The Evolution
Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Homestead Glass primarily specializes in a technique called glass on glass mosaic that uses a combination of small cut glass pieces or "tessarae" with larger cut glass shapes adhered to tempered glass and grouted. "It occurred to me during a mosaic workshop taught by Luciana Noturi in Ravenna, Italy that mosaics and stained glass could be combined." says Donna, "and while many others have had the same revelation, it seemed like a moment of inspiration when it first hit me. Using this technique, one could achieve a gradation of color without the appearance of a line, an effect that I struggled to achieve with traditional stained glass techniques. Additionally, there is the play between the grout and the glass, the textural contrast between the sandy opaque and glossy transparent, as well as the symbolic origin of glass from sand."
Paul Heath and Donna Pence first met when they attended the University of Utah's Fine Art School together in the mid 1980's. In 2006 they were reacquainted when Paul located studio space for Donna's glass in a duplex behind his parent's home in downtown Salt Lake City. In 2007, Paul and Donna were selected to create a public art commission with Salt Lake County in the form of art glass windows for the Emigration Canyon Fire Station, and in 2008 they were married.and have since created many more glass art commissions. "Paul's skill in drawing and painting, and his love of community and pop culture, has taken our public design work into new realms. Initially we struggled with how to successfully blend our two styles, but we both feel that we have finally figured out how to incorporate our individual strengths into a single collaboration." says Donna. " As an art teacher in the public schools, I am continually trying to teach students how to successfully collaborate, I know it is not easy to share and compromise, but I certainly have the personal life experience to draw from." Paul is now also an art teacher and they continue to collaborate on lesson plans as well as public art.
Zach Millsap is Donna's son. He is currently a physics major at the University of Utah. He took art classes in high school that allowed him to play with glass fusing and slumping and has enjoyed working with glass. In the summer of 2012, Zach assisted Paul and Donna in the construction of the Murray Centennial Windows, and would like to combine his love of art and physics to create uniquely designed solar panels.
Carrie Trenholm is a glass artist from Cedar City, Utah. Also an arts educator and participant in Luciana Noturi's mosaic workshops, Carrie has applied with Homestead Glass for public art commissions bringing her talent as an impeccable fused glass artist to the team. We look forward to collaborating with Carrie on large projects both in Utah and out of state.