For Kathy and Rick Steckel, glass is the ultimate medium for artistic expression. Kathy attributes her design sense to a childhood vision deficit, as she was unable to see detail; her visual world consisted only of light and form. She employs these elements in the couple’s art glass today. Rick, a fourth generation glassmaker creates heirloom quality objects. Having studied glass with master glass blowers and artists in Sweden and the United States they established K Dahl Glass Studios in 1991.
The textural and sculptural qualities that prevail in their glass work are achieved by constructing and layering their materials, and then carefully monitoring the temperatures during the kiln forming process. Additional firings can transform the glass into three dimensional forms. Materials may include crushed, powdered, iridized, dichroic, transparent and opalescent glasses, as well as non-glass materials such as metal leaf, powdered mica and metal sheet.
These artists work together to offer creative and inspiring solutions to practical needs. Kathy blends her talent as a fine art painter with 34 years of experience as a glass artist to design the couple’s art glass. Rick, a master glass artist of 25 years, directs the technical aspects of each project. Their studio is a busy place and can be visited by appointment. They sometimes offer classes and workshops in glass and fine art.
Different kinds of art glass….
Background - Kathy
Kathy has flourished as an artist since 1980 when she moved to Alaska to start her own glass studio after an apprenticeship in stained glass with Mary Matchell of Crystal Glass Studios in Carbondale, CO. In Alaska she designed and completed many Public Art projects, as well as glass commissions for numerous religious buildings and private homes. She moved to Sweden for a year of glass study in the small village of Transjo, in the heart of the Glass Kingdom. Kathy offers workshops and classes in glass and fine art.
Background – Rick
Inspired by discoveries of ancient Native American artifacts while wandering the canyons in his youth in rural western Colorado, Rick is a fourth generation glassmaker who delights in creating heirloom quality objects. While studying glass blowing in Europe he was able to visit the historic Josephine Hutte glass factory, where his great grandfather made glass around the turn of the last century. Rick loves to bring people into his world of glass making. He is great at making people feel comfortable while handling 2000 degree molten glass on the end of a blow pipe. Rick has an intimate understanding of glass and it’s properties, whether molten, semi-molten or solid and can impart his knowledge in a most dynamic and affable way.
The textural and sculptural qualities that prevail in their glass work are achieved by constructing and layering their materials, and then carefully monitoring the temperatures during the kiln forming process. Additional firings can transform the glass into three dimensional forms. Materials may include crushed, powdered, iridized, dichroic, transparent and opalescent glasses, as well as non-glass materials such as metal leaf, powdered mica and metal sheet.
These artists work together to offer creative and inspiring solutions to practical needs. Kathy blends her talent as a fine art painter with 34 years of experience as a glass artist to design the couple’s art glass. Rick, a master glass artist of 25 years, directs the technical aspects of each project. Their studio is a busy place and can be visited by appointment. They sometimes offer classes and workshops in glass and fine art.
Different kinds of art glass….
- “Cold glass” is a term given to glass art that is created without the direct use of a kiln or furnace. Typically working with sheet glass, pieces are cut and fitted to a pattern, then assembled into traditional stained glass panels for architectural applications such as windows and doors for new construction. The couple has many years of experience designing and constructing new stained glass panels, as well as conducting the repair and restoration of traditional leaded glass windows found in many homes and building from the late 1880’s to current through State Historic Preservation Grants and private funding.
- “Warm glass” is a term used to describe glass that is fired in a kiln. Often sheets of glass, shards, frit, and glass powders are layered and then heated until molten, fusing it together. The couple creates kiln fired glass tile for the wall, bowls and functional glassware for the home and bent glass for lighting applications.
- “Hot glass” is a term utilized for art glass created by taking molten glass from a furnace onto a blowpipe, which is then blown and shaped by hand into a three dimensional object, often bowls, vases and stemware. Having studied glass during apprenticeships with master glass blowers Jan-Erik Ritzman and Svenne Ake Carlsson in the glass kingdom of Sweden, together the couple established K Dahl Glass Studios in 1991 in the small western Colorado town of Crawford. Until 2006 their glass blowing studio produced hundreds and hundreds of bowls, vases and functional hand blown glass ware which sold in fine American Craft Galleries throughout the US. Rick still blows glass occasionally at North Rim Glass Studios in Crawford, as Jared and Nicole Davis' hot shop sprang forth in 2006.
Background - Kathy
Kathy has flourished as an artist since 1980 when she moved to Alaska to start her own glass studio after an apprenticeship in stained glass with Mary Matchell of Crystal Glass Studios in Carbondale, CO. In Alaska she designed and completed many Public Art projects, as well as glass commissions for numerous religious buildings and private homes. She moved to Sweden for a year of glass study in the small village of Transjo, in the heart of the Glass Kingdom. Kathy offers workshops and classes in glass and fine art.
Background – Rick
Inspired by discoveries of ancient Native American artifacts while wandering the canyons in his youth in rural western Colorado, Rick is a fourth generation glassmaker who delights in creating heirloom quality objects. While studying glass blowing in Europe he was able to visit the historic Josephine Hutte glass factory, where his great grandfather made glass around the turn of the last century. Rick loves to bring people into his world of glass making. He is great at making people feel comfortable while handling 2000 degree molten glass on the end of a blow pipe. Rick has an intimate understanding of glass and it’s properties, whether molten, semi-molten or solid and can impart his knowledge in a most dynamic and affable way.