Glass panels

Astri Reusch began creating glass panels in 1965, using found materials and having taught herself the techniques of leaded glass: creating armatures by soldering lead and copper foil to support and provide structure to the glass elements. Fascinated by the particular qualities of glass as a medium of expression by manipulating light through transparency, translucence, refraction and reflectivity, she soon started to include three-dimensional and non-traditional objects in her panels: prisms, lenses, antique glass lantern slides, mirrors, metal components, etc. She also experimented with creating panels incorporating multiple layers of superimposed sheets of glass with varying degrees of transparency and translucence, using techniques of sandblasting, acid etching and the inclusion of glass and metal objects between the layers.

Her works in these media coincided with the emergence of the Studio Glass movement in the 1970s, expanding the boundaries of what could be done with glass panels while other artists were experimenting with blown, cast and fused glass. In 1979, she first received international recognition of her work when two of these panels were chosen as the only works by a Canadian artist in the seminal New Glass international survey exhibition organized by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass which documented this movement.

Elena (detail). 2010. Leaded glass panel with prisms, lens, metal components and sandblasting; integral stainless steel frame. 60 x 90 cm.

Transmutation Screen (detail). 2010. Multi-media kinetic construction of glass lenses laminated with antique lantern slide and sandblasted glass elements in a copper foil matrix; video recorder; integral wood frame. 60 x 80 x 30 cm.

A to Z. 1995. Glass and metal panel with lens, prisms, metal components and sandblasting; integral stainless steel frame. 120 x 180 cm. Permanent Installation, Montreal

Door Window (detail). 1991. Leaded glass door panel with lens, prism and sandblasting; integral steel frame. 190 x 90 cm.

Games. 1986. Multi-layered glass panel with meta; inclusions and sandblasting; integral stainless steel frame. 60 x 120 cm.

Norwegian Wood. 1986. Leaded glass panel with lenses, prism and antique lantern slide; integral brass frame. 60 x 90cm. Private collection, Norway

Cloud Window (detail). 1985. Multi-layered glass panel with sandblasting; integral stainless steel frame. 60 x 120 cm.

Attar the Rending of the Veil (detail). 1980. Multi-layered panel with sandblasted glass; steel armature and brass plates. 120 x 240 cm.

Ball Bearing (detail). 1980. Multi-layered glass panel with ball bearings, lenses, metal inclusions and sandblasting; integral stainless steel frame. 60 x 60 cm.

The Prince (detail). 1978. Leaded glass panel with prism, lens and antique glass lantern slide; integral steel frame. 90 x 90 cm.

Connections Window. 1977. Leaded glass panel with prism, metal components, antique gas lantern slide and sandblasted glass; integral anodized aluminium frame. 45 x 45 cm.

Small Ball Bearings Window (detail). 1977. Multi-layered glass panel with ball bearings, lens, metal inclusions and sandblasting; integral anodized aluminum frame. 35 x 45 cm.

GLASS PANELS - TÊTE DE POÊTE AVEC PRISME

Têtê de Poête avec Prisme. 1977. Leaded glass panel with prism, metal components, sandblasted glass; integral anodized aluminium frame. 45 x 45 cm.

Aurora (detail). 1975. Multi-layered moiré glass panel with sandblasting; integral aluminum frame. 70 x 90 cm.

Small Prismatic. 1975. Leaded glass panel with prisms and sandblasted glass; integral steel frame. 45 x 45 cm.

Garbage Window. 1974. Leaded glass panel with lenses and found industrial glass; integral steel frame. 53 x 90 cm.

Memories – Rusty (detail). Multi-media panel of glass lenses laminated with antique lantern slide and sandblasted glass elements in a copper foil matrix; integral rusted steel frame. 60 x 60 cm.