Sand Cast Glass Sculpture ‘Unravelling’ by Teresa Chlapowski

Evocative sand cast glass sculpture made using a one-off mould made of sand. The mould is only ever used once so each piece is meticulously made and never to be repeated. Unique glass sculptures that are made as a labour of love.

A copper layer is added to the straight side and copper wires are inserted into the mould with a few of the ends going right through the piece and out the other side. These strands will be all that is exposed as the rest of the copper wires will be encased in the glass sculpture itself.

A finely selected concoction of glass powders is added to the bottom of the mould and then a molten layer of 1100 C glass is poured in and the copper figure is laid on top.

Copper carbonate is sieved over the glass before the second layer of molten glass is added, making an explosion of bubbles. Then, the piece is put into a Leer kiln to cool very slowly for a number of days. Once cooled, it is broken out of its sandy encasement. The copper has turned a reddish/ purple colour and the wires are bent into a more organic form. The whole piece is then mounted onto a finely rubbed glass slate.

Put it on a sunny windowsill or light it from behind for dramatic effect.

“Inspiration?  Unravelling, unwinding thoughts, our solid human existence unravelling into the unknown?”

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Sand Cast Glass Sculpture – Artist

Glass Artist Teresa Chlapowski. Teresa is a mixed media artist working with photography, digital art, glass-influenced cyanotype prints, and both sculptural and functional glass.

From her studio in Harrow, she uses sand casting and fusing glass techniques and combines her glass work, with painting, photography, and ceramics to full effect.

She uses photography to document her artistic journey and to uncover inspiration in the wooded, autumnal undergrowth, ancient sand drifts by pitted cliffs, or clouds reflected in puddles.

Teresa began her artistic journey with knitwear, and spent many years designing, before taking classes in ceramics, sculpture, and glass at the University of Hertfordshire over the course of many years.

Glass was the medium that grabbed hold of her soul, and she knew this was the medium through which she could best express her worldview. She fell in love with its mysterious alchemical properties; what was once a flowing hot river became a solid form that makes light dance to its tune.

Teresa’s figurative sculptural work provides glimmers and glints of the human form. A mystery wrapped inside an enigma, that is both intriguing and revealing at one and the same time.

Her fused glass panels are influenced by her time as a textile artist, with organised lines in a riotous kaleidoscope of colours.
Teresa has continued to evolve her practice and has taken master classes with Colin Reid and Max Jacquard.

She has sand cast glass at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham and now sand casts with Jon Lewis and Ewa Warzyniak at Parndon Mill, Harlow.