in our yard. 

Did you know how important the source of the sand for making glass is? The grain size and shape effects the fining of the batch, so a certain color to be melted calls for a certain kind of sand. 

Scarlet Nova® glass by Nourot is made with a particular grain size.  The atmosphere above the melting glass is just as important, too. But let us leave that for another day.

Go see the beautiful images of sand grains at the link below.  Also read the Michael Weland book about the history of sand.  Truly it had an effect on where people settled, how they could develop products for market and even warfare. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2011471/Pictures-sand-Close-photographs-reveal-incredible-beauty.html
Picture: Scarlet Nova® and Red Satin Glass® in the Nourot Gallery, Benicia, California

Charles Savoie at Art Fest in Naples this Weekend

Contemporary American Craftspeople will converge on Naples, Florida this weekend for the annual Art Fest.

Our good friend Charles Savoie, whose works can also be seen in the Nourot Gallery in Benicia, will be in attendance.

Craftspeople traditionally head to Florida for the winter circuit.  The Naples show is one that has held it's strength during the recession. This weekend you will see works in glass, work, metal and ceramics, as well as wearables and mixed media art works.

“The Art Fest is a major fundraiser for us each year and we greatly appreciate the community’s support,” said Eden Executive Director Susan Suarez in the release. “Many of our staff members and parents, along with other community members, work as volunteers at the event. We’re able to raise needed funds to support developmental and educational programs for our students with autism.”

Additions this year include a booth featuring art for sale by the students of Eden’s Schools as well as a coloring contest for local children. (See side story.) The fest will also feature an “Art for Autism” silent auction made possible through donations from the show’s artists to directly benefit Eden Autism Services’ programs.

January Red Bowl Sale

These little gems have been kicking around all wrapped up for a long time.  Now you can buy these red bowls at a big savings this January.
Save 20% off the already deeply discounted price. Their official title is: "Red Satin Hunt  and Bowls".  These hand blown red glass pieces are signed from '99--'01; with an "s" in a circle following that.
But they are really nicely made.  Usually their only flaw was they were of the wrong exact size for the series then being signed.
The bowls on sale are about 5 or 6 inches across.  These make a perfect housewarming or thank you gift.  Now at these savings they are really affordable. Call Dorothy in the Nourot Gallery for more information. 707-745-1463.  The Nourot Gallery is open six days a week from 10Am to 4PM in Benicia, California. Benicia is located about 45 miles from San Francisco and about 35 from the Napa Valley.

Kay Carlson's Works on Display

Kay Carlson's "Red Day" Sausalito above, is a fine example of her fluid and dramatic style. Come see more of her works on canvas at Nourot Glass Gallery. Six other women artists' works are on display also. Benicia is a city of many attractions, all easily accessible from our waterfront area (where we have a great public access trail).

Shops and restaurants along First Street are an easy stroll away.

You may call us at the gallery for more information: Paula Foster will be happy to assist you with directions or plans. Call 707-745-1463. Or see: our tourist site.Thanks for reading.

Benicia Photo by Michael Malerba.

Kara Young's Earth and Fire Sage

Kara Young, Santa Fe artist, is just one of the women artists whose works will be on dislplay at the "Summer Breezes" Show at the Nourot Glass Gallery from July 15--September 15, 2009. Here you can see the Kara Young work in encaustic titled: "Earth and Fire Sage". This dimensional and textural image is worked on canvas from colored pigements and plaster-like substances. The effect is solid and rich. Kara is a friend of the Nourot's from the old days: days when Craft was King. These works by Kara Young will be hung in the Nourot Glass Gallery for the first time beginning July 15th.
Come and see works in art from a variety of women artists. The range of styles is amazing. Many of the art works can be purchased at affordable prices. Please call Paula Foster at the Nourot Gallery for more information about this "Summer Breezes" show at Nourot Gallery in Benicia, California. Phone is: 707-7435-1463

Cocktail Party Honoring the Oscar Suite Sponsors

Cocktail Party March 15 Nourot Studio

Last night was so much fun. We can't stop smiling. Many of our great sponsors made it in to help celebrate the end of the Oscars season. Pictures of celebrities and Nourot Glass pieces were placed all around the Nourot Glass Gallery. There will be a slide show of more party pictures soon, so check back. Again, thanks to all of our sponsors and all the people who helped to make the party a success: Rocky and Autumn, bartenders, Julie Meyer, the cake lady; and the Caliente Girls Catering. Special thanks to Paula Foster, Dorothy Reading and Rachel Tucker for getting the glass gallery looking party perfect.
Click the picture of the girls above to be redirected to a short picasa web album of pictures taken that night.