Jennifer Szalkowski | Night Owl Glass

Jennifer Szalkowski is the owner and artist behind Night Owl Glass. Her glass work has an organic and simplistic design, emphasized by color and shape. She strives for similarities to exist between the glass and the beauty within the natural world.

Jenn says, "I wish for my glass to recall memories of a setting sun in a brilliant pink hue, the tumultuous night sky right before a storm or the waves swirling and crashing onto the beach. I hope my customers will interpret their own personal memories to find a piece of glass that speaks to them on a personal and meaningful level.

Utilizing a glass technique called fusing; I can create a beautiful array of glass art. Fusing involves cutting compatible glass into various shapes and arranging it in stacked layers which are then fired in a special kiln that reaches temperatures of 1500 degrees.

During the firing process the glass undergoes a slow transformation from a solid to a soft liquid. As the temperature in the kiln climbs, the layers of glass slowly start to melt together to form one single layer and the edges soften and round out. When the glass is finished, the kiln is turned off and I wait, very patiently, for it to slowly cool, or “kiln-anneal”; this adds strength and durability to the glass.

The glass is then removed from the kiln, cleaned and the new glass gems, or “cabochons”, can now be used to make a variety of glass jewelry and home décor pieces."