Photo by Enrique Hernandez Chemical oxides create a “bubble” effect

Glass Houses

While Katz enjoys landing public art commissions – her work can be found locally at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Surprise City Hall and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – Meltdown also offers a variety of residential glasswork. This includes front doors, windows, art walls, shower enclosures, kitchen countertops, sink bowls, backsplashes and artwork. Most “flat” projects, such as countertops, doors or shower enclosures, require six to eight weeks to complete and start at $80 per square foot, with additional costs for textures, colors and treatments. Bathroom sink bowls range from $800 to $1,500.
 
“Glass kitchen countertops are very fashionable right now,” Katz says, adding that handcrafted, residential glass treatments of all kinds are experiencing a surge in popularity. She even did a purple glass range hood that was featured on HGTV’s I Want That in 2005.
 
Billie Jo Rawlings, owner of the one-of-a-kind range hood that commands center stage in her Tempe kitchen, marvels at Katz’s handiwork. “The hood is stainless steel. What we wanted there was a glass that looked like a river running through it,” Rawlings says. “BJ put dichroic glass pieces in it that look like river rock and change colors throughout the day. Everybody’s eyes go to the hood.”
 

Photo by Enrique Hernandez Other samples from Katz

Katz enjoys the collaborative process. “I’m always thinking about the identity and character of the inhabitants and trying to create something that reflects that,” she says. For example, one client asked her to design a front door for a heavily Asian-influenced entryway. Using tempered clear glass, Katz created a lightly rippled door. “It gives the feeling of silk or linen,” Katz says.
 
For a client in Sedona, Katz created a playful pattern of water flowing within a glass entryway. Fused dichroic glass pieces make the “river” change colors as the sun moves, evoking imagery of nearby Slide Rock State Park. “If I’m able to understand where my clients come from and capture the magic, then I’ve done my job,” Katz says.

Photo Courtesy BJ Katz Katz designed this unique range hood for a Tempe home.

The Heat Is On

The creative process in Meltdown’s workshop involves art, science and a lot of sweat. “I always look forward to summer because I lose a few pounds,” Katz quips during a recent tour. On hot summer days, Katz and her staff routinely work in 120-degree-plus temperatures when kilns are fired up.

After collaborating with a client, the design for each mold is built in a kiln bed filled with composite material that looks like a giant sandbox. Once a design has been crafted – sometimes with tools as simple as the human finger or strips of bamboo – a raw plate of glass is placed over each “one-off,” or one-of-a-kind mold. The glass is then heated to approximately 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Coloring agents, dichroic glass, fused metals and etching can then be applied.
 
Katz loves the science that merges with her art. “The discoveries you make are scientifically based. For example, bubble glass is something I developed a number of years ago. You have to think about what would create a bubbling effect,” she says, noting that chemical oxides – when trapped between two kiln-fired layers of glass – capture air and create bubbling. Similarly, when applying dichroic glass, the coefficient of expansion and contraction must be the same among the glass textures.
 
Every day brings new techniques, challenges and experiments. “Some of my greatest accomplishments have been fortuitous accidents,” Katz says. “It’s just wonderful to come and play every day for work.”
 
— Laurie Davies can be reached at phxmag@citieswestpub.com.


Meltdown Glass Art & Design
6810 S. Clementine Court, Tempe
480-633-3366 • meltdownglass.com