Behind the Design

Folk Artist Spotlight - Judy Fuentes

March 24, 2014

Judy Fuentes started designing and creating glass jewelry and fused glass crosses after her ceramic creations in clay and porcelain were featured in galleries throughout the southeastern United States. Her eye-catching jewelry pieces of wearable art are so elegant and charming that you'll never want to take them off. They are a perfect accompaniment to any evening gown or your everyday attire. Each individual piece of Judy's glass art is different and unique.

Educated in Los Angeles and also in Mexico, Judy first became interested in glass jewelry and crosses while watching the glass blowers of Guadalajara as a child. Judy spent nearly three decades as a public school teacher with an abiding passion for the arts. Beginning in 1972 she took up pottery to fill her spare time, and from 1979-1982 her ceramic creations in clay and porcelain were featured in many galleries.

The dramatic visuals of Judy's fused glass crosses are created as light plays through the varying glass materials, which are fused together in a high-temperature, ceramic kiln. The center ornaments are made of dichroic glass containing metal oxides, the top layer is iridescent glass for the chameleon effect, and the main body is translucent glass with a different colored edge.

The jewelry she creates personifies the term "wearable art". "I use a blowtorch to create my colorful and unique glass beads. I use these beads to design and create jewelry using sterling silver or 14 K gold-filled wire. My jewelry is formed from large and small pieces of Bullseye art glass. I cut the shapes and assemble them, and then I fuse each piece in a kiln to 1500 degrees. Molded shapes are then fired a second time to 1350 degrees."

Check out Judy's glass bead jewelry and fused glass crosses today!

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