/LUMINOUS PROJECT

Eric Cruze

Material Needs 2022

September 8 - October 9, 2022

materials funded: glass, aluminum, LED lights, drills

/STATEMENT

In my work, I am passionate about exploring the beauty of glass through experimentation and technique. My goal is to combine a high level of traditional craftsmanship with a modern design sensibility—a fusion of materiality and simplicity. 

One of the processes that has inspired me is fused murrini and filigrana, Italian terms for glass canes that are handmade from the furnace. When these clear and colored glass canes are melted together in the kiln, the resulting fusing reveals the flow of material at high temperature, and forms a unique, three-dimensional surface. Not an image of nature, but an authentic organic object.

With the Luminous Project, I had the opportunity to create lighting prototypes that incorporated LED technology with handmade fused glass panels. The project evolved over time, as the Covid pandemic had a deep impact on my working and living circumstances.