ABOUT
GAIL JENSEN
Gail Jensen has resided between South Florida and Atlanta
for a number of years, and ultimately made the decision to
stay in the Atlanta area with the two passions of her life,
her husband Dave, and her zeal for fused glass artwork.
After earning a degree in fine arts, in l998
Gail took a fuse glass class to satisfy her curiosity and
immediately felt at home with the process of kiln-formed glass.
Since then, she has participated in numerous
workshops throughout the country and strives to attend at
least two per year. This constant source of inspiration, knowledge,
and technique has enabled Gail to fine-tune her glass art
into her own distinctive style. Gail Jensen is a member of
the International Guild of Glass Artists and Glass Art Society.
Always incorporating new items in her collection,
Gail’s work is currently displayed in several galleries
and exhibitions throughout the southeast.
ABOUT
FUSED GLASS
Kiln > A brick lined or fiber insulated
"oven" used to fuse glass. Kilns used for firing
glass can reach 2000 degrees, but for fusing the temperature
rarely exceeds 1475 degrees.
Compatible Glass
> Two or more pieces of glass that expand and contract
at the same rate when heated together. When designing an object
to be fused, the multiple pieces of glass used must be compatible
so that it will not break during or after firing in the kiln.
Fused Glass > The
heat bonding of glass. Using compatible glass when designing
a project, layering the glass onto the base glass (the bottom
layer) and then firing in a kiln to achieve fusing to 1475
degrees.
Slumped Glass >
After fusing compatible glass, place over a mold and fire
up to 1300 degrees. The glass will slump and conform to the
shape of the mold.
Stringers > Thinly
drawn filaments of glass the diameter of pencil lead. These
are used as design elements in fused glass pieces.
Frit > Glass that
has been melted, cooled, and crushed or ground. Like stringers,
frit is used as design elements.
Dichroic Glass >
"Dichro" is glass that has been chemically treated
on its surface to reflect and refract the light. Unlike iridescent
glass which gives a shine or glow to the color, dichro results
in the vibrancy of the color itself.
