Commissions, Classes, and Road Trips, Oh My!
Now that fall is officially here, and summer 2025 is officially over, I really need to catch everyone up on what’s been happening in the Kim Mathiot Glass world. The Universe has indeed been working overtime to deliver great things for my little studio and I am beyond grateful. It’s been a lot of hard work, and there is a lot of hard work ahead of us, but I am so proud of what we accomplished in the last few months and I just need to share it here.
The first, and perhaps the most exciting development is that we’ve been commissioned to create a beautiful stained-glass panel for Nurture Yoga Studio in Dimondale, MI. The clients, who are actually friends of mine, wanted something that would dress up the entry of their studio, but still let in light and create pools of color on the floor and walls of their studio. The studio is in a building that was built in the late 19th century that still has the original doors, brick walls, and wood floor. The design chosen marries the 19th century American architectural stained-glass tradition with a modern, yet timeless motif of the tree of life. The tree design, inspired by the ancient maple tree that dominates Nurture’s next-door garden space, the Nurture logo, and the “I bend so I don’t break” philosophy behind the practice, gracefully flows from its roots to its leaves in the 20” x 63” panel. The glass is now mostly cut and I should begin assembly this weekend. The owner of Nurture Yoga Studio wants to have an unveiling reception on October 19, and the window to be installed on the 17th, so I’d better kick things into overdrive!
Progress on the Nurture Window.
Glass is almost all cut and ready for assembly!
Full view of the Nurture window
The piece of the tree, right in the middle, has a oval shaped slice cut out of it. Not sure what I’m going to do about that yet … what would you do?
Also, I was honored to be hired as a visiting instructor at the Flint Institute of Art, and I taught two classes in the summer session. The classes, held Monday and Friday evenings, featured beginning techniques in stained glass – copper foil, 3D, and lead construction. I had a total of nine students of all different skill levels between the two classes, which really tested my ability to differentiate my instruction, exercise patience and calm, and revisit my technical experience from the early days as a stained-glass artist and teacher. It’s been a lot of fun, and even though we’re winding down the summer session, I’m looking forward to the fall session where some of my students will be continuing their projects in 3D and lead construction. It’s also so inspiring to be working alongside the other super talented artists who work at the FIA, where glass techniques from flameworking to casting, to glass blowing, are taught by some of the most experienced artists in the Michigan glass community. For anyone interested in signing up for the Fall session, here is the link to register: https://14938a.blackbaudhosting.com/14938a/Explorations-in-Stained-Glass-GL-064-FA25
And finally, what would summer be without a couple of road trips? In July, I drove from my home town in East Lansing, MI to visit my cousins in Decatur, IL., and dragged along one of my daughters and her boyfriend. Besides the opportunity to enjoy a long overdue visit with my cousins, and introduce Connor to Emma’s extended family, I took advantage of the proximity to a well-known glass store in Decatur, The Glass House, bringing my wallet and hankering for some dichroic faceted German-made jewels. The store did not disappoint, and I was able to snag several of said jewels, along with some beautiful peach colored iridescent glass and rare iridized green glue-chip. I also spotted a gorgeous green, black, and white sheet of Bullseye limited edition Graffiti glass that I decided was Out of Budget (Alas!), but I hoped that would eventually go on sale. I told my cousin about the glass, and I was astonished when she went back to the glass store the next day and bought it for me! I think she has an ulterior motive in getting me to come down for another visit. I was going to visit again anyway in the near future and bring my other daughter, so she really didn’t need to buy it as incentive, if that was her motivation, but I was super touched and thankful that she had. I also promised to make something nice for her in return.
Dichroic Teardrop Jewel
One of many dichroic jewels I picked up at The Glass House!
Bullseye Limited Edition Graffiti Glass
Not sure what I’m going to do with this yet. Maybe just leave it as it is?
On the way back from Decatur, we stopped for a quick tour through the Kokomo Opalescent Glass factory, which is the oldest continuously running glass factory in the United States. The factory itself looked like something out of the industrial revolution, it was so rustic, and It was fascinating to watch the glass being made in machinery that was easily almost a century old as well. Of course, I had to purchase some stunning blue and green streaky head glass, along with a small sheet of pretty white and orange glass, both of which will be incorporated into my Koi fish panel I have planned for my winter project.
After our tour, we enjoyed a barbecue lunch at Hawg Heaven, a tiny little hole-in-the-wall diner in Kokomo featuring what is perhaps the best mac-n-cheese and brisket I’ve ever had. It was good that we were there on a Thursday, because they are only open three days a week – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – so we might have missed this treat had we been there any other days but these.
Also, in early September, I went to Chicago to visit an old friend, and we spent a day going to art fairs, farmer’s markets, and playing with hot glass in his glassblowing studio. I made a few keepsake memorials with kitty cremains (Giza, Gordo, and Inigo) for Christmas gifts and helped my friend pull some murrini cane. I also picked up some glass being donated by an elderly gentleman who was quite certain his stained glass hobby days were behind him. It wasn’t a lot of glass and most of it I will pass on to the FIA, but I was grateful to get it. It was clear that it was bittersweet for him and that he loved making things – he had an amazing workshop with all kinds of wood working tools, electronics, and of course stained glass projects in various stages of completion. He shared that he was quite ill and didn’t have much longer to live. I left him feeling kind of like I was taking part of his life with me. Which is why I want to give the glass to the FIA, so students can benefit from his generosity and so his legacy can live on in someone else’s work.
As the busy fall semester and season gets underway, I am reminded that it’s not the things that matter, but the experiences – and I vow to create more of these in my life and in the lives of those I love. In the coming months, I am planning more road trips, adventures, and celebrations. I will be sure to keep you, my readers, posted.