Debra Adelson

I always knew, even from the earliest age, that I would be an artist. Crayons, paint, and glue were the main components of my childhood. At Tyler School of Art, I was introduced to the metals studio, and I was instantly hooked. Holding a jeweler’s saw in my hand for the first time, I knew I had found my passion. As a student, I focused on tableware as well as jewelry. I am a natural object maker. I am a sculptor intent on creating pieces that stand the test of time.

I began my career before ‘carbon footprint’ and ‘climate change’ were terms used in our everyday vernacular. For over a decade, I incorporated plastics into my work as a way to add color, but with the shift in the current global conversation weighing on my conscience, I felt my only option was to reinvent myself, and I began a quest to find a more sustainable material. Through years of experimentation, I have developed my own modified cold-working techniques where I sculpt glass that I make from a mix of new and upcycled materials to create richly colorful, luminescent, and opalescent pieces. My process starts with a rough block of optical glass and sheets of colored glass that I laminate together. I then cut it into my desired shape with a wet diamond saw, and sculpt the pieces using flat lapidary wheels which grind the glass with a combination of silicone carbide grit and water. I then engrave the surface of the glass using the centuries-old process of stone wheel engraving: a stone wheel is used on a slow-spinning lathe that is cooled by water. I then polish specific parts of the piece using pumice on a cork or felt wheel. With this unique process, I can achieve texture and implied movement to create a unique vision of nature within each piece. I create the settings by hand-fabricating sterling silver. My last step is to carefully set the glass and gems, then sign and copyright the finished piece. My goal is to create narrative pieces that tell a story. I seek to capture a fleeting beauty and subtly encourage the viewer to think about their own relationship to the natural world.