Based in Tampa, Florida Susan Gott has been working with glass for over 25 years. She holds a Bachelor of Art from Radford University, Radford, Virginia and a Master of Fine Art in Glass from Kent State University.
Her work involves many steps and requires an enormous amount of cultural research, skill, artistry, creative genius, and physical strength. She creates molds , then forms sand molds for casting. Sometimes carving the sand itself. She laddles molten glass at 2400 degrees into these molds. During the filling of the mold she may choose to place decorative glass elements, and or metal wires and sheet metal. She then paints them with powered glass and allows them to cool. More work is required for the finished product. At carefully chosen places she polishes areas of the glass giving windows into the enclosed worlds she creates. Finally the glass sculptures are glued to a granite base.
Susan describes her work in these words "My work embodies my interest in mythological imagery, symbolism, and
philosophies from historic and ancient cultures as I investigate these ideas
using glass as a sculptural medium. The elements of this ancient, visual
language express the union of human being and nature. These images have
become enmeshed in my thought and in my art to create a new myth-os in glass.
My sources of inspiration seem endless. I am intensely interested in archeology and the rituals and art
of various world religions. Some of the additional influences include the work of Joseph Campbell,
the figurines of ancient Eastern Europe, the symbolism found in Indonesian and African masks, the
mysteries of the Celts, the myths of ancient Greece, the belief systems of Native American, and the
energy centers of the Chakras.
The resulting glass, with primitive qualities and metaphors, are a visual re—presentation of the
cycles of life. The human form becomes a vessel for connection to Spirit. These investigations
have opened new sources of inspiration for my work and strengthened a connection between my art
and that, which is timeless".
I have been representing Susan for over 15 years and have always admired the way she is constantly changing and improving her art.
If you are interested in meeting Susan in Los Angeles she will be at a show in the Santa Monica Gallery October 9th, 2010. www.adammsgallery.com
