Original publish date: May 10th, 2012

Aqua Frog

Here at Harvest Gold we are always thrilled when new items and pieces come in for us to place around the gallery. One of our favorite returning glass artists is Paul Bendzunas. Paul's obvious love of nature and it's soothing palette, will delight anyone when they see his fine, hand-blown vases that are themed around nature.

Green Frog

Combining traditional design elements with contemporary influences, Bendzunas has evolved an unusual style based primarily on natural and organic forms. His surface patterns involve animal and aquatic imagery. He achieves this effect by using colored enamels – the same crushed glass powders used in cloisonné jewelry – and precious metals, in combination with bits of crushed glass. He achieves distinctive colors using various formulations of metallic oxides such as gold, silver, cobalt and others, blended into the molten glass. Using classic glassblowing techniques that are thousands of years old, Bendzunas works the glass at temperatures in excess of 2000 degrees F. He forms and shapes each piece individually, without the use of molds. Each piece is one of a kind and is signed and dated.
His work is included in numerous public and private collections, including those of the Westinghouse Corporation, R.J. Reynolds Corporation and the State of Georgia Council for the Arts and Humanities. He has exhibited his work at galleries, museums and juried shows throughout the United States.

Strolling Moose

 

Great Blue Heron

 

Fish Vase

 We hope that while you are out for an afternoon drive through the White Mountains that you will stop buy our Gallery in Center Lovell and enjoy seeing Paul Bendzuna's work, amongst many other fine artists. We are open seven days a week from ten a.m. until four p.m. Looking forward to seeing you!