Hudson Beach Glass

Water Set-Big Bowl in Jewel Finish
17 " L x 14" W x 4" H; We are currently stocking in sapphire, peridot and topaz
$390

Water Set-Ripple Bowl in Jewel Finish
13½ " L x 10" W x 3¼" H; We are currently stocking in topaz, peridot and citrine
$190

Octobowl-Small in Beach Finish
5" D x 1½" H; We are currently stocking in the BEACH finish topaz
$48

Tripod-Ribbed with 5" Bowl in Jewel Finish
5" D x 4½" H; We are currently stocking in topaz base with citrine bowl
$85

2" Spike Bowl in Jewel Finish
2¼” D x 1” H: We are currently stocking in peridot, topaz and emerald
$24 each

Nori Platter in Jewel Finish
16" L x 9” W x 1½” H; We are currently stocking in Citrine
$195

Relief Platter in Jewel Finish
16" D x ¾” H; We are currently stocking in Topaz
$205

Forage Dinner in Jewel Finish
10½” D x 1” H; We are currently stocking in Peridot
$75

Rocks Glasses
3” D x 3¼” H, 10 oz.; We are currently stocking in Sapphire/ Peridot
$36 each

Cordial glasses on Clear 5" Tile
1½” D x 3¾” H, 2 oz.; We are currently stocking in Sapphire/ Peridot
$125

Shot Glasses on 4" Clear Tile
2¼” D x 2¾” H, 2 oz.; We currently stock in Sapphire/ Peridot
$75


Triplex Tray with Three Bowls in Jewel Finish
14” L x 4½" W x 3” H; We currently stock with two triangular peridot dishes and a larger round bowl in topaz. The tray is clear.
$200

Shoal Sushi with Bowl in Jewel Finish
9½” L x 7½" W x 1” H; We currently stock with peridot tray and clear bowl
$140


Aloft Bowl in Jewel Finish
5" L x 4" W x 2" H; We currently stock in citrine and topaz
$48

Unique color combinations and texture

Hudson Beach Glass was founded in 1987 by four glass artists: John and Wendy Gilvey, Michael Benzer and Jennifer Smith. They hand cast glass using ancient processes to make functional and sculptural objects at our main studio, located in a renovated ice house in the Hudson Valley of New York state. Hot glass poured into molds made from found objects and textured materials.

Hudson Beach Glass is renowned for its characteristic chill wrinkle texture and color palette of transparent precious stones. All of their work is available in 13 colors with a Beach or Jewel finish. Please call Gallery Fifty Downtown for our current selection: 231-946-0610.

Lampwork Glass Wine Bottle Stoppers

Tennessee glass artist James Lang usess a glassblowing technique known as lampworking. The glass is known as borosilicate glass and is stronger than regular glass because it can be heated and cooled without cracking problems. This makes it perfect for use as a wine bottle stopper.

End of Day Wine Stopper
Made with lots of tiny pieces of cane and murrine providing a detailed display of color and designs. 5-6" tall with chrome stopper. $35

Heart Murrine Wine Stopper
Little glass murrine hearts go in to these unique wine stoppers. 5-6" tall with chrome stopper. $35

Freshwater Fish Barware

Oregon glass artist Otter Rotolante combines ten years of flameworking experience with offhand techniques to bring a wide array of functionality and designs in his artwork.

"In other mediums of art it's always about the end result, the finished product. In the blown glass medium, however, the process of creating the finished piece is its own form of art. Much like a well- choreographed dance, it's almost like 'behind the scenes' performance art. The end result is a tangible work of glass art, its minute details of form and shape revealing to the studied eye a quick peek behind the curtain for a glimpse of its creation. This makes blown glass as an art medium tense and dramatic, with the contrasting results of (hopefully) graceful and fluid forms. The resulting combination of skills, knowledge, and practice needed to pull it off makes blown glass a very exciting medium for me."



The glassware is made from sturdy borosilicate. All color in the pieces are authentic colored glass — no paints or enamels are used. Each piece is torchworked entirely by the artist. Otter usually creates ocean scenes, but because Gallery Fifty is located on Lake Michigan, Otter has created a line of freshwater fish for us!

Freshwater Goblets
Approximately 6-8" and fumed with silver. $65

Freshwater Cups
Approximately 3" and great for whiskey glasses. $30

Large Cups
Approximately 4" and can be used for most any mixed drink (not shown). $48

Freshwater Shot Glasses
Approximately 3" and made with thicker, borosilicate glass. $18

Call Gallery Fifty at 231-932-0775 to order.

Kiss my glass

Tennessee glass artist James Lang creates these kisses to last forever. They come fumed with sterling silver and are about 1" tall. An excellent stocking stuffer or Valentine's Day gift, they can also be used as pendants. Just $5.00 each!

Call Gallery Fifty at 231-932-0775 to order.

Fiber as inspiration for glass

Alaska artist Tamara Johannes is a multi-media artist who has worked clay, metal, fiber and most recently warm glass. She creates these great handcrafted, kiln-fired, dichroic glass barrettes. They make wonderful gifts of "wearable" art.

Tamera was originally a hot glass beadmaker, but then she began experimenting with the art of fusing glass as a way of combining torch work components into more complex glass jewelry. Using dichroic glass has become one of her trademarks.

Early work in fiber and clay were instrumental in forming a basis for work with glass. Many of her designs have elements of her original quilt work and patterns.

3" barrettes are $24; 4" are $28. We also carry Tamera's earrings and brooches. Come into Gallery Fifty to see our current color/ pattern selection: 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 50, Traverse City, Michigan 49684.

Leaving our shell behind

The world we live in, even where we have made a mess of it, is full of incredible sights. Tennessee artist Jennifer Adair believes that art should make us pause in our rush to wherever we are supposed to be. "Art should make us remember to be alive right here, right now," she says. "Art should help us see the world we live in."

Jennifer is fascinated by how hard people work in order to make things that look like they were made by something other than a human. "It takes a mollusk to make a nautilus shell. Humans use computers to create fractal images; wind does it with some sand. An agate, a sunset, a butterfly wing: our imperfect copies, whether of manmade stone or canvas and paint, require great effort on our part."

So her glass is about color and light, texture and pattern. And if she really gets it right, an explorer from some other world would wonder, when he looks at her work, what creature had left his shell behind.

Gallery Fifty carries her fused dichroic glass frames and triangle plates. Frames run $42 - $48; Plates are $75 - $95. Call for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Rediscovering the old; Creating the new

Tennessee artist Paula Mealka enjoys experimenting with dfferent art elements to create interesting, fun and sometimes functional fused glass work.

Fused glass can be subtle, elegant and often bold in color, shape, texture and design. Her work continuously changes and matures as she discovers new methods and skills. Paula uses many traditional fused glass techniques, but she also loves to make things up as she goes and by doing so, creating something new and wonderful. "Of course, this reckless abandon sometimes leads to disaster," she says. "But more often then not, it adds an interesting touch to my work."

She works with deep in glass (1/2-1 inch), creating pieces with depth and texture. One of the methods Paula incorporates into her work is taking glass to a very high temperature and when it is molten, combing a design through it. She also enjoys weaving glass stringers to construct intricate patterns.

For the artist, fused glass is the perfect medium to rediscover old techniques, create new ones by accident and continue her journey of art and discovery every time she opens the kiln.

Gallery Fifty carries a nice selection of her vases (above) for $95 each. The are approximately 7" tall by 5" round. We also offer her "Therapy" (below) plates for $175 each. They are 12" in diameter. Both designs make excellent gifts!

Light the dark corners of your world

Washington state artist Beth Spadafora creates these contemporary and colorful glass nightlights. Many layers of colored glass are cut and assembled, then fused together in a hot kiln resulting in these playfully elegant nightlights that cast an ethereal glow. Light the dark corners of your world with these hip nightlights!

The look she tries to evoke is casual and somewhat organic, a little bit crazy and just plain fun. "I believe in spontaneity both in art and in life," she says. "Although the glass does take a number of steps in the fabrication, the design work is usually quite spontaneous."

All work is made with special glass formulated especially for kiln firing. The process involves cutting, shattering and rearranging layers of colored glass and then firing it in a kiln to melt it all together. This new piece is then cut into the shapes required for nightlights and fired again into final form. The resulting glass is wildly colorful with an intense depth. Abstract images appear to those who take the time to observe.

Each one is approximately 4" x 2.25" and individually packaged in a clear oval box for $35. Gallery Fifty has a great selection. Call 231-932-0775 for more information.

'Flower Series' blooming at Gallery Fifty

Canadian glass artist Robert Held says, "Being physical with color and form is my love. After experimenting with many different media, I discovered glass and was instantly captivated. The clarity of the glass, the roar of the furnaces, the heat, and even the constant danger were all factors that influenced my choice of this difficult yet beautiful medium."

"Glassblowing allows me to explore both painterly concerns and my fascination with surface decoration, while continuing to challenge the other physical and creative skills required to take the vessel shape in ever new directions."

"My intimate relationship (talking to) the hot glass, the laying on of colors, layer upon layer, the addition of textures through broken glass shards, threads of molten glass and other techniques, is an incomparable experience. This fickle, molten mass will allow itself to be coaxed only by those who know its language."

I just made our winter order and am excited to introduce the 'flower series' to our customers. The tall vases (top right) are 11" and run $300. We love the smaller forms (stacked on left) — they're 6.5" to 7.5" and roughly $250. We expect delivery in mid-October and will post our selection on the web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

Hot glass: difficult yet beautiful

For Canadian artist Robert Held, glassblowing allows him to explore both painterly concerns and his fascination with surface decoration.

"Being physical with color and form is my love. After experimenting with many different media, I discovered glass and was instantly captivated," he says. "The clarity of the glass, the roar of the furnaces, the heat, and even the constant danger were all factors that influenced my choice of this difficult yet beautiful medium."

Robert's intimate relationship with the hot glass allows him to lay on color, layer upon layer, with the addition of textures with broken glass shards, threads of copper wire and other techniques.

He strives to create pieces that provide both a tactile and visual pleasure. And it is through this experience that he can share his passion for glass with the rest of us.

Gallery Fifty carries a great selection of Robert's paperweights and ornaments. All are priced around $40. Call for availability: 231-932-0775.

Exploring nature with glass

Montana artist Barbara Allen Dillon creates small sculpture by the craft of flameworking. For nearly 30 years, she has been inspired by nature and exploring with glass.

Flameworking involves manipulating a glass rod or tube in front of an oxygen/propane induced torch. After the piece is formed, it is transfered to an electric kiln where it anneals until slowly cooling to room temperature. All sculptures are individually handmade with no molding involved and although they are similar in design, no two are exactly alike.

Her perfume bottles are exquisite and the caterpillars are just plain sweet. At $55-$65 each, they both make wonderful gifts. Don't you love it when it looks like you spent more?

Call the gallery to hear about our selection of beetles, dragonflies and flower perfume bottles, too: 231-932-0775.

Gemstone Nebulas

By far, some of our most popular gift items are these "Gemstone Nebulas" by California artist Norbie Schmidlin. These little dishes create a special place to hold one's treasures such as bracelets, rings and earrings. They are also ideal for holding votive candles or conal incense.

The nebulas are a unique collaboration of clay and glass. They are created using a high-fired stoneware body, firing to 2360 degrees. At this high temperature, oxides, minerals and silica melt and fuse together, creating a beautiful facetted gemstone effect. 3" nebulas are $12; 3.75" are $22.

Call Gallery Fifty for color availability: 231-932-0775.

Note: I keep on next to the bathroom sink to hold my rings while I wash my hands, and another next to the bed to hold my earrings while I'm sleeping. No more misplaced jewelry!