LOCAL GLASS ARTISTS
MAKE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO BARBARA BUSH
Local artists David Gappa & Gary Hayes of Vetro Glassblowing
Studio & Gallery in Grapevine TX created a signature art glass
piece that was presented to former first lady Barbara Bush last
Tuesday, April 12. They were invited by The Center for Cancer and
Blood Disorders in Fort Worth TX to award the piece to Mrs. Bush
as a "thank you" for her relentless support in cancer
research as well as her participation as the guest speaker in the
private, grand opening banquet celebration of The Center which
opened in February 2005.
Upon receiving the art piece, Mrs. Bush immediately
expressed her gratitude and requested to personally meet the
artists. "It
was an incredible honor to be the ones selected for this opportunity.
And then to be asked to go on stage to shake her hand and meet
her was remarkable," said artist and co-owner David Gappa.
The artists created a large, contemporary-style
vase with a red and black raked design, encircled by two large
bands of clear glass.
They felt that the strong impression of the colors, yet down-to-earth
tone of the style fit well with Mrs. Bush's personality. They created
the piece at Vetro, their studio in Grapevine, just a few weeks
prior to the event. "We take great strides and set high standards
for the quality and unique style of our art glass pieces and installations," says
artist and co-owner Gary Hayes. "Art should first be stunningly
beautiful. Everything else is secondary. We used that same high
standard for the piece for Mrs. Bush, and we're flattered that
she was so impressed."
In
January, Texas
Cancer Care (TCC), the organization responsible
for the new Center, along with Quorum
Architects, Inc., the
firm responsible for the interior design of the facility,
commissioned Gappa & Hayes
to create an art glass installation to be the focal point
of
their Meditation
Room. Barry Russo, executive director of TCC, sought for a
design that would incorporate the facility's mission: "To
truly be a place where cancer patients can receive treatment
for body and
soul - the whole person...a place of learning, and one of hope
and healing." Composed of an intricately designed matrix
of approximately 50 cast glass panels with a blown and cast
rondel
as its centerpoint, this installation, appropriately named "Hope
and Healing", achieves that mission. "For us, this
is a composition in color and texture meant to instill a sense
of
profound peace within the viewer," says Gappa. Click here
for more information about the installation "Hope & Healing".
The artists' facility, Vetro Glassblowing Studio and Gallery is
the first studio of its kind in the DFW area to showcase works
of art created in its own facility as well as pieces made by internationally
acclaimed artists. Vetro, having quickly become a major tourist
attraction, is also the only glassblowing studio and gallery in
the Metroplex that routinely encourages the public to join them
in the studio to witness the magic of this ancient art form. Visit
www.VetroArtGlass.com or call 817.251.1668 to learn more about
the 'hottest' place in the Metroplex.
