Nancy Nagel

By Helen R. Hosmer

www.nancynagel.com

When you meet Nancy Nagel prepare to sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of homemade Meade, nectar of the gods made from honey. Nancy is as versatile as she is talented. Her career in art began at the University of Arizona with a degree in Art Education.

In the early 70's glass foundaries were shutting down as automation had taken over. The studio glass movement was just beginning. Nancy began working in ceramics but was fortunate to find a furnace to train from at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. In 1976 Nancy set up a studio in Tucson, Arizona called the Midnight Glassworks. She designed original vases and paperweights. Lured by a paycheck Nancy took over as a glass technician in the glass blowing department of Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona. At this time she was able to apprentice with Bandhu (author of Contemporary Lampworking.) The careful training in precision and control has allowed Nancy to create a body of work unique to blown glass and recognized by artist's organizations and galleries across the nation.

Whimsy and brilliant color make Nancy's work immediately recognizable. Influenced by the shaman rattles of the American Indians, Nancy began creating blown borosilicate creatures supported by an intricate glass handle and bearing glass "beans" within to generate rhythmic sounds when shaken. Sometimes Nancy's sculptures have underlying political statements, but always they bring an inner smile. Currently Nancy is mounting her critters on sand cast glass bases that she creates from a friend's furnace. Some of her smaller sculptures are collectible perfume bottles with fanciful stoppers and radiant eyes from hand built murrines. All her work is signed with a signature cane.

Nancy teaches from her home studio as well as at the Grove at University of California San Diego. Her techniques are revealed step by step in a professional video, "When Frogs Talk", available from the artist.