Byron Jelden
bEHIND THE ART
My art is fueled by a passion for antique glass objects and a desire to repurpose items. I give new life and function to car lights, cut crystal, tableware, eyeglasses, and scientific lenses. Restoring historic stained glass taught me techniques of master artisans, and I developed methods based on their innovative craftsmanship. I use a traditional copper foil process created by Tiffany in the 1880’s. I build chandeliers, mirrors, and window art on forms that are also found objects, like a megaphone speaker or a Weber grill. Creative inspiration comes from light’s reflection and refraction through the various glass objects. The visual effects from my pieces have an interactive quality; they distort and change when viewed from different angles. Nostalgia and sustainability are two driving forces. Each piece is built of artifacts from a time when materials were made to last. By repurposing these remnants of the past, I not only preserve their beauty but also reimagine their stories.
