THE GRANDEUR of GLASS

"The Most Magical of All Materials"

- BY STEVE VOYNICK

The celebrated American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly once described glass as “the most magical of all materials. ” And Chihuly, among the world’s most influential contemporary artists, speaks from experience. By combining bold colors and eccentric forms on a monumental scale, he revolutionized glass artistry and helped elevate the medium from craft to fine art. Chihuly’s glass art, showcased in 200 museums and 50 major exhibitions worldwide, has dazzled millions and broadened our perceptions of glass itself.

Because glass is so ubiquitous, it is often taken for granted. But glass has a long and fascinating history. And, as Chihuly said, its properties are nothing short of magical.

NATURAL GLASS

The first glassmakers replicated what already existed in nature. The most abundant form of natural glass is obsidian, an extrusive igneous rock that forms from the rapid solidification of rhyolitic (silica-rich) lava. Obsidian's composition—mostly silica (silicon dioxide) with smaller amounts of feldspar, ferromagnesian, alkali and alkaline-earth minerals—approximates that of modern glass. Like man-made glass, obsidian exhibits a pronounced conchoidal fracture, a property that enabled humans to flake the first razor-sharp points and knives more than 100,000 years ago.

Other forms of natural glass include tektites, which form from the solidification of molten terrestrial debris ejected during meteoric impacts, and fulgurites, which are bits of lightning-fused quartz sand.

IN THE BEGINNING