Interview
Jack Ventimiglia
Paulette Bernd Erde
Both Jack and Paulette live up to their business name of DichroManiacs as they create pieces using dichroic and iridescent glass that sparkles and changes color when viewed at different angles. As the light dances on each piece, it's pure magic. This glass is incorporated into functional pieces, such as dishes and bowls, as well as into works of pure art that can be displayed on a wall or a stand. One of a kind artistic pieces of glass are the final result. Paulette creates many geometrical and mathematically inspired pieces while Jack creates "Glass Expressions" all framed and ready for contemplation either inside or outside. All the DicroManiac's pieces are unique and should be viewed in different light settings for full appreciation.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
Jack has a varied background in the sciences with degrees that led to careers in organic chemistry, registered nursing, and funeral directing. Paulette is a trained anatomist as a PhD. While Jack has always been interested in artistic endeavors, such as drawing and being creative in general since childhood, he has never worked in the glass fusing realm until working alongside Paulette in medical school where she is a professor of anatomy and Jack helps procure specimens for her studies. Paulette's husband is a glass blowing enthusiast and together they have a lovely and complete glass studio in their home. They both travel to various places globally to learn and perfect their craft and have given Jack his apprenticeship in glass fusing. Together, Jack and Paulette are a team known as DichroManiacs. With a knowledge in the sciences, and a love of that magical sparkle that dichroic glass and iridescent glass exudes in changing light settings, they have experimented with various techniques of the trade and have come up with unique techniques all their own that gives them the inspiration to create such whimsical art pieces. Paulette concentrates on various functional glass and art pieces while Jack is heavily influenced by a glass fusing take on Whimsical Realism that he translates into glass "paintings" which are fun and requires the observer to gaze at the piece as well as contemplate the meaning of the specificity surrounding what he terms "expressions."
What inspires you?
The inspiration for all of Jack's art comes from moments in time that one wants to either capture from memories, being brought into tangible view which could be a single memory or multiple one's combined, or something that strikes the interest of the artist "a la minute." Such spur of the moment items, like the ones from combined multiple memories, are noted and recreated in a style that is larger than life. His works are exaggerations of life and combined in a whimsical and somewhat caricaturist way. For Paulette, her analytical mind creates pieces that require both precision in technical skill and execution as well as thoughtfully incorporating the elements that tie in her pieces with Jack's glass expressions to make that special bond they term as DichroManiacs. They have both created their own special glass fusing techniques to make their inspirations become a reality. This process of experimentation with glass is in itself another form of inspiration. Jack has also harnessed his own special form of making pieces for his glass pictures derived from some of the greatest artists. He developed rod-pointillism and rod-layered dichroic pieces for his works while Paulette has created her very own form of dichroic-rods and frit-mosaicism. They share and inspire each other to create cohesive pieces.
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
Jack pursues themes related to specific locations of interest and topics that are relative to those areas. He recreates the feelings and moments one may experience into a glass fusion expression. He has many areas and locations of interest, two of which are the Islands of Aruba and Key West. He is currently expanding his locale repertoire for the Hamptons in NY and Roatan, Bay Islands. Paulette takes her cues from the latest in glass fusing themes and turns them into pieces that complement Jack's. She is a master at manipulating glass to create what her mind conjures up and this magical partnership between imagination and skill is what makes them different in the art world. The overall message for their art is to imagine and contemplate life one moment at a time.
The overall message for their art is to imagine and contemplate life one moment at a time.
How would you describe your work?
There are a number of ways to describe the work of DichroManiacs. Whimsical, electrifying, and thought provoking are a few of the descriptions that others have used when looking at their art. DichroManiacs would say that magical sparkle coupled with vibrant colors and intensity describes the look of their pieces. Its not an easy thing to capture sparkle and intention in just a photograph. These pieces of art must be seen in person to realize their actual beauty and for one to be drawn in to gaze at the work that literally changes as the lighting changes. Our pieces are not static. They are glistening, funny, memorable, and thanks to the dichroic elements, they are seemingly fluid.
Which artists influence you most?
Jack has been heavily influenced by the great artists who have mastered Pointillism, Impressionism, and in the area of Whimsical Realism. Paulette has been influenced by the greats in glass blowing and fusing coupled with her love of analytical themes in nature such as Fibonacci patterns and other mathematical themes.
What is your creative process like?
“Our creative process is long and labored but we love what we do so it is actually not work. We have to design a piece and select the appropriate types of glass for a project. Once done we have to begin cutting and shaping various elements that will either be incorporated in or go onto other pieces of glass. There are many test pieces, kiln firings and styles, like full or tack fuse with varied programs, and changes to techniques that frequently follow the creative process. There's not only cutting and fusing but also cold working like grinding, saw cutting, and sanding and even re-firing or polishing. There's more involved than meets the eye and it takes years to get to a point where one can imagine a piece and have it look like you envisioned. Take one look at our art and every element of it can actually be a unique technique which are then incorporated into one of a kind objects. No two can ever be alike in this process and other glass fusing artists do not have many of our own specially created techniques. A single piece of our art can take months or more to create and so its a slow process. Sometimes we can also make pieces rather quickly since we do not always start from scratch. We are in the constant process of creating many of the elements that go into our art so we have many of these elements in our studio and that gives us the time to add new techniques and creations should the need arise for a particular piece.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The artist's role in our society is extremely important. Art, in many forms, creates a sense of purpose, a feeling of joy, something to contemplate, among countless things. Most importantly, an artist has the freedom of expression to create something to help society take a break and stop and be in the moment, which is a core value for DichroManiacs. This is a very healing thing. An artist's role for us is healing and helping to be still. This can make one feel better and be inspired to be the best one can be for all humanity.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“We are currently being featured in Lava Aruba Glass studio. This is a lovely gallery in Aruba that also has glass blowing exhibitions and a cafe. We are in negotiations currently to teach some glass fusing classes in our style as well.”
