“Vetro Bello”
Trying to decide on the next article for the Web site took me on a walk down a 2011 memory lane. My first book, “The Shapes and Colours of Chalet Art Glass” was published that year.
Those that followed had some shared characteristics:
- I use the same artist for design and layout,
- I involve members of the community,
- I look to the Chalet artists and their family members for inspiration and verification and,
-an original poem about the glass is the starting point of each book.
The path took some twists and turns but did lead me to an idea. Since the artist who did/does my books also created this Web site, his talent and vision is always tangible but since the books are not on-line, the beautiful poems about the glass are not at hand. And since only one book is still in print, this means that access to the poetry is very limited. So, through this article, I thought I could not only share the poem that was featured in ”Shapes and Colours” in 2011 but would also “put some glass with it” in a video (images 13-21 directly correspond to the lines in the poem) to show how it captures the essence of “the shapes and colours” of Chalet.
Please note that I am not the author of the poems.
Vetro Bello
history entombed in
beautiful glass
fingers of crystal
stretching upwards
spreading outwards
encompassing the colours
of the rainbow
from red to violet
and back again
and some betraying the green
of their uranium soul
in the dark
each piece of the past
dazzling the future
Going through files to select pieces and pictures for the video, I was flooded by memories of the early days of my collecting – finding amazing pieces on “hunting in the Wild” trips with friends, spending time with the artists and hearing their stories about Murano and their coming to Canada to work at the different glass houses was fascinating and getting to meet their wives was so much fun. Setting up the shoots with talented photographers really helped me learn how to showcase my pieces, getting to know fellow collectors better was very rewarding and I am so pleased that I still have relationships with most of those early acquaintances. I even recalled that “schelping” the glass from Kingston to Cornwall and back again (5 hour round trip) didn’t seem too bad because the miles flew by as I was so focused on getting questions answered. Co-administering 50 Shades of Chalet and hosting this Web site have only deepened my love for the glass and helped strengthen my ties to our community. I am so amazed regarding what we have learned over the last dozen years - and are still learning!
As collecting is an intensely personalized experience for all of us, I know you will excuse my sentimentality in doing this little article. As the incomparable Etta James sang: “I found a dream that I could speak to, a dream that I can call my own.” I feel that learning about the company and “The Faces of Chalet” and being able to share what I learned grew collecting from an interest into a passion. To take some creative liberty with “Vetro Bello”, it “stretched me upwards and turned me outwards.” A wonderful journey – past, present and I anticipate more of the same in a “dazzling future”. Thanks to all for participating with me.
