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Seekers® Glass Gallery presents the work of
Michael Apfel, who combines ancient glass making techniques with space age
materials to create otherworldly effects in his original sculptures with
dichroic glass.
As Michael describes himself and his work
"I have always considered myself to be an artist without a medium. I jumped
around sporadically from stained glass, to painting, to sculpture, to mosaics
and any mixture thereof, but it wasn’t until I found glass fusion that I found
my passion."
Michael’s work involves slumping, fusing,
freehand carving and sandblasting to bring his work to fruition.
The word dichroic is Greek- di
means two and chroic means color. Dichroic glass was developed in the
1960s for use in high technology applications. It manipulates light in two ways,
transmitting one color while reflecting another. It appears to change colors
when the viewer moves in relation to the piece, providing a kinetic effect.
Dichroic glass offers a fascinating dimension
to contemporary art glass. Dichroic glass has been coated with thin films of
metals. The metals are evaporated and vacuum deposited onto the glass. Several
layers of materials such as chromium, selenium, silicon and titanium are used.
Dichroic coatings have evolved from the thin film technology of NASA and other
high technology programs. The technology is called "Thin Film
Physics".
Each piece created for Seekers is the result of
the artist’s own unique design and creation, and is signed and dated by the
artist.
Michael says his love of glass began with a
glass fusion class with Bob Pierce. He then became acquainted with master artist
Peggy Stewart of Desert Glasshopper Studios. Fire and Fusion Studios was another
big influence on his art, as was Kerry Transtrum of Fusing on Edge.
His work has been shown at museums, fine
galleries and juried exhibitions throughout the United States.
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